The Jewish Link of New Jersey would like to recognize 17-year-old Jacob Elstein as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The senior at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School took home the gold in the 145lb division at the 2020 Wittenberg tournament. When asked about his star wrestler, Rabbi Kirsch, the athletic director at Kushner told the JLNJ, “Jacob has been the ultimate leader of this team in so many ways. Not only has he been a big force in so many of the tournaments— as he’s finished in first place in many of the tough, competitive competitions in New Jersey wrestling tournaments—but he’s been a leader and mentor to many of the younger wrestlers on the team. In many ways he’s an additional coach out there for our players.”
Jacob, congratulations on another great Wittenberg. Who is your role model and why?
My role model is probably my old wrestling coach, Coach Cilio, because aside from introducing me to the sport that’s become a huge part of my life, he taught me good sportsmanship and many other lessons I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life.
What is your favorite sport?
My favorite sport is wrestling because very few other sports push you as hard as wrestling does and it’s an amazing feeling to go up against an opponent one on one and win.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
My greatest sports accomplishment was winning the Wittenberg Tournament for the second time this past February and becoming the third ever Kushner wrestler to be in the Yeshiva Wrestling Hall of Fame.
What is your earliest sports memory?
My earliest sports memory is of playing baseball in my grandparents backyard with my grandfather telling me to keep my eye on the ball.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
I don’t really follow sports but if I had to choose a favorite athlete it would probably be Patrick Mahomes because in a very short time he became a dominant player and won a superbowl. He was also my fantasy football quarterback for two years.
What is your favorite sports memory?
My favorite sports memory is winning Wittenberg for the first time sophomore year. It was an amazing feeling to realize that during the tournament I went up against many older more experienced competitors and won.
What is your pregame routine?
My pregame routine is to listen to music and do what many have described as “dance around” which is my way of warming up and getting in the zone.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
My favorite things to do in my free time are watching movies and hanging out with friends.
What is your weirdest sports memory?
My weirdest sports memory was at my first match ever I spent about 90% of the match getting thrown around and somehow I ended up pinning the guy. I was shocked that I won and to this day have no idea exactly what happened.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
The best thing about being a Sportstar is that all the hard work and effort I’ve put in over the past four years is being recognized.
The Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week will receive a $15 gift certificate to any Teaneck restaurant of their choice. Please contact Moshe Kinderlehrer at 201-371-3212 to receive a certificate. Please send nominees for an upcoming Jewish Link of New Jersey Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
