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03/19/2024 11:37 AMThe workhorse mentality that comes with wrestling is what drew Jack Fletcher to the mat. And with his dedication and persistence 365 days a year, he has established himself as one of the greatest grapplers to come through the town of East Haven.
After being introduced to the sport from a Yellowjackets’ alum in his father, Jack, a senior, has pinned down his tenure with one of the most prolific careers in East Haven wrestling history. He is a three-time state place earner, which includes a Class M crown this winter for the 113-pound class. Jack has additionally placed in the State Open Championships for two consecutive postseasons while winning a pair of bouts at New Englands this campaign.
The two-year varsity captain finishes up with a career mark of 107-25 for three seasons of grappling and was named the Team MVP for both his sophomore and junior runs.
“With wrestling, it was just a natural feeling to me where I did something and liked it a lot right away. I also love the hard work and dedication it takes to be successful in this sport,” says Jack. “My biggest key to success has just been putting in the work and going to practice daily while working on the little things. I also wrestle for a club team in the offseason, and I bring the things I learn there to East Haven.”
Entering the Class M State Championships last month, Jack had some pre-match jitters prior to embarking on what would inevitably be a title run. After hitting a major milestone midway through the draw, he had that extra boost to lock in and bring home the gold.
“Going into states, I was nervous, which I usually am before a match. I pace myself before matches to help calm the nerves, and they leave once I hit that mat,” Jack says. “After day 1 of states, I hit my 100th career win, which was my biggest accolade and meant a lot to me. For the finals, I knew I had to focus, and then I also knew I had to bring my A game.”
While he repeated his feat in placing at the Open, Jack additionally attained a lifelong goal of reaching regionals. He knew on the state’s biggest summit, he needed to wrestle near flawlessly.
“Placing the second time at the Open was big. I went in thinking I had to do well, because I wanted to make it to New Englands,” says Jack. “I had to go hard and do my moves. I also knew I could not mess around. I did take some losses at the tournament, but I won my last match to finish fifth.”
Speaking of dealing with defeat, Jack explains he has logged many miles on the mat. The lengthy tenure has garnered his great experience of being a graceful grappler with a poker face.
“It takes a lot to learn how to cope with losing. I have wrestled for 11 years now, and I know to come off the mat smiling no matter what,” says Jack. “You also cannot show weakness in your face to your opponent. Wrestling year-round has really helped me discover all of that.”
As a steward of the squad and to younger colleagues, Jack knows it takes more to set an exemplary example by pinning adversaries. A great leader must never be hesitant or afraid to lend a helping hand or listening ear.
“Being a captain is more than just being good at a sport,” Jack says. “You have to show leadership on and off the mat and get good grades. You also have to let the younger kids know they can come to you with any questions and can ask for your help.”
Yellowjackets’ Head Coach Mark Tolla says that Jack’s decade of diligence within the sport round the clock has paid massive dividends for both himself and every party he involves himself with. He has not only made himself better, but he has also left an influential impact on both the program as a whole and his colleagues.
“Jack has been wrestling competitively and year-round for at least 10 years, so his success has been due to all the hard work and dedication to the sport he loves,” says Tolla. “As a teammate and leader, he sets the bar for others to follow on a daily basis. He is well-respected and liked by all of his teammates. I have found him to be extremely coachable and receptive to constructive criticism. This mindset has allowed him to climb to the championship level that he has ascended to. East Haven wrestling has been very fortunate to have a wrestler and person of Jack's pedigree; all of us who have had the ability to engage with him are better for it.”
Wrestling has matured Jack in some major ways. It has become a vocation to him, preparing him early for the working world. He also gained a grand feeling of satisfaction by helping the upward trajectory of the Yellowjackets and making history within his family.
“Wrestling has taught me a lot about dedication and staying on top of things. It is also a difficult sport, so it is like a job,” Jack says. “The biggest impact from my time with East Haven has just been trying to build a bigger program and helping build the best team possible. I was always trying to get my name on a banner as a state champion alongside my dad, and I did that here, which was so big for me.”