Lutheran Westland's Shinta Uza
is catching on to new sport swiftly

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Dec. 17, 2009, 6:30 p.m.

  When someone mentions they have a new wrestler that will significantly impact their team, one's mind immediately thinks of a potential state qualifier, or someone who will fill a hole and come up with key pins.

  However, that is not what Lutheran Westland coach Joe Schmidt had in mind when he introduced me to Shinta Uza. Shinta is classified as an international student -- a kid from a foreign country who is financing his own education in the United States.

  Uza is a citizen of Okinawa, Japan. Following his freshman year in Okinawa, Shinta enrolled in the Foreign Exchange program, which led him to attend Garden City High School. At the end of his sophomore year, he wanted to continue his education in the United States, but the government funding for Foreign Exchange students was limited to one year. Uza's host family arranged for him to attend Lutheran Westland, but Shinta's family in Japan had to foot the bill.

  At Lutheran Westland, a school with only about 80 boys enrolled, participation in extracurricular activities is something most students do. Shinta is a good soccer player and as a dabbler in Judo and jujutsu, he wanted to join the wrestling team as well. However, with our myriad of rules controlling who can or cannot play high school sports, Shinta is barred from competition because of his switch from Foreign Exchange to International student. He cannot even put on a Lutheran Westland uniform.

  So, Shinta Uza comes to every wrestling practice and works his tail off for the betterment of the team. He drills with everyone, from the first year 103-pounder to the senior 189-pounder. He is skilled enough to be a varsity wrestler, but instead acts as a Manager keeping stats and stuff, and even helps out with some aspects of coaching like working a corner at individual tournaments and even attending one seeding meeting.

  When his senior year is over, Shinta plans to attend college in Japan. If the opportunity arises, he would enjoy sharing the folkstyle techniques he has learned at Lutheran Westland with young wrestlers in Japan.