In the middle of the school day on Thursday afternoon, Willard students and Tiger fans packed the gym for an assembly wrestling dual.
Willard wrestlers showcased their pins and wins, but before all that went down, a junior tiger started the match in grand fashion decked in a cape and crown. He goes by Sean ‘Cena’ Finley.
“When we were little we watched WWE, especially him, and he likes John Cena,” said Michael Finley, Sean’s brother and the Willard assistant wrestling coach. “So everyone calls him ‘Sean Cena’.”
“Sean wants to wrestle and be a part of what we are doing and we are trying to find an opportunity for him,” said Willard Head Wrestling Coach Jeff Davis.
Sean ‘Cena’ has Down syndrome, but that doesn’t stop him from missing any opportunity. Making the most of his match, Sean won by fall. Something he has done well as a Tiger.
“He’s never been beat by anybody, Coach Davis gets whooped by him,” said Willard sophomore wrestler Gunner Puryear.
“He’s undefeated keep that in mind, but he got a match [Thursday] with a Lebanon opponent,” Davis said. “Which was a blast for him and fun for the other young man [up against him].”
“Especially the fact that he got to hold the [trophy] belt in the air and everyone’s cheering for him,” Michael Finley said. “I think that meant a lot to him.”
While this day means a lot to Sean, he does even more for his teammates on a day-to-day basis.
“Sean being in the room makes it ten times better,” Michael Finley said. “He’s just the kid that’s going to mess with you and make you happy and that’s why he’s here. To make all these kids happy when they lose or when we are having a down day.”
Loss or win, on Thursday afternoon it was hard to have a bad day for anyone in the Willard gym. Especially for Sean.
