Wrestler tributes state title to grandfather

Wednesday, April 01, 2009
by Joseph Kairalla

Max Piasecki captured the state championship at 171 pounds this season, winning it for himself and for his family.

The day before Piasecki wrestled in the district tournament, his grandfather, Jim Elkins, died. Elkins had been suffering from Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

Piasecki, who had always shared a special bond with his grandfather, dedicated the remainder of his junior season to Elkins.

Piasecki won the district title to advance to regionals, where he dropped a 12-5 decision to Julian Martinez of Miami Pace.

However, that wouldn't be the last Piasecki would see of Martinez.

At the Class 1A state meet in Lakeland, Piasecki wrestled what he says was one of the best tournaments of his life and advanced to meet Martinez again, this time with the state championship at stake.

Piasecki rebounded from his regional loss and defeated Martinez 9-6 to take home a championship, that he says, belongs in part to his grandfather.

"There's no question he was out there with me," Piasecki said. "I'm getting his birth date put on the inside of my state championship ring as a tribute to him."

Elkins wasn't the only family member that provided motivation for Piasecki.

When Piasecki was in the seventh grade, he watched his older brother Alex, then a junior, win a state wrestling title of his own. Max had just started wrestling at the time, and remembers thinking how he wanted to win a championship, just like his brother.

"Ever since that moment, it has been a dream of mine," Piasecki said. "I remember thinking how bad I wanted it and how hard I was willing to work to get that feeling for myself."

After losing to Martinez in regionals, Piasecki said he and his coach, Tom McMath, watched video of the loss at least four times, sensing that a rematch could come in Lakeland. Piasecki, who finished fifth at state last season wrestling at 160 for Jupiter Christian, had a feeling Martinez would be overconfident. Piasecki also knew he wasn't going to make the same technical mistakes he did in the loss.

"I was very confident entering the match," Piasecki said. "I knew it would be tough, but I knew I could beat him,"

Looking toward his senior season, Piasecki already is using his family as motivation again.

"My brother placed second at state in his senior year," Piasecki said. "So I want to become the first two-time state champion in the family."