O’Hara finishes successful wrestling career, embarks on next chapter at University of Oklahoma
Brice O’Hara is the latest in his family’s long lineage of student-athletes to go through Sachem.
The Sachem East senior just wrapped up a successful career on the wrestling mat where he reached the century mark in total wins with a record of 108-38. He was also a three-time All-League selection and won a league championship in 2015.
He grew up watching hundreds of Sachem wrestlers go through the program and he knew he was destined to wear the red, black and gold singlet one day.
“I couldn’t wait for it to be my turn to get out there and wear Sachem on my chest,” he said.
He credits his older brother, Conor, as his biggest influence. Conor, who recently graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, is also one of Sachem East’s top career wrestlers.
“Having my older brother as an example to look up too was a really unique situation because as a little kid I saw the success that came from all the hard work that he put in,” he said, “so I tried to model my work ethic after his.”
O’Hara was part of three straight league dual meet championship teams from 2015-2017 and he cites those team moments as his favorite memories from the mat.
“As much as wrestling is an individual sport, there is no better feeling when you go out to compete and everyone is getting the job done,” he said, “from 99 pounds all the way up to 285.”
Next up for O’Hara is the University of Oklahoma, where he will walk on the wrestling team and join the school’s Army ROTC program, through which he will achieve a major personal goal of serving his country. Even more unique, his brother Logan, also a Sachem East alum, will be transferring into Oklahoma and joining the Army ROTC as well.
Even in Norman, Okla. he will carry his Sachem pride with him.
Said O’Hara, “To me, Sachem is something that is really like a big family, and unless you are part of the Sachem community you won’t truly understand the strength of the Sachem community and how strong the bond is.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro