By Nicole Higginbotham
Pete Sakaris is just like any other college guy. He occupies his time with school, girls, hanging out with his friends, and of course, his passion, wrestling. Pete has always wanted to wrestle for companies like Pro Wrestling‘s Finest. Nevertheless, due to the fact that he has had cerebral palsy all of his life, this is not possible. The remarkable thing about this young man is that just because he couldn’t be a wrestler, doesn’t mean he gave up on his dream of wrestling. On the contrary, Pete decided that he could make a great ring announcer. He started out by working for New Revolution Wrestling/Omaha Wrestling Association/Pro Wrestling’s Finest in 2003. Pete continued to work for this company until 2004, and then, he took on the Midwest Wrestling Alliance in 2005. His biggest venue had to be at the Sarpy County Fair in August of 2006. Pete loves ring announcing. He says, “It has opened my eyes to the business, and now, I don’t just watch it, I study it. I hold people in the business in general in a higher esteem now that I have been in the ring and experienced what it is like. Socially, I have so many new friends in the area, not just wrestlers. It has improved my vocal and communication skills.”To make himself a better ring announcer, Pete took multiple training camps with a local Iowa promotion called Pro Wrestling Phoenix. The only real requirements to do this job are good vocal and communication skills, as Pete says, “the ability to talk people into their seats.” However, Pete trains himself to be better and better in all aspects of the sport. Eventually, he might get a chance to referee, or he might apply for a managing license. When asked about his long term goals, Pete said, “One of my long term goals is to someday work in a noncompetitive capacity for a large independent company such as, Ring of Honor or maybe, find work internationally. Of course, as with most people in the business, to work for World Wrestling Entertainment has always been a dream of mine, ever since watching it as a child.”When he was younger, Pete wore braces on his legs. He didn’t walk like everyone else. Cerebral palsy affected the way his hands worked and the way certain motor skills developed. It was even difficult socially in school. Nevertheless, as he accomplished the task of graduating high school well-liked and well-educated, Pete will also accomplish the task of achieving his goals in the wrestling community. Pete is one of the people that is admirable for overcoming his disability. He doesn’t let his disability get in the way of his dreams. As Pete says, “I rule the Midwest with an iron microphone.”
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Comments: 7
I give it a ten.