Khader Yasin only gets quiet when asked about his wrestling accomplishments, of which there are many.
Like any rambunctious 10 year old, Yasin likes to play tag with his friends and watch animated cartoons. On the wrestling mat, however, he’s all business.
Two weeks ago, the Hollister native won the Triple Crown in the U.S.A. Kids and Cadet West Regional Championships in Pocatello, Idaho, capturing titles in all three styles: freestyle, folkstyle and Greco Roman.
Competing in the 112-pound weight class, Yasin was flat-out dominant, winning all 12 of his matches via pinfall, usually in 15 to 45 seconds.
“I was very happy (with the outcome),” said Yasin, who is going to be a fifth-grader at Cerra Vista Elementary School. “I was very nervous (before every match), but then I just start jumping and walking, and I felt good.”
Yasin credited all of his coaches, including his uncle, Ali, and Kelly St. John, who the Hollister Warriors wrestling club.
During the youth wrestling and football season, Yasin spends a lot of time with Ali, who has three sons involved in wrestling as well. So it came as great joy for Ali when he was able to watch his nephew capture the Triple Crown.
“I still can’t believe it happened,” Ali said. “It was like a dream. After Khader won, he wasn’t jumping in the air or anything. He got his medals, put them in his bag and 15 to 20 minutes later he was playing with his friends. I was more excited for his wrestling accomplishments than he was.”
For Yasin, approaching the sport with a humble attitude has carried him a long way.
“I just do what I do,” he said. “I train hard and put all my effort into it. My favorite part about wrestling is getting ready for every match.”
When Yasin got back home, all of his friends asked him how he went undefeated. His response?
“I don’t know.”
“Khader is really mobile and athletic,” Ali said. “In terms of his body, he’s just thick solid and heavy boned. He moves like a kid who is 20 to 30 pounds lighter. Khader will also do whatever his coaches tell him to work on, even if he thinks it won’t work.”
Last month, Yasin was victorious in the Freestyle State Championships in Fresno.
Yasin loves traveling to tournaments even if it takes 15 hours to get there. For the West Regional Championships, Yasin was in the car at 3 a.m. and got into Idaho at 6 p.m.
Yasin started wrestling after watching his cousin, Fayz, a sophomore-to-be at San Benito High, in 2008.
“Fayz taught me most of my moves,” Yasin said. “I learned a lot from him, and I’m glad he didn’t take it easy on me.”
Yasin also plays linebacker for the Tri-County Rebels, a youth football team that rivals the Hollister Vikings of the Pop Warner League. In Muslim, Yasin’s first name means “all powerful.”
Considering the way Yasin has throttled his opponents, he’s lived up to his name and then some.
