While some of my favorite moments from my journalism career have been at state wrestling championships watching student-athletes achieve their dreams, the one wrestler who has probably inspired me the most has never won a state title and has actually only been a high school athlete for a few months.
That wrestler is Marshwood freshman Sean Moriarty.
Moriarty has won medals at tournaments throughout his youth wrestling career and has started his high school run with a championship at the Spartan tournament last weekend.
His wrestling resume is impressive for a high school freshman, but the thing that is truly inspirational about Sean is the fact that he has done all of that while dealing with Cystic Fibrosis.
While the Journal Tribune doesn’t technically cover Marshwood High School or its wrestling program, I thought Sean’s story deserved to be told and everyone at the Journal agreed.
I first heard of Sean from my good friend and local photographer Jason Gendron, who got to know the Moriarty family through wrestling and quickly became a huge supporter of Sean.
Just from talking with Jason I could tell that Sean was special — and after speaking with Sean, his mom Kathi and Marshwood coach Matt Rix last weekend, it was apparent that he was truly an incredible young man.
We live in an era where athletic participation seems to dwindle every year and it’s tough to get some kids to put down their iPhone or gaming system and actually dedicate themselves to a sport. So the fact that Sean is able to handle everything that comes with CF, go to school and compete in a sport like wrestling is simply unbelievable.
I could never say I understand Sean’s daily battle, but I did have to go through my young life dealing with a rare disease that currently has no cure.
I have a bleeding disorder called Hemophilia B, which affects 1 in 5,000 males. People with Hemophilia basically bleed longer than other people.
When I was young I would have to go to the hospital quite a bit as a normal nose bleed would need to be cauterized and when I would fall as a kid there was always a risk of internal bleeding.
Like I said even though I can relate on a much smaller level to Sean, I was pretty lucky as I have a mild form of Hemophilia and have barely had any problems since my teenage years.
Sean’s story made me think back to my younger days and wonder if I let my disease hold me back from doing more when it came to sports. I do know that I could of used a role model like Sean back then.
Despite dealing with a debilitating disease like CF, Sean has never wanted any special treatment. He has simply wanted to be one thing: a wrestler.
I’ve had a chance to cover two tournaments where Sean was competing this season and both times I could tell he was in his element. Some wrestlers don’t enjoy a tournament where you can sometimes wait hours for a match, but not Sean. It was obvious that he loved every minute he got to spend with his wrestling family.
In all my years of following wrestling I can honestly say that one thing all of the great champions I’ve covered have had is that same love of wrestling.
When you add in his undeniable talent and tireless work ethic, it’s pretty clear that Sean Moriarty will be a champion on the mat and in life.
NOTE: For more on Sean’s battle with Cystic Fibrosis, check out the story entitled “A Great Example,” in today’s edition.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.
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