Vets leaves lasting legacy after two bronze medals at state meet

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 3/10/16

It’s been a season of resilience for Warwick Vets wrestling, and it culminated in two of its sophomore wrestlers earning bronze medals at the state tournament and berths at New Englands.

Shawn …

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Vets leaves lasting legacy after two bronze medals at state meet

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It’s been a season of resilience for Warwick Vets wrestling, and it culminated in two of its sophomore wrestlers earning bronze medals at the state tournament and berths at New Englands.

Shawn Holland pinned Cranston East’s James Roderick in the 106, while Eric Watts dominated his opponent en route to a medal at the 113. Watts said that despite the fact some teammates quit during the season, the remaining core stayed perseverant.

“We had a good strong seven of us who stuck it out and really wanted to wrestle and made other parents and coaches proud,” Watts said.

Before their respective matches, both young wrestlers realized the importance of placing in the last state meet in Warwick Vets history. The ’Canes’ eight Rhode Island championships are third-most all-time, with the most recent victory coming in the 2010-11 season.

“I got fourth seed in the tournament so I expected to get top four and I am gonna get that and I’m very excited to be placing for Vets’ last year,” Holland said.

“I kinda messed up in semifinals, I had the second seed,” Watts said. “I lost to the third seed so now I’m wrestling for third and fourth, so I’m still fighting. I’m sure other people, Vets alumni are rooting on.”

Holland was resilient in his 106 bout with Roderick, falling down 2-0 early in the match. However, he was able to storm back and pin Roderick to take the bronze, eliciting an emotional reaction.

His comeback captured what he described as the legacy of Vets wrestling, “That we never give up and we always fight.”

“I knew he was going to be very tough, but I went out there, I never stopped wrestling and I knew I was gonna do something,” Holland said. “I felt great. I’ve never placed, last year I didn’t place, so it felt amazing.”

Watts was ahead for a majority of his contest, jumping on top by double digits. After winning third place, he was very grateful of the fans who came out to watch and the coaches who had been working with him all season long.

“It feels great,” Watts said. “I worked hard for it. I’m thanking all the supporters, the alumni and all the parents, coaches, that came out to support me. I just want to thank them.”

Vets head coach Anthony Meyers was proud of his wrestlers for seizing their “opportunities” during each match.

“We talked before about opportunities and I preached that the last couple weeks, and those kids are living proof that if you take advantage of your opportunities, good things are gonna happen,” Meyers, who wrestled on the 2010-11 state champion team, said. “I’m very happy and that’s Warwick Vets in a nutshell. Seeing the opportunities, taking advantage of it. What we had, it couldn’t have ended a better way.”

Both wrestlers didn’t end up placing at New Englands, but they will still be able to say they were the last to don the blue and yellow unitards.

“I’m actually very proud about it,” Watts said. “Coming in as a freshman I didn’t really understand the rivalries between other schools and all that, but going into the high school I realized how important it is and how much it means to other people.”

Meyers had to pause and think when he was asked what the ultimate legacy of Vets wrestling would be, but his answer encapsulated a season that saw a small core overcome challenges for a couple of medals at the state meet.

“Hurricanes never quit,” he said.

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