News & Events 2006-2007

Wrestlers Help Pin Down Diabetes

Blair wrestlers raised money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as they won their 27th consecutive National Prep Championship title in February. The athletes collected “per pin pledges” from the Blair community. A total of $14,000 was raised and presented to Doug Rouse, Executive Director for the JDRF Northern New Jersey Chapter (at right) during a May School Meeting.

According to Wayne Catan, the wrestlers carefully selected their charity: “They didn’t choose this worthwhile cause randomly – this cause hits close to home at Blair as the team’s star 215 lb. wrestler, Jared Platt ’07, has juvenile diabetes (and manages it daily). ‘I brought it up to Jared and he liked the idea,’ Coach Paul Clavel said. ‘Monitoring his diabetes is a daily battle for him as he has to watch what he eats; monitor his sugar levels; get enough sleep; get enough insulin, to name a few quotidian monitoring activities. People who know him know how careful he must be; however juvenile diabetes hasn’t stopped Jared from being a one-man wrecking machine.’ ”

Catan added, ‘I was diagnosed in 1998,’ said Platt. ‘I didn’t know what it was at first. I lost a lot of weight and was drinking a lot of water. The problem was that my doctors first misdiagnosed me. The key for me to this point has been not denying it or hiding it... taking care of myself enough to be successful. Not to use a cliché, but a sound mind is a sound body. The trainers at Blair know... the training staff at Penn State is aware of my condition. In fact, PSU has a diabetes research foundation and I’ll be working closely with them on research; and who knows, we may find the cure. I think we are close,’ Platt said. ‘I may have to do a little bit extra everyday (like take my blood levels) but so, that’s okay.’ ”

Updated 5/29/07

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