- April 18, 2024
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Avery Holder photos by Jeff Dawsey
Holder slams his opponent for a takedown in the region final
In my early school days, I remember answering three questions — who’s your idol? What’s your favorite TV show? What do you want to be when you grow up? — with a similar-themed response: My idol was a wrestler, I loved watching wrestling, and I wanted to become a wrestler.
In the absence of a wrestling club in my area, I eventually fell in love with other sports, but Flagler Palm Coast junior used the World Wrestling Entertainment to at least get inside the wrestling world.
Growing up a John Cena fan, Holder joined a wrestling club at a young age in hopes of becoming a “professional.” As soon as he took a few bumps, he realized what he was doing compared to TV was a bit different.
“I kept getting my butt whooped,” Holder laughed. “Everyone was throwing me around. But, it was still fun for me.”
At that moment, Holder left behind wrestling entertainment but adopted the real deal.
While he fell in love with wrestling, Holder never took the sport seriously. Despite experiencing some success, he always fought a battle in addition to his actual opponents.
Holder spent his first two years trying to maintain his weight for his specific division. He still managed to medal with a fifth-place state finish last year.
This season — weight not being an issue — Avery is ranked first in the 126-pound division in the entire state. He has only suffered one loss (46-1) while winning the conference, Rotary, district and region championships.
Going into the Florida High School Athletic Association, Holder has seen most of his best competition throughout the season. Either he has beaten them, or he has outright placed higher than the others who didn’t get as far as he did in the tournaments.
Holder, along with Mike DeAugustino, Mike Martins, Steve Canidate, Tyrone Jones and Christian Sheppard, will look to end FPC’s 10-year championship drought. He may not win a shiny belt like John Cena, but at least he’ll know his win wasn’t predetermined. He’ll have to work for it.
