ZELIENOPLE — When it comes to wrestling, Kevin Meeder benefits from the voice of experience.

The Seneca Valley eighth-grader has been wrestling since third grade. Last weekend, he placed 11th out of 42 wrestlers in the heavyweight division at the Pennsylvania Junior High Championships in Johnstown.

Since he debuted in the sport in third grade, Meeder has been receiving guidance from the same source — his grandfather, Larry Meeder.

“We have a lot in common,” Larry Meeder, 63, said. “I wrestled at Seneca Valley as a heavyweight in 1970 — the year I graduated — and went 12-6.

“The program was only two or three years old then, but wrestling is wrestling. The sport hasn't changed all that much.”

Kevin Meeder has always been a big kid. He got into wrestling in the first place because he was too big to play youth football.

“My grandfather and father decided to put me in wrestling,” Kevin said. “My dad never wrestled, but my grandfather's been helping me, giving me tips from the start.

“He gets me. He knows what I go through being a heavyweight. I've picked up a lot of moves and counters from him.”

The two live near each other and get together at least once a week. The elder Meeder attends the bulk of his grandson's matches as well.

“As soon as I get off the mat, he'll tell me something he noticed about my match that I didn't at the time. He's amazing,” Kevin said.

Kevin Meeder compiled an 18-7 record with 13 pins this season. He is 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, and is a two-way tackle in football. He runs track and field as well.

But wrestling is his No. 1 game.

“That's the sport I want to do in college,” he said.

One thing he will not do is get on the mat with his grandfather for some hands-on training.

“I don't know if he respects my age and is afraid he'll hurt me — or that he just wants no part of me,” Larry Meeder said, laughing.

Kevin makes no bones about it. It's the latter.

“He would kick my butt any day of the week,” Kevin said. “He's a lot stronger than I am and he knows me inside and out.

“No way am I messing with him.”

Grandfather and grandson love the sport of wrestling for the same reason.

“There's not four other guys out there with you like in basketball or 10 other guys like in football,” Larry said. “You're out there on your own, no back-up. The sport builds character.

“I've loved working with Kevin. It brings back memories.”

And it's rounding his grandson's game into form.

“He's taught me so much,” Kevin said. “Like when an opponent is coming at me, he showed me the cross-face move ... You control the other guy's head, you control his whole body.

“Honestly, I don't know where I'd be without him. He focuses on what I'm doing and he's consistently making me a better wrestler.”

And if Kevin Meeder does become a collegiate wrestler down the road, will he still be heeding his grandfather's advice?

“I wouldn't have it any other way,” Kevin said.