Vinita senior Luke Prince spent the first months of what was supposed to be his final varsity wrestling season wondering if he would ever step on the mat again. In late September, he fractured both heels and feared his high school career might be over before it started.
“One was just being able to wrestle at all,” Prince said of his season highlights. “In late September, I fractured both my heels, and I honestly didn’t know if I’d get to wrestle my senior year. I was finally cleared by the doctor in late December.”
Once healthy, Prince made up for lost time. At regionals, he capped his comeback by beating an undefeated opponent in the finals to win a regional championship for the Vinita Hornets. “The second highlight was at regionals, where I beat an undefeated kid in the finals to become regional champ,” he said.
Prince said the tight-knit nature of the Vinita wrestling room helped carry him through rehab and back into competition. “Our team is a tight group of guys and a girl, all are working toward the same goal getting better every day,” he said. “We push each other make each other better.”
Wrestling runs in the family for Prince, who drew early inspiration from his father. “My dad was a wrestler, and he always talked about how much he loved it and how much it taught him about discipline and work ethic,” Prince said. “He’s the one who encouraged me to give it a try.”
That discipline shows up daily, whether he is leading in the practice room or grinding through another match. “One of my biggest strengths is that I never give up,” he said. “Even when things get tough, I keep pushing and working. I also try to work out with people who are better than me because it helps me improve.”
Prince, who enjoys welding at Vo-Tech and fishing on the lake in his free time, said representing his hometown means everything. “Representing my hometown is special because it’s where I come from, and I take a lot of pride in that,” he said. “When I compete, I feel like I’m doing it for everyone who supported me growing up, not just myself.”
