It took a self-imposed sabbatical from wrestling for Peder Sarsten to rediscovered his passion for the sport.

It helped transform him from an average 160-pounder into the hottest comeback kid in New Jersey.

"He used to sneak up on people," Voorhees coach Rick Thompson said.

Not anymore.

Not after The Express-Times Easton Phillipsburg Wrestling Classic, where on Saturday the Voorhees wrestler ran his overall record to 10-2 with a couple of impressive pins against opponents from Pennsylvania.

Sarsten began by pinning Mitch Koptchak of Philipsburg-Osceola in 3 minutes, 41 seconds to give Voorhees its last lead of the match, 25-24. Then Sarsten returned to drop Stroudsburg's Eric German in 5:31 during an afternoon match, completing a two-win day that provided a boost to his ever-growing confidence.

"I came into the season with a good mind, 100 percent good attitude," Sarsten said. "When I get on the mat, my goal is 100 percent every time."

It sure beats watching from the stands, which Sarsten discovered last winter.

He is a fullback on the Voorhees football team and also runs track. The school's wrestling program went through a transition last season, with Thompson, the former Phillipsburg High School coach, taking over for Bob Hall. Sarsten looked at the overall situation and decided to stay away.

"I had some injuries," he said. "We were going through a coaching change ... the program wasn't very together."

He decided to step away for a while and sat out his sophomore year.

Something inside quickly told him he made a mistake.

"I started missing it the first home match I went to," Sarsten said. "The time off wasn't all a bad idea. I grew, I lifted, I was in the weight room all season. I trained for football ... did a lot of speed training.

"Mostly, I matured."

All that work chiseled Sarsten into a stronger, quicker athlete when he returned to the mat for his junior season. He is no longer the unstable kid who went 9-8 as a freshman in his only other varsity season two years ago.

"The kid's a hard worker, he's got a good work ethic," Thompson said. "He's got the right attitude. That also helps the other kids on the team. He enjoys being out there, and he doesn't depend on just one move."

"The time off made me realize I had to get back into it," Sarsten said. "I really missed it. I have a totally new attitude. If I get out there and give it 100 percent, I feel good whether I win or lose. Whereas before, I got really upset if I lost."

Then again, he really hasn't had much chance to test his emotions in defeat this season.

Sarsten's first loss in his wrestling return came by default to Belvidere's Ron Schroeder, a New Jersey state qualifier last season. When the two hooked up again a week later, Sarsten emerged with a 4-3 decision on his way to winning the Kittatinny Tournament. Sarsten's only other loss this season came at the hands of Sterling's Mike Barikan -- the No. 4 wrestler in New Jersey whose 8-6 decision that day drew disbelief from Voorhees fans.

Sarsten just walked away.

"My teammates thought I won, our fans thought I won," Sarsten said. "He was a good kid and I knew I wrestled 100 percent."

That kind of poise helped Sarsten pick apart his two opponents Saturday at Lafayette's Kirby Sports Center, where a packed house roared throughout the day as a national field of high school powers cradled their moments on a six-mat center stage.

"This is probably the best thing for an individual wrestler," Sarsten said. "You don't get stuck wrestling a certain style. It's all a little different."

Opportunities like Saturday, which raise skills to a new level, are precious to wrestlers. A season in the stands made Peder Sarsten appreciate them even more.