After a ten year hiatus, Senior Darion Storey decided to wrestle his last year of high school. The last time he wrestled, Darion was the state champion, at the age of six in 2001.
It’s that time of the year, wrestling season is back and there is a new wrestler at Tower. But this new wrestler isn’t a new student; he has gone to the Warren Woods district since second grade. Darion Storey saw all the “it’s not too late to wrestle” signs in the hall way and made his decision. “I knew it would be good for me and I felt like I might regret it if I never at least tried it in high school,” said Darion Storey ’13.
The last time Darion wrestled it was ten years ago and he was in elementary school. Darion started but also ended wrestling very young. “I wrestled when I was 6-7 years old and did it for two seasons for the Roseville Eagles.” “I used to watch WWF which is now WWE and wanted to wrestle,” said Darion.
Darion didn’t know it, but he was that much better than the other wrestlers. The year before Darion stopped wrestling, he was the state champion…and he didn’t even know it. “I didn’t even know I was at the State Championship until after I won the first place trophy. It was good hearing my name and I felt like my hard work paid off,” Darion said. After winning the state championship why would someone stop wrestling? “The season after I won the state championship, I got moved up a division and lost a lot of matches. I didn’t like losing so I decided not to wrestle,” Darion responded.
With such a long gap between years of wrestling, how will the coaches feel about Darion getting back into it and will they even know about his past years is the big question. “I know that he wrestled as a youth and was better than average,” Greg Mayer said. “I feel that if Darion sticks with it and busts his butt this season he will do well especially with being such a big kid and good athlete,” Mayer responded. With such a big gap one must think that Darion has to be nervous. “I am very nervous going in and wrestling people who have probably wrestled for 5+ years. I just have to work harder to get better,” Darion said.
Wrestling started a few weeks ago but Darion’s first practice was last week. Darion made it through the first practice but it was not easy. “I was really tired and I thought I was going to pass out. I made it through and it was the hardest work I’ve ever done,” Darion said. When asked how Darion did the first practice, Coach Mayer responded, “Let’s just say he was very tired.” But as the practices go on, Darion gets more of his old wrestling mind and body back.
Practice is one thing but the meets are another. Darion hasn’t been in a wrestling meet since 2001. “Darion is a very big athletic kid and that is a very big advantage but he not only waited senior year to wrestle but started senior year late and missed the first few weeks of practice and that is a big disadvantage,” Mayer said. With all of the advantages and disadvantages of Darion, all the coaches and wrestlers are anxious to see how Darion will do this season. “I think I’ll do alright as long as I work hard. My main concern isn’t winning or losing it’s just getting better,” Darion said.
Come out to see Darion and the other wrestlers this season. Darion Storey, after a ten year hiatus and winning the state championship in 2001 finally deciding to get back into the game his senior year. Come see Darion throw his old wrestling tights on and see if he still has the state champion inside of him.
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