Tragedy can inspire greatness, even amongst the youngest among us. That was the case in Ohio, where a 7-year-old wrestler captured an age group title at a youth wrestling match just two days after his father died in a tragic car accident.
As reported by Dayton CBS affiliate WHIO, young Markus Holcomb captured his age-bracket title at a regional wrestling tournament days after his father, Terry Holcomb, was killed in a tragic car accident on Highway I-65. While he and his family remained in mourning, the Xenia-based wrestler insisted on competing to honor his father’s memory … and use the moves he says his Dad taught him.
“All those moves that my dad showed me, that’s why I think I won,” Markus Holcomb told WHIO.
His mother didn’t disagree, citing the focus Markus Holcomb always put on persistence as part of her son’s drive to win at the tournament so soon after his father’s tragic passing. He’ll have to tap into those reserves again in the coming weekend if he’s to win again, with the state tournament scheduled Sunday, one day after his father’s memorial service.
“I think he knew that his father raised him not to be a quitter so he had to do it,” said Jen Donovan, Markus’ mother