SLIPPERY ROCK — Forrest Christman is dominating his foes on the wrestling mat.

The Slippery Rock eighth-grader rolled through the 2009 National High School Coaches Association wrestling tournament in May, pinning Austin Christie of Titusville before getting a second-period fall against Alex Jense of Buffalo, N.Y., to win the national title in the 180-pound weight class.

But Christman isn't satisfied.

"It felt great," Christman said. "All the matches were pretty tough. My goal was to win. I think I can get better."

To that end, Christman is seeking out the best.

He has worked with Seneca Valley wrestling coach Tom Tomeo, who won two PIAA wrestling titles at Grove City High and an NCAA championship at Clarion University.

Christman also has trained with undefeated state champion Caleb Kolb, a Grove City graduate who is heading to Nebraska this fall on a full wrestling scholarship.

"I learned a lot from him," Christman said. "He showed me some agility and other techniques. It was tough, real tough. He's just so strong and has really good technique."

Christman isn't stopping there.

He will attend a wrestling camp at the University of Iowa conducted by college and Olympic wrestling legends Tom Brands and Dan Gable this month.

"I just want to get a taste of the intensity there," Christman said. "I want to learn as much as I can from Olympic gold medalists."

In addition to his national championship in May, Christman also was second in the Northwest Regional Tour and qualified for the Area 7 tournament, where many WPIAL wrestlers compete.

Christman will attend more camps this summer and compete in more events, he said.

Excuse Christman if he feels like he has to make up for lost time.

Last year, Christman had to spend most of the summer on the sidelines after suffering a severe concussion in a freak accident.

Christman slipped and fell in a hallway after wrestling practice and smacked his head off the hard floor. His doctor would not release him to wrestling for months.

"It was very tough on him," said Ed Christman, Forrest's father.

There has been no shortage of activity this summer.

When Christman isn't wrestling, he is honing skills in another sport: football.

He attended a camp at Penn State University, running the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds — not bad for a 6-foot-2, 180-pound eighth-grader who plays tight end and defensive end.

In fact, Ed Christman said perhaps the only thing that can derail his wrestling career is football.

"Football may be his sport," Ed Christman said.

Right now, Forrest Christman isn't ready to commit. He said he will both wrestle and play football at Slippery Rock High as a freshman and let fate decide which sport he pursues.

He already has some lofty goals.

"The ultimate goal is to be a PIAA state champ," Christman said.

Christman said he will probably end up at heavyweight, where the wrestling is much different.

But he said he believes he has an advantage at that weight class because of his agility.

Through it all, his father has tried to keep his gifted son grounded.

"I tell him every day to keep it in perspective," Ed Christman said. "I think he has done that."