Jesse Porter commits to NMU-USOTS Greco-Roman program for college
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
Action photos of Jesse Porter courtesy of the Porter family.
Jesse Porter of Ballston Lake, N.Y., a senior and top college prospect, has committed to attend Northern Michigan University, as part of its U.S. Olympic Training Site Greco-Roman program next year.
Porter, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, placed third and fourth in the New York State Div. I Championships the last two seasons. He has been an All-American in USA Wrestling’s age-group programs in both styles.
“The way I see it, if I went to a Div. I or Div. II college for folkstyle, that takes time away from what I want to do, which is wrestle Greco-Roman. I would have to split my focus for four more years. At Northern Michigan, I can focus on what I want to do,” said Porter.
He was a runner-up at the 2014 FILA Cadet Nationals and the 2013 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman. Last summer, he was fifth at the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman. Porter was a 2011 Schoolboy Nationals Greco-Roman champion. He was also fifth in the 2013 Cadet Nationals in freestyle.
He will train under NMU-USOTS head coach Rob Hermann and assistant coach Aghasi Manukian. Hermann is a past U.S. Olympic Team Greco-Roman head coach and Manukian is a past Senior World Greco-Roman champion. He will also work closely with USA Wrestling’s National Coaching Staff, which includes Matt Lindland, Momir Petkovic and Ahad Javansalehi.
“I think they have a really good coaching staff. I went up there for a training camp, and I will go up there again. Rob Hermann is a great coach. National Coach Matt Lindland will be a good training partner for me. At NMU, they have had guys who have had success on the Open and the international levels,” said Porter.
“Having a wrestler like Jesse will be great for the whole wrestling room. Coach Aghasi, myself, and the training partners he will have here every day will allow him to reach his highest potential in this great sport of Greco Roman wrestling,” said Hermann.
Porter is from a wrestling family in which his parents are very active as well as his siblings. His older sister Alexis has made U.S. World Teams in women’s freestyle as a Cadet and Junior, has won Junior National titles and is nationally ranked on the Senior level. He shares an Olympic dream with Alexis and the entire family.
“For me, that was the goal. We are all looking to go down that path. My sister is a little farther along right now. She goes to McKendree University, placed fourth in the college nationals and is nationally ranked as a Senior. Even my little sister wrestles, and she will be going to Fargo to compete. The goal is to be an Olympic champion. For us, that’s always the goal,” said Porter.
His love and commitment to Greco-Roman comes directly from his father, Jesse, Sr., who also serves as one of his coaches.
“My dad was an Olympic hopeful in Greco-Roman when he was younger. He went to the Trials. He is very knowledgeable in Greco-Roman. He knows all of the top Greco-Roman coaches in the nation. Because he knows his Greco, we can work on it at home as well,” he said.
Porter trains with and competes with the respected Journeymen Wrestling Club in the Albany, N.Y. area, which is coached by Frank Popolizio, who is also one of his high school coaches at Shenendehowa. Popolizio has great confidence in Porter’s future, saying he has the potential to be a future Olympian.
He has also overcome some medical obstacles along the way. As a 10th grader, he was stricken with osteomalitis, a deep bone infection. It started as a swollen thumb but if not treated quickly, could have taken his life.
“It was a really close call. I lost that season, and had to come back the next season,” said Porter.
Porter intends to study business at Northern Michigan, and was impressed with the reputation of the business program there. He also may participate in the Army ROTC program at the school.
National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland believes that top high school talents, such as Jesse Porter, who commit to wrestling Greco-Roman during college, will develop more quickly and could make a huge impact on the international level.
“More young men need to seriously consider NMU if they have Olympic aspirations, rather than spending their prime wrestling years training and competing in a style that nobody else in the world competes in. If a wrestler wants to be competitive at the World level, not just on the folkstyle scene, while getting a college degree, this truly is the best option. The Russians are winning World titles in the Senior level at 18 years old. For wrestlers who have Olympic goals in Greco-Roman, this is a great opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Lindland.
Jesse Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
Fifth at 2014 Junior Nationals… Second in 2014 FILA Cadet Nationals... Second in 2013 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle... Fourth in 2012 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman... 2011 Schoolboy National champion in Greco-Roman... Third in New York State Div. I Championships at 152 pounds as a senior for Shenendehowa High School... … Fourth in New York State Div. I Championships at 152 pounds as a junior… Competed at 132 pounds as a sophomore… State qualifier as a freshman at 113 pounds... Son of Jesse and Melonee Porter... Coached by Rob Weeks and Frank Popolizio... Member of Journeymen Wrestling Club… Born October 30, 1997... Age 17
Jesse Porter of Ballston Lake, N.Y., a senior and top college prospect, has committed to attend Northern Michigan University, as part of its U.S. Olympic Training Site Greco-Roman program next year.
