Wood excels

despite disadvantage
By Andy Kruse
Special to the Democrat

Nature didn’t deal Watauga sophomore Jason Wood the fairest hand. He was born legally blind, but as a solid upcoming wrestler, this doesn’t seem to be slowing him down.

With such bad eyesight, being out on the wrestling mat is somewhat like being in a fish bowl for Wood, where everything is a blur. However, a rule called “touch start” exists for guys like him, which requires that the wrestlers start out touching both hands and anytime they get separated during the match they must return to the center of the mat for another “touch start.”

Wood didn’t tell people about his eyesight his freshmen year and he lost a lot of matches as a result. This year he’s not ashamed and is winning more.

“I wanted to quit, but coach (James) Eichmiller encouraged me to stay in there,” Wood said. “This year I’m doing much better.”

Wood just finished second in the Northwestern 4-A Conference tournament last weekend in the 125-pound weight class.

To counter balance his eyesight, Wood has developed a very keen sense of hearing.

“I can hear every word the coach is saying on the side,” Wood explained. “And I can hear if the wrestler against me is flat footed or on the balls of his feet coming at me. I can also hear how tired he’s getting from his breathing.”

His albinism, a condition where the body doesn’t produce the pigments to color the skin, eyes, and hair, normally doesn’t affect him physically, but has been difficult mentally his whole life. Looking different from the other kids, he has been made fun of since as long as he can remember.

Names like “whitey,” or “q-tip,” are common ones he hears. But he responds with confidence or just ignores them. This attitude has earned him respect from the other kids.

“If you let things like that get you down you get depressed and it messes up your life.” Wood said.

He gives credit to his teacher Mrs. Thomas for helping him along and encouraging him over the years. And he says his brother made him tough growing up.

“He’s a hard nosed kid,” Eichmiller said. “That kind of fire and heart he has is a rare thing.”