Elijah Penton’s hard work pays off with state title and more

Winter Springs’ Elijah Penton battles at the FHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Silver Spurs Arena back in March. (Dan Ward/Ward Wrestling Live)

BY BRANT PARSONS — Elijah Penton does not like laziness.

The rising Winter Springs senior and returning Florida state wrestling champion pushes himself in everything that he does.

“If I’m in the gym, I’m in the gym to work,” Penton said. “I’m going hard when I’m in school, I do all my work, I study, I do homework — that work ethic sticks with me throughout everything I do in my life.”

Penton, who punctuated a 49-0 season with a state title at 170 pounds in Class 2A, got that mindset from his parents.

“I definitely grew up around it,” Penton said. “My mom and dad both push hard at things — but they also let me do my own thing and they don’t force me to go to practice, I do that on my own freewill and that’s from the work ethic they implanted in me.”

“If I was forced to do it, I don’t think I would be as good as I am.”

And Penton is pretty good.

Along with the state title last season, he also won the prestigious Knockout Christmas Classic in December.

Penton entered the tournament as the ninth-seed and beat the #1, #4 and #2 seed in the final three rounds to secure the top spot.

While the win may not have shocked Penton, coming into the tournament less regarded might have been one of his best weapons.

“It made me less anxious because there wasn’t really much that was expected out of me,” Penton said. “It was a low risk, if I lost, I was supposed to anyway so it made me have less pressure on myself.”

It also made Penton unbeatable the rest of the year as his confidence in himself continued to grow.

Now, approaching his senior year, he is working on repeating, but also on what comes next in life.

“I want to wrestle in college but if I do, I want it to be a good school,” Penton said. “My end goal in all of this is to be a lawyer so I’m hoping that wrestling can help me go to a more competitive school.”

You can bet on Penton and his work ethic to get it done.

Winter Springs’ Elijah Penton stands atop the podium. (Photo courtesy of Elijah Penton)

STATE CHAMPION FEATURES

Kabra Wrestling is looking to feature as many state champions as we can over the next few months and tell a little story about what makes them special.

If you won a state championship and would like to be featured, please contact Kabra Wrestling to set up an interview.

2023 State Champions

3A-106: Andrew Punzalan (Cypress Bay)

3A-113: Tyler Washburn (Palmetto Ridge)

3A-120: Luis Acevedo (South Dade)

3A-126: Ethan Vugman (Bartram Trail)

3A-132: Cavarius Liddie (Buchholz)

3A-138: Elvis Solis (South Dade)

3A-145: Anderson Heap (Kissimmee Osceola)

3A-152: Cooper Haase (Kissimmee Osceola)

3A-160: Adrian Ochoa (Southwest Miami)

3A-170: Lawrence Rosario (South Dade)