(This is an archive story, refer to the byline for author name)
By Emily Enriquez
Making state is a big deal, especially when you do it for the first time in your school’s history! Senior Noah Vo did just that in wrestling. With all his hard work, he will now go down in Brewer history and become an inspiration to many.
“It feels great to make it to state, I feel like all the work I put in finally paid off,” Vo said.
Vo, from age seven to twelve, was doing Brazilian jiu jitsu, which he was really good at. Jiu Jitsu is known to coincide with wrestling, with this background, it grew him not only into an outstanding athlete, but also into the incredible wrestler he is today.
“Noah has a lot of self-discipline. He had to manage his weight and stay on top of his skill development and technique,” Head Coach Sonny Feexico said. “He always liked to try different things and was not afraid to try different things if he knew it would be an advantage for him.”
In wrestling, it takes lots of self-commitment and mental prep, it's not an easy sport so those who succeed in it are extremely valued, such as Vo.
“The most difficult part of wrestling is definitely the mental stress and consistency that comes with it,” Vo said. “I've had to drop four to five pounds in two days and then had to have enough energy to wrestle.”
Apart from being an outstanding wrestler, Vo is an even better teammate. Many describe him as humble, encouraging and a role model.
“Noah Vo is an amazing teammate, he's always there for the wrestlers with any questions they might have. He is a great leader and I’m pushing to be a great leader like him one day and having enough experience to be able to teach anyone the rights and wrongs of wrestling,” sophomore teammate Wilmer Reyes said. “Noah is more than a teammate even if he doesn’t admit it, a lot of wrestlers look to him as a beacon for answers.”
Being able to hold such a big title, not only comes from the individual, but also from their teammates and coaches. Although wrestling is an individual sport, having the right teammates and coaches can push you to accomplish more.
“I like to motivate my team with a lot of positive reinforcement, but I also keep it real with the athletes when they try to blame others for their mishaps on the mat. It’s just them out there and only they can wrestle for themselves. Once they understand that, they become more aware of their technique and start working to become better so they don’t make the same mistake twice,” Feexico said.
Vo has had a huge impact on many people even if he doesn't realize it. His own teammates plan to follow his footprints and make it to state just like him. But not only has he had an impact on others, Vo has also had a huge impact on himself.
“Wrestling has had a huge impact on my life. Apart from teaching me some basic grappling moves, it also taught me mental toughness and how to stay calm in stressful situations,” Vo said. “Mental toughness is a big part of wrestling and life. The ability to keep fighting even though you're struggling and tired could be the deciding factor for success.”
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