Whiz Kid Finds Release In Wrestling

When Matteo Porcedda steps onto the mat for a wrestling match, the rest of the world disappears into peripherals. His mind and body is focused, in a zen-like state, on the only thing that matters in that moment: the opponent.

The athletes shake hands and lock eyes. The referee blows the whistle to signal the start of the match—and for Porcedda, the rest is meditation. Porcedda is a senior at , and wrestling is his release.

“Freshman year coming in, I was definitely not the best student,” said Porcedda, “and I had never done sports.” A friend encouraged him to join the wrestling team at Sequoia.

For the next four seasons, Porcedda practiced five days a week, a couple hours a day.

“In wrestling, you get out there, and you either get the job done, or you don't,” said assistant coach and Assistant Vice Principal Mike Kuliga.  “There's no ambiguity about responsibility.”

Wrestling gave Porcedda the discipline to focus on his studies and push himself to be better. “It helped give me the mentality to do things 100 percent,” he said. “You develop a real respect for the sport because it's so tough.”

During Porcedda's sophomore year, his father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a highly debilitating motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He was given eight weeks to live.

“That really threw a wrench in my high school career,” said Porcedda, an only child, “but my dad was against me giving up wrestling.” Porcedda's grandma moved in to help out so that he could continue to wrestle.

As his dad gradually starting losing independence, Porcedda started gaining some of his own, taking on new responsibilities at home and working harder than ever to keep up his grades and improve as an athlete.

“He has this incredible work ethic that just shines through,” said Kuliga. “The reason I love coaching is, we live in a society where we try to remove confrontation in what we do. I see wrestling giving kids that opportunity. I see the sort of confidence it builds in the kids who do it.”

Though a one-on-one sport, Porcedda and his teammates have found true friends in their team. “Throughout practice, we end up becoming wrestling partners, friends and rivals at the same time,” said Jackson Campbell, a senior on the wrestling team.

“It's like a brotherhood,” Porcedda agreed. “It's like blood sweat and tears you shed together.” Together, they wrestle six days a week, including tournaments, and struggle to make weight.

At 5'10'', Porcedda is naturally about 180 lbs. But he's in the 171-pound weight class. Diet and exercise keep his weight down, and the day before a match, he will eat only a chicken breast. As soon as the match is over, he sticks to his meal ritual: “two boiled eggs and a cup of oatmeal with nuts and a Vitamin Water or Gatorade.”

On the mat, you can't hide, you can't just be on the bench, says Porcedda. “Coach always says, it's your moment in time.” In that moment, Porcedda is completely focused. After, he feels relaxed. “Wrestling is the best stress-reliever,” he said.

Today, Porcedda has a 4.2 GPA, acts as a mentor to another student at Sequoia and just got accepted into 11 out of the 12 colleges to which he applied. He also made it to the high school wrestling state championships—a dream he never thought possible four years ago.

It's been four years, and Porcedda is a changed young man. He's grown up. His father was recently confined to a wheelchair, but he has a lot to be proud of in his son.

Porcedda thanks his mom and his coaches for their endless support. “My mom's always been there. I really want to thank her for that,” he said. Porcedda plans on attending college in California, staying near his mom to return that support.

For his coaches—Kuliga, and head coach John Peavler—Porcedda is grateful for their expectations. “Even though I didn't want to be pushed, I'm so glad that they did,” he said, “and to believe in myself.”