Defying the odds: Being in wheelchair doesn’t deter CC wrestler
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Isaac Selder has faced bigger challenges in his life than just what he's faced in his first year in high school wrestling at Central Cambria.
Selder was born prematurely with cerebral palsy. According to the Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy is a disorder caused by damage that occurs to the brain, most often before birth.
Cerebral palsy affects people in various ways. For Selder, a sophomore at Central Cambria, it has led to him being in a wheelchair all of his life.
That's not where the story ends for Selder, though.
Selder is a starter for the Red Devils. He's been bravely wrestling from his knees on the mat since he started wrestling in seventh grade.
Wrestling, in general, is a tough sport for those who can walk on their own. It's even more challenging for Selder.
"I knew since I was in a wheelchair, it was going to be a little bit difficult to play sports,'' he said. "And then I heard about wrestling when I was in seventh grade. That's when it really kicked off for me. I said 'Well, all I can do is give it a shot.' The first couple practices were pretty hard, but I stuck through it and I love the sport.''
"You've got to give the kid the credit,'' Central Cambria coach Matt Niebauer said. "It's a big hill to climb being in his situation. He's wrestling guys who aren't in that situation. We've tried to emphasize his strengths in certain positions, but at the end of the day, it definitely is a pretty big disadvantage to not be able to use your legs.''
Selder, who recently made the drop to 127 pounds after wrestling at 133 and 139, said he wasn't surprised he became a starter for the Red Devils this season.
"I knew that going into the varsity level that there would be a lot of weight classes open,'' Selder said. "Depending on what weight class, I knew I'd have to fight to get that starting spot. There are no wrestlers (at the weight), so it's my spot.''
"Today, with trying to keep our numbers up, I'm not going to turn anybody away that wants to wrestle,'' Niebauer said. "I think as good as he is for our team, I think wrestling is as important, if not more important, for him. For him to be around teammates and be involved in a sport as great as wrestling is great for him as well.''
Not only does Selder have to wrestle on his knees, he's also practicing on his knees. He's unable to run on his knees during conditioning, so he says he does his own conditioning and pushups while his teammates are running.
Kids can be cruel at times, but Selder's teammates look out for him.
"My teammates have really been there for me,'' he said. "My team helps me out when they can. My whole team loves me. I've really never had a team before. It's like a brotherhood. I'm very grateful.''
"The team members are pretty good with him,'' Niebauer said. "They really try to make sure he gets on the bus, get his wheelchair on the bus. Sometimes it's an undertaking to get him from one place to the next, but I tell you what, as a team his fellow wrestlers really support him.''
Selder is 4-6 this season, with all of his wins coming by forfeit. What he needs to improve on depends on whom you ask.
"To be honest, I would like to improve on my legs,'' Selder said. "I can move my legs and feel my legs. This year, my focus is probably getting more mobility on my feet and get out from the bottom. I feel like if I could escape from the bottom position, I could win a lot more matches.''
"I think he really needs to work on his top game and being able to wrestle from his strengths,'' Niebauer said. "I always go back to Arizona State's Tony Robles (an NCAA champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler with one leg). He developed an outstanding top game based on his situation. I always emphasize that with Isaac.''
All of Selder's losses have come by pin. Pins can be disheartening to those getting pinned, but Selder says such losses spur him on.
"Every practice, right after a loss, I go to Coach and I'm like 'I need to get out of that,''' he said. ''Getting pinned is the worst. I hate it. I feel like if I had more strength in my legs to bridge up, I'd get out of (getting pinned).
"Most of the wrestlers I've wrestled have given me a chance. They've always appreciated what I'm doing and how I wrestle.''
Do his opponents take it easy on him at any time?
"I've seen it, for sure,'' Niebauer said, "but we don't expect that. I don't think Isaac expects that. It's wrestling. It's a tough sport. You're going out there and that guy is trying to win and you're trying to win.''
Despite the challenges, adjustments and losses, Selder says wrestling is fun.
"Besides my family, wrestling is all I have,'' he said. "I'm going to stick with it for my whole high school career. I want to go to college and wrestle there too. I just try to go out and do my best. It's a sport I can do, so I just go out there and have fun.''