This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/08/2017 11:00 PMAlex Tapia has had quite the journey through the world of wrestling. Alex started with the sport in 6th grade, then took a two-year break when his family moved back to his home country of Ecuador. When he came back to East Haven for his freshman year, Alex was excited to resume his career as an East Haven wrestler.
“It was wonderful because I got to experience it again,” says Alex, who’s now a senior. “My freshman year when I came back, it was tough starting off, being behind my other teammates because I was just getting back to it. It took me a while, but I worked hard to learn all the moves, catch up with the team, and learn new techniques to progress and get better.”
Alex has primarily wrestled in three weight classes for the Yellowjackets: 120, 126, and 132. Of all the techniques he’s learned over the years, Alex’s favorite is the ankle pick, which suits him because of his long arms.
“That’s one of my best moves. I almost do one in every match,” Alex says. “I get in a headlock with the opponent and I try to push into them in order for them to push back. When they do, I step back, pull their head down, and reach for their ankle to push them down. I’m better on my feet and I have a good reach, along with strength in my arms to do it.”
Alex battled through injuries during most of his senior season, but his persistence on the mat helped the Yellowjackets win the SCC B Division title this winter. Then at the SCC Championship, Alex placed second in the 138-pound division to earn All-Conference Second Team honors. East Haven wrestling Head Coach Lou Rivellini was proud to see a kid like Alex achieve those feats.
“Alex has been one of our most consistent guys for the past three years. He took second at the SCC Tournament and was Second Team All-SCC,” says Rivellini. “He has more heart than any kid I’ve ever coached, never quitting and doing whatever it takes to win.”
One of Alex’s most notable accomplishments from his senior year is that he went the entire season without losing a single bout held at East Haven High School.
“When I wrestle at home, I want to give it my all in order to win in front of our fans. It feels better winning at home,” says Alex. “It was great and, this year placing Second Team SCC, it was just a great season. We accomplished a couple of goals that our team set at the beginning, so it was a wonderful season.”
This was Alex’s last season as a wrestler, but he says that he’ll always remember his time as a member of the East Haven wrestling team. Alex adds that he will be keeping his eye on the Yellowjackets in the future.
“This year’s team has been great and I’m really going to miss this sport. We accomplished some good goals this year by winning the division,” he says. “The team has to work hard. There’s a lot of young talent coming up that will step up to varsity spots and I’ll always be coming back to cheer on the team.”