Reflecting on my time at Harvard, I’m filled with immense gratitude and appreciation. Arriving on campus in the fall of 2003, I, like many of my classmates, carried a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I wasn’t sure how I would fit in—with classmates, with teammates, or the Harvard community. I had questions about what kind of support structure would exist and whether I’d find my footing.

One of the first moments that reassured me was when Coach Jay Weiss stopped by my dorm on move-in day. He visited each freshman that day—not just to say hello, but to make sure we were truly doing okay. That small act spoke volumes. More than a coach, he was a mentor and a steady presence who truly cared about how we were doing, on and off the mat.

Unlike many of my teammates who had been wrestling since childhood, I came to the sport relatively late. I didn’t start until high school. Though I had success, I wasn’t one of the top recruits in my class, and my goals coming into college were modest. I thought the height of success for me would be to leave college as an All-American. But thanks to the constant encouragement from Coach Weiss and my teammates, I quickly learned to aim higher. They challenged me to strive for excellence—to go beyond what I thought was possible. The message was clear: even if you fall short of your goals, if you give your all, you can live with no regrets.

I began to push myself more each year. I came just one match short of my All-American goal as a freshman. My junior season brought new focus and growth, culminating in a conference championship and finally achieving All-American status. Then, in my senior year, I entered the season ranked second in the country with an undefeated record—only to suffer a season-ending injury just weeks before Nationals. It was tough, but I had no regrets. I had poured everything into the journey. I also had the honor of cheering on my teammates Louis Caputo, Max Meltzer and JP O’Connor as they became All-Americans themselves—one of my favorite college moments.

Wrestling at Harvard was never just about individual achievement. I was surrounded by remarkable coaches—Jay Weiss, Jared Frayer, Teague Moore, and Jamil Kelly—and incredible teammates like Robbie Preston, Jonas Corl, Andrew Knapp, Louis Caputo, JP O’Connor, and Mike Baria, and so many others. I also had great friends who encouraged me like Jared Hyman and Michael Stival. Together we endured brutal practices, rebounded from tough losses, and celebrated every hard-earned victory. We were a family, and that made all the difference.

In many ways, the wrestling room was the place I felt most at home. It was where I gained confidence, found discipline, and learned the true meaning of resilience. It’s also where I learned that no one succeeds in a vacuum. Every step I took—every achievement I earned—was built on the shoulders of the people around me.

Being inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor. I carry this honor not just for myself, but for every teammate, coach, mentor, and family member who helped me along the way.

Thank you for being part of that journey.