By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

 After playing football as a freshman at Norwood High School, Ahmed Elalfy had intentions on joining the swim team during the winter months, but things all changed when a couple of his football teammates were joining the wrestling team. The young athlete decided to join them but had no idea what he was up against.

“I had no idea what to expect with wrestling,” the Norwood freshman said. “After that first practice, it was so hard that I was going to quit and leave wrestling behind. One of the seniors called me out so I decided to stick it out and stayed the whole year.”

Elalfy said that he was told by a coach that he was one of the best freshmen that the squad had had in some time, and with that, the young wrestler began watching a lot of college wrestling and asking his coaches a lot of questions as well as the older wrestlers who would help him with his moves. 

“As a freshman, he came out that year and made a name for himself wrestling well in the Sectionals and finishing in the top 10 at the States,” Norwood Head Coach Bill McDermott said.

That first season, Elalfy was a 177 pounds wrestling in the 195 weight-class where he posted a 13-12 record on the season. He went on to finish 6th in the Sectionals and was named an alternate to the State Tournament, where he would eventually get to wrestle when someone dropped out.

“That day at the States, I remember one of the coaches pulling the other wrestlers aside and talking to them; I felt slighted when he didn’t approach me,” Elalfy said. “That gave me all the motivation that I would need that day. He may not have believed in me, but I believed in myself and was not worried about anything else that happened that day.”

Elalfy would go on to finish eighth in his weight class.

The next season, the Norwood wrestler found himself in the 160-pound weight class, and although he did record 15 wins, he noted that it was generally a bad year.

“I was not happy with my body and decided to lose some weight,” Elalfy said. “I didn’t care or pay attention to where I would be wrestling, I just wanted to wrestle.”

Having won 28 matches over his first two years on the mat for Norwood, Elalfy put a lot of work into his off-season by participating in just about any tournament that he could. Taking part in those tournaments, the Norwood grappler found he was placing in a majority of them. He knew that he was ready for his junior campaign for the Mustangs and he didn’t disappoint; wrestling in the 157-pound weight class, he would reel off more wins (32) than his first two years combined. He would also finish third in the Sectionals and seventh in the States (a place where he earned his spot this time around). 

Entering the State Tournament, the Norwood wrestler was seeded fourth in his weight-class and would go on to defeat the fifth, third and sixth seed wrestlers before having to take the mat against the top dog, where he would lose. 

As he gets ready to participate in his fourth season with the Mustangs, the senior is hoping to be able to top the 100-win mark; he’s currently at 60 wins so he’ll have to improve slightly on last year’s record.

“He’s a very competitive wrestler, who has already been to the State Tournament two times in his first three years,” Coach McDermot said. “I am looking for him to take a step forward this year. He’ll definitely be knocking on the door.”

In addition to getting the century mark in wins, Elalfy would love to become a Sectional and State Champion during his final year at Norwood.

“Seeing Nate (Hsu) win a championship has made me want to do the same,” Elalfy said. “He was my partner and taught me a lot. Nate was a great wrestler, but I feel that I am talented as well and can accomplish the same things he did – I truly believe in myself.”

The Norwood senior went on to say that not only was Hsu his wrestling partner, but he also taught him a lot of moves on the mat that made him the wrestler that he is today. With that mentality, he firmly believes that he can get those extra eight wins to get over the top.

“I am a lot better than I was a year ago with all my techniques and am ready to achieve that goal of 100 wins for Norwood,” Elalfy said. “I will be wrestling at 157 again this year and that is where I feel that I belong. There is great competition in that weight class so it makes winning that much more satisfying. You have to earn everything here.”

If Elalfy was able to reach the pinnacle of his career by taking home a Sectional and State Championship, it would mean the world to him.

“Wrestling has changed my life; it gave me the confidence I needed and helped me to change my body,” Elalfy said. “I am no longer that fat kid. Bringing home a championship would be great not only for me, but for the school as well.”