Watervliet wrestler relies on feel instead of sight to compete

The Watervliet wrestling program has a rich, stand-alone history, but when a Cohoes student no longer had a team, the Cannoneers’ coaches welcomed him with open arms.

The mat has been a rare place for Jeremy Mayville to feel like he’s escaped the everyday hurdles he faces. However, it’s the same place where he encounters perhaps the most daunting physical and mental challenges.

Jeremy is blind.

When the match starts, Jeremy and his opponent start hand-in-contact. That means the two wrestlers always stay in contact, so it’s 100% feel.

If it sounds like Jeremy is at an extreme disadvantage, many of his opponents would disagree. Jeremy has a winning record this season as a senior.

See Jeremy in action and learn about what helps keep him motivated by watching the video of Chris Onorato’s story.