Nacita's quite a catch

On the mat and at his favorite fishing hole, freshman is quick study
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 Bakersfield Californian news article

Andy Varner wouldn't exactly call Elijah Nacita a fishing expert.

But the freshman wrestler at Cal State Bakersfield is a quick study, and certainly much better than the first time Varner took his former pupil fishing during Nacita's freshman year at Bakersfield High.

During the trip, Nacita's line frequently became tangled and he didn't quite grasp the nuances of casting.

But he caught fish. In fact, he caught almost as many as Varner.

Like new techniques on the wrestling mat, Nacita picked up the basics quickly.

Four years later, Nacita's fishing ability has come along much quicker than Varner's ability to scout out a bountiful spot along the Kern River. At least, if you ask Nacita.

"Sometimes we'd go to his little 'secret spots' he said he had on the Kern River," Nacita said. "Most of the time, they weren't too good."

When told of Nacita's good-natured jest, Varner said that it was Nacita's presence that spoiled his "secret spots."

Playful banter aside, it is Nacita's ability to absorb new concepts like fishing that has Roadrunners coach T.J. Kerr excited about Nacita's ability on the mat.

"It's part of Elijah's makeup," Kerr said. "He's a little more mature than most people."

And, while these fishing expeditions often grew competitive, talk of wrestling techniques and Nacita's future in college rarely came up.

Unless, however, the conversation shifted to funny stories about Varner's experiences at CSUB.

Nacita quickly recalled one story Varner told on the banks of the Kern River, but he doesn't think it's appropriate for publication.

Instead, he said he hopes to never have to endure a similar experience.

"He's going to have his own stories, too, and he probably already has some," Varner said. "That's the fun thing about being part of a team. You spend so much time with them, you build those friendships."

Friendship is exactly what those fishing trips are all about. Before Jake Varner, Andy's cousin, graduated from Bakersfield High, he used to join the group in the respite of the outdoors.

Sometimes, even Andy's wife, Hilary, would come along.

When Andy was asked about these fishing trips during a phone interview Tuesday, Hilary could be heard in the background saying, "Tell him we beat you."

Hilary said she teamed with Nacita to catch more fish than Jake and Andy.

Andy, however, sees the trip a bit differently.

"She says they beat us, but I remember winning by a fish or two," Andy said.

From fishing trips to school or wrestling, Elijah comes across as serious.

Sure, Nacita will joke around, but he always seems like he's leading the way.

When he came in for a Californian All-Area photo with teammates from BHS, Nacita started a trend when he saluted behind a flag backdrop.

That sparked his buddies to do the same.

"He's special, and he's very gifted," Kerr said.

After winning Kern County's lone state title last season at 135, Nacita is used to being the focus of attention.

Standing on the elevated mat in front of a packed house at Rabobank Arena, Nacita battled through a sore shoulder and an upset stomach to have the official raise his hand in victory after beating Temecula-Chaparral's Chris Drouin.

The headline in the Sunday paper was "Unstoppable!" Nothing could have kept Nacita from finishing off his undefeated season.

"I don't remember too much," Nacita said. "I remember the hype and everything about it. But the match is just a blur."

He does remember running off the mat and leaping into the arms of his coaches.

On the first day of the state tournament, Nacita received a call from Jake.

His message: "It's yours. You can do it."

There is a bond that links those who wrestled for the Drillers. They form a family.

They go fishing.

It's because of that dedication to family Nacita almost went to Oklahoma State instead of CSUB.

Nacita's cousin, former Driller and state champion Nathan Morgan, is a junior at 141 pounds for the Cowboys. Since Nacita is also a 141-pound wrestler, the cousins would have trained together.

"I just decided at the last minute that I didn't want to go there," Nacita said. "It was hard for him, because we've been partners together for two years. It would have been good for him, for me, to go there. But I just decided not to go."

With Gerry Abas in his first season as an assistant coach with the Roadrunners, Nacita won't be hurting for quality training competition.

"He's a real fast wrestler; good transitions," Abas said. "I can't wait to go a full round with him.

"He's tough and he's focused."

Abas is recovering from an ACL injury in right knee, which has kept him off the mat so far. But his timing in joining the CSUB staff is perfect for Nacita's growth as a wrestler.

Kerr expects big things from the freshman. He even mentions that Nacita's career could rival that of Stephen Neal's -- now a lineman with the New England Patriots -- by the time Nacita leaves the Roadrunners.

That's high praise considering Neal is a four-time All-American, four-time Pac-10 champion, two-time NCAA champion and a world champion in 1999.

"I don't know if you can say that six years from now he's going to be the outstanding freestyle wrestler in the world," Kerr said. "I'd like (for him) to do that, but that's part of the thing you throw out there.

"If you say, 'You could be Steve Neal,' then you also need to start thinking a little bit differently," Kerr said. "Throw the idea out there and have him take it. It wouldn't bother me at all."

It wouldn't bother Nacita either.

"It means a lot," said Nacita of being compared to Neal. "Hopefully, I'll do that well. I have the ability to do it. I just want to keep working hard."

But, just because an athlete is working hard, doesn't mean he can't while away a few idle hours on the banks of the Kern River.

Good friends. Good Stories. A little friendly competition. It doesn't get much better than that.