Hershey's Zach Warren stands tall in the 285 lb weight class.
His heart, more than matches his stature.
Zach's mother Jen hasn't just defied odds, she's defied modern medicine. Zach's wrestling career seems to feed off of that.
Zach's coach Brandon Bucher explains that he looks to his mother for inner strength to get him though tough matches.
Jen Warren says she tries to yell when it's quiet in the gym, so Zach can hear her voice.
Which isn't easy for her to do.
Jen was diagnosed with ALS, given at most four years to live.
That diagnosis, however, came nine years ago.
Zach's father, and Jen's husband Dave tells me the day he had to tell his two sons that their mother would soon die was the most difficult thing he's ever had to do.
Zach never uses his mother's illness as an excuse. Even regaining his form after a spinal cord injury to capture a sectional championship and compete for district gold this season.
"Wrestling this year has been great, it's brought us together as a family." Dave Warren says this with a tear in his eye and a smile on his face.
Jen attends every match, showing her true Hershey High School colors, and unwavering support of her son.
His heart, more than matches his stature.
Zach's mother Jen hasn't just defied odds, she's defied modern medicine. Zach's wrestling career seems to feed off of that.
Zach's coach Brandon Bucher explains that he looks to his mother for inner strength to get him though tough matches.
Jen Warren says she tries to yell when it's quiet in the gym, so Zach can hear her voice.
Which isn't easy for her to do.
Jen was diagnosed with ALS, given at most four years to live.
That diagnosis, however, came nine years ago.
Zach's father, and Jen's husband Dave tells me the day he had to tell his two sons that their mother would soon die was the most difficult thing he's ever had to do.
Zach never uses his mother's illness as an excuse. Even regaining his form after a spinal cord injury to capture a sectional championship and compete for district gold this season.
"Wrestling this year has been great, it's brought us together as a family." Dave Warren says this with a tear in his eye and a smile on his face.
Jen attends every match, showing her true Hershey High School colors, and unwavering support of her son.