090: Eric Childs

🏆 From wrestling beginner to NJ State Champion in just three seasons.Eric Childs didn't discover wrestling until high school. By 1988, he had become Rancocas Valley's first state wrestling champion.🤼 In this New Jersey Mat Chat Legends episode, Eric shares his unlikely journey from a sophomore who barely knew the rules to defeating some of New Jersey's toughest competitors.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE:🥇 Winning the 1988 NJ State Championship🔥 His rivalry with Chi Santone💪 The work ethic that transformed his wrestling career🏟️ The unforgettable state finals at Princeton❤️ Why his mother saw him wrestle for the first time in the state finals🎓 Wrestling at Rider University and qualifying twice for the NCAA Championships🫁 Surviving pulmonary fibrosis and receiving a double-lung transplant🙏 The importance of organ donation and appreciating lifeAn incredible wrestling story — and an even greater story about perseverance and second chances.💬 Could a wrestler today start in high school and win an NJ state championship just three seasons later?🔔 Subscribe to New Jersey Mat Chat for conversations with the wrestlers, coaches, and legends who built NJ wrestling.Watch 'The Godfather of MMA' Now available now on Amazon Prime:https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0HHCGGT6S00:00 The Godfather of MMA01:06 Meet 1988 State Champion Eric Childs01:38 Discovering Wrestling as a Sophomore05:25 His First District Tournament06:22 Realizing He Could Become a Champion07:56 Beating Chi Santone08:08 Eric's Wrestling Philosophy09:46 Learning at Wrestling Camp10:26 His First Region Championship13:04 Training Harder Than Ever15:12 Natural Athleticism and Coordination16:26 Rivalries With Chi Santone and Johnny Duran17:32 Two Early Senior-Year Losses18:08 The Undefeated Run Begins19:10 Finally Beating Chi at Districts19:33 Mapping Out His Championship Goals21:47 The 1988 State Tournament22:01 Reaching the Semifinals23:42 Beating DeJoseph to Reach the Finals24:03 Winning the Semifinal25:26 His Parents Finally Watch Him Wrestle26:59 His Mother's First Match Was the State Final28:09 Winning the 1988 State Championship29:30 Choosing Rider University30:50 The Shock of Division I Wrestling32:48 Qualifying for the NCAA Championships33:40 Learning About Freestyle Wrestling35:06 Becoming Rancocas Valley's First State Champion36:06 Moving to California36:43 Diagnosed With Pulmonary Fibrosis37:31 Receiving a Life-Saving Double-Lung Transplant38:04 The Day His New Lungs Arrived40:06 A New Appreciation for Life40:51 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro