Football star Elmer signs for wrestling

By Phil Anastasia

Nick Elmer figures his best days as a wrestler are ahead of him.

He knows his best days as a football player are behind him.

Elmer (pictured, celebrating with football coach Kemp Carr), who led Penns Grove to a record-setting football season in the fall, on Wednesday signed a national letter of intent to attend Drexel University on a wrestling scholarship.

"I thought I was going to go to school for football because of the year I had," said Elmer, a senior at Penns Grove. "But it didn't pan out."

Elmer was The Inquirer's South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year after leading Penns Grove to a 12-0 record and the program's first South Jersey Group 1 title, as well as a state-record 621 points.

Elmer also put together a sensational season in wrestling, winning 45 matches and finishing 7th in the state at 170 pounds.

He believes he has plenty of room to improve in the sport.

"I feel like I have untapped talent in wrestling because I was so into football," Elmer said. "I know I'm still raw as a wrestler. I think I can really improve when I get to work with great wrestlers and great coaches."

A top student, Elmer plans to major in bio-medical engineering. He hopes to become a doctor who specializes in orthopedics.

"I always thought I would play football in college," Elmer said. "But I'm excited about this opportunity."

Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com. Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter.