Lilly Shaner ’17, Jacqueline Dzwonczyk ’17: Sophomore wrestler Blair Orr ‘18 has already proven his ability on the mat by placing in countless tournaments locally and nationally, including getting second at the Prep Slam in Atlanta, and now looks to advance his role on the team as a captain for next season. Coach Damon Kuzemka attributed Orr’s success to his mental agility. “He’s a quick learner and he’s also very adaptable so he’s coachable from the sidelines. Sometimes things are going on during a match that the wrestler can’t see, so we (the coaches) can point them out to Blair and he can adapt in any given situation.”
Kuzemka also noted that Orr is an experiencedwrestler, “who has faced very tough competition over the course of his entire career, even before coming to Episcopal.” He started wrestling at the age of five, and took to it immediately. “The sport has been a part of my family for a few generations: my dad wrestled, my pop-pop wrestled and my poppop’s brother was actually a PIAA state runner up. They are why I got into the sport and love it so much.”
Photo courtesy of EA Wrestling Team
Orr’s effort during practice and in matches has not only led to his individual accomplishments but also motivated his teammates. Co-captain Jonathan Lewis ‘16 said, “He’s already one of our best wrestlers on the team as a sophomore. This year he went to states and placed third, which is really good and I think he’s only going to improve upon that next year. He’s always putting in as much work as he can to show the team that they can put in the same level of work.” This hard work and dedication made Orr “the person we could always count on” according to co-captain Kosta Maritsis ‘16. Kuzemka appreciates that Orr, “enjoys himself openly in the wrestling room, which is contagious.” From his attitude during practice to his mindset during matches, Orr constantly demonstrates that he is a team player. Kuzemka noted that he “is always ready to go against the best guys and he’s also willing to do whatever he needs to for the team-even if it means wrestling in a higher weight class.”
As an underclassman, Orr has led by example, but he now is learning “to do so more vocally” according to Kuzemka. “This year he began to come out of his shell as an athlete and a leader, and was subsequently selected as a team captain for next year.” Along with Kuzemka, the current captains are confident in Orr’s ability to lead the team. Lewis asserted that he “already has the respect of the team,” and Maritsis added, “He won’t have any problems adjusting to his new role.” Orr is excited for next year and claimed, “Dallas Taylor has really stepped up as a wrestler and a leader, and I can’t wait to be co-captains with him!”
While Blair modestly attributed much of his success to his coaches and teammates, he is also self-driven. “Each match I am motivated to get my hand raised more than anything else. I know how bad it feels to lose, which drives me to want to win even more. I’m motivated to create a name for myself each time I step onto the mat. I want people to know who I am, win or lose.”
Blair explained his goals for the future,“I’m looking forward to growing as a team. I think we have a lot of young guys on our team and I think we are definitely going to improve a lot. I look forward to achieving my goals and hopefully reaching 100 wins and placing at nationals.”