When Caleb Austin takes a road trip, you know there’s an objective behind it, because the young wrestler is determined to face the best competition in an effort to improve his own pedigree.

Austin has the results to back it up. Included is a resent first-place medal earned at the Big Red Northeast championship held in the vast Tsongas Arena on the campus of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Austin (95 pounds) and Ethan Boucher (third place at 87.6 pounds) represented the Mountain Valley Youth wrestlers.

Cody Craig of Farmington was a finalist at 77.

MV finished sixth in the fifth-through-eighth-grade event, which featured 1,382 wrestlers from nine states. There were 163 teams in four divisions.

“It was incredible,” father and coach Eric Austin said, regarding the computerized scoring system. “There were 16 mats and a 16-man bracket, so every one had plenty of wrestling. Both Caleb and Ethan were grouped in the experienced category because they each have been competing for years.”

Austin had four matches, including a dominating performance in a 9-1 major decision against Jared Buc of Tyngboro, Mass., in the finals.

The day began with 7-0 decision in the first round over Nizo Matta, who had shot in low on a takedown and wound up bloody after being pancaked by Austin. It was actually a reprieve for Austin, who was tested in a 5-0 semifinal tilt against Patrick Eddy, a two-time Connecticut state champ.

“That was quite a match, and it required strength,” said Austin, who is on a weight lifting program at Dick Austin’s Gym. “It’s important to have a good takedown, but I’ve also had to work hard at developing my technique and strategies.”

Austin compiled an 11-4 record in three tournaments that criss-crossed Pennsylvania.

Both Austin and Boucher honed their skills at a camp conducted by four-time NCAA champion and current Penn State coach Cael Sanderson this past summer.

Boucher pinned a quarterfinal opponent, and then lost a tough 2-1 decision in the semis to eventual champion Tyler Byrd of Brockport, N.Y.

Boucher wrestled back through in the consolations, with sticks of 29 seconds and 1:10, the latter against Alex Storrs of Rhode Island in the medal match.