Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Noah DeMarco

Noah DeMarco made interesting choices as a multi-sport athlete. Wrestling and pole vaulting are not a usual combination for multi-sport student-athletes, but there are more similarities than meets the eye. Each sport is played as a part of a team, but individualistic in competition. Each requires an ultimate level of personal accountability and a high level of concentration. Noah has used these qualities to emerge as one of the leaders for the Wolves, which is why he is this week’s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Noah started wrestling in junior high with Aaron Dudley, who also moved on with Noah to help at OE. By the time Noah entered high school, he knew wrestling was something he wanted to concentrate on moving forward. Noah went through growing pains as a freshman wrestling for the varsity, oftentimes wrestling against much more experienced and older wrestlers. "Noah has grown tremendously in his ability to use those challenges as motivation to be better, stronger, and faster," says Carole and Andy DeMarco, Noah’s parents.

Head coach Paul Coy watched Noah grow as a person and wrestler over the past four years, watching him improve as a wrestler and emerge as a leader. "As a freshman, Noah was quiet when he came into the wrestling room," says Paul. He goes on to say, "He is still quiet to a point, but he allows his actions to speak for him. I think his confidence has grown as a wrestler and a person, and you can see that on the mat, in pole vaulting, and in the classroom."

Wrestling in a tough weight class of 157 lbs, Noah has been able to amass a record of 10-3 early in the season. "We always speak to the team about having a positive mindset and surrounding ourselves with positive people to enforce that, and Noah is one of the leaders who holds his teammates accountable," says Paul.

The unique aspect of wrestling is it is the ultimate sport of accountability, something Noah loves about the sport. "It is a 6-minute match and it is just me out there," says Noah. He goes on to say, "I don’t have to rely on anyone and don’t get to make excuses if I fail. If there is a problem it is my responsibility to come up with a solution."

It is not just the mat where Noah enjoys being an analytical thinker and coming up with solutions to problems. With a 3.9 GPA, Noah is interested in majoring in the mathematical field, possibly engineering. "Noah has always had a knack for math, but it is also in addition to his creative side that would allow him to excel in a field where sometimes you need to look at a challenge from a different angle to solve it," says Carole and Andy.

Noah’s junior-year Pre-Calculus teacher and math department chair, Adam Thurlwell, believes his personality and skillset would serve him well in the field, saying, "Noah is witty and adds levity to what sometimes can be perceived as laboring processes in the educational setting." He goes on to say, "Noah picks up mathematical concepts very quickly. I think regardless of the career choice he makes, his pragmatic approach and logic mixed with perseverance will lay the foundation for him to be successful in any field."

Noah has been in contact with some DIII colleges about both pole vaulting and wrestling and would like to compete in one of the sports in college. "I feel with Noah’s work ethic and skills, he is setting himself up to compete at the next level. We are going to miss his effort and attitude on the mat, as well as everything else he brings to the team," says Paul.

Regardless of where Noah ends up next season, he has unfinished business on the mat, as he has set a personal goal to make it downstate at the end of the season. For future Wolves looking to succeed in athletics and the classroom, Noah offers his advice, saying, "Find your bubble of people. You don’t need to worry about being friends with everyone or knowing everything. If you have a small group of friends or one person you can talk to in each class, you’ll do well." Noah’s concern will remain on being the best wrestler and teammate he can, which will hopefully result in him achieving his goal and having his name etched in the record book as a state-qualifying wrestler for the Wolves.