Senior Wrestler Sets The Tone For Underclassmen On The Team

By Cookie Steponaitis

photo provided With another victory, Grant moves another tier higher at the Philadelphia competition.

    On Monday, April 2nd, the word on the lips of the VUHS wrestling team was Grant. To be more specific it was Geoffrey Grant and the younger members of the team were all hyped up. At the National level Wrestling Tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, senior Geoffrey Grant had made his mark and dropped a challenge for those in the Commodore Wrestling Program. With a career varsity record of 132-27, State Champion in the 170 lb class, 4th in New England and top 12 in the national level, Grant finished his high school career, but raised the bar for many of the wrestlers coming up behind him.

    Entering the nationals in the first round bracket of 64 people, Grant advanced to the 32 man bracket where he pinned Nick McGinley of Delaware in 1:19 seconds and moved himself to the 16 man bracket. In this bracket he beat Rrok Ndokaj of New York in a 4-1 decision and advanced to the 8 man bracket. In this bracket, Grant lost to a New Jersey wrestler in an 8-2 decision, but remained in this bracket finishing in the top twelve in his weight class.

    While the banners are still be unfurled at the Commodore gymnasium the impact of Grant’s career and upcoming graduation are already being felt in the younger wrestlers who can be heard openly challenging each other to step up and take on the leadership role Grant leaves open. His record will stand and more importantly his legacy is firmly in place. Commodore wrestling has yet another alumni whose stories inspire and whose leadership echoes on past graduation. Congratulations to Geoffrey Grant, his coaches and the personal determination of all athletes who reach for the stars each and every game or match.