Porter, a senior at Shenendehowa High School, placed third and fourth in the New York State Div. I Championships the last two seasons. He has been an All-American in USA Wrestling’s age-group programs in both styles.
“The way I see it, if I went to a Div. I or Div. II college for folkstyle, that takes time away from what I want to do, which is wrestle Greco-Roman. I would have to split my focus for four more years. At Northern Michigan, I can focus on what I want to do,” said Porter.
He was a runner-up at the 2014 FILA Cadet Nationals and the 2013 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman. Last summer, he was fifth at the Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman. Porter was a 2011 Schoolboy Nationals Greco-Roman champion. He was also fifth in the 2013 Cadet Nationals in freestyle.
He will train under NMU-USOTS head coach Rob Hermann and assistant coach Aghasi Manukian. Hermann is a past U.S. Olympic Team Greco-Roman head coach and Manukian is a past Senior World Greco-Roman champion. He will also work closely with USA Wrestling’s National Coaching Staff, which includes Matt Lindland, Momir Petkovic and Ahad Javansalehi.
“I think they have a really good coaching staff. I went up there for a training camp, and I will go up there again. Rob Hermann is a great coach. National Coach Matt Lindland will be a good training partner for me. At NMU, they have had guys who have had success on the Open and the international levels,” said Porter.
“Having a wrestler like Jesse will be great for the whole wrestling room. Coach Aghasi, myself, and the training partners he will have here every day will allow him to reach his highest potential in this great sport of Greco Roman wrestling,” said Hermann.
Porter is from a wrestling family in which his parents are very active as well as his siblings. His older sister Alexis has made U.S. World Teams in women’s freestyle as a Cadet and Junior, has won Junior National titles and is nationally ranked on the Senior level. He shares an Olympic dream with Alexis and the entire family.
“For me, that was the goal. We are all looking to go down that path. My sister is a little farther along right now. She goes to McKendree University, placed fourth in the college nationals and is nationally ranked as a Senior. Even my little sister wrestles, and she will be going to Fargo to compete. The goal is to be an Olympic champion. For us, that’s always the goal,” said Porter.
His love and commitment to Greco-Roman comes directly from his father, Jesse, Sr., who also serves as one of his coaches.
“My dad was an Olympic hopeful in Greco-Roman when he was younger. He went to the Trials. He is very knowledgeable in Greco-Roman. He knows all of the top Greco-Roman coaches in the nation. Because he knows his Greco, we can work on it at home as well,” he said.
Porter trains with and competes with the respected Journeymen Wrestling Club in the Albany, N.Y. area, which is coached by Frank Popolizio, who is also one of his high school coaches at Shenendehowa. Popolizio has great confidence in Porter’s future, saying he has the potential to be a future Olympian.
He has also overcome some medical obstacles along the way. As a 10th grader, he was stricken with osteomalitis, a deep bone infection. It started as a swollen thumb but if not treated quickly, could have taken his life.
“It was a really close call. I lost that season, and had to come back the next season,” said Porter.
Porter intends to study business at Northern Michigan, and was impressed with the reputation of the business program there. He also may participate in the Army ROTC program at the school.
National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland believes that top high school talents, such as Jesse Porter, who commit to wrestling Greco-Roman during college, will develop more quickly and could make a huge impact on the international level.
“More young men need to seriously consider NMU if they have Olympic aspirations, rather than spending their prime wrestling years training and competing in a style that nobody else in the world competes in. If a wrestler wants to be competitive at the World level, not just on the folkstyle scene, while getting a college degree, this truly is the best option. The Russians are winning World titles in the Senior level at 18 years old. For wrestlers who have Olympic goals in Greco-Roman, this is a great opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Lindland.
Jesse Porter, Ballston Lake, N.Y.
Fifth at 2014 Junior Nationals… Second in 2014 FILA Cadet Nationals... Second in 2013 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle... Fourth in 2012 Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman... 2011 Schoolboy National champion in Greco-Roman... Third in New York State Div. I Championships at 152 pounds as a senior for Shenendehowa High School... … Fourth in New York State Div. I Championships at 152 pounds as a junior… Competed at 132 pounds as a sophomore… State qualifier as a freshman at 113 pounds... Son of Jesse and Melonee Porter... Coached by Rob Weeks and Frank Popolizio... Member of Journeymen Wrestling Club… Born October 30, 1997... Age 17
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