Elliot Humphries is a wrestler with a "I’m not going to lose" mentality.
Mike Ice noted that, “Elliot is just a hard-nosed competitor that has the best attitude on the planet. Kind of a ‘I’m not going to lose’ mentality,”
Already a captain, the junior will return for his senior season next year and serves as an inspiration to many of the younger members on the team.
Humphries spent time in the gym Thursday with his teammates working on numerous drills, from half shots to takedowns, in preparation for their trip to the New England tournament over the weekend.
“It also inspired the other guys that actually made the trip to New England’s that didn’t qualify, which, that’s what I was looking at when seeing some of our guys that are in the stands that didn’t qualify, but they were there to watch and support,” Mike Ice said. “Winning is contagious.”
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According to Humphries, "I want to be the best wrestler I can be," "I want to be known across the world, you know, so I want to be the best wrestler I can be. I want to be known across the world."
Throughout the season, Humphries suffered only two losses, with one coming in the George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament and the other in the New England semifinals.
His loss in the New England semifinals was to a wrester who is both nationally and internationally ranked.
In company with Humphries and Cam Ice, senior captains Calvin Stiles and Liam Meeker and freshman Kai Ly also qualified for New Englands.
Mike Ice also noted that Stiles and Meeker were key in helping the team place second in the All-State tournament for a second year in a row.
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Cam Ice, Stiles, and Meeker will continue to wrestle in college, while Humphries will lead the team as captain for one more season.
“I think next year is going to be another stellar year for our team,” Mike Ice said.
Early Influences and Inspiration
Humphries' journey into wrestling was heavily influenced by his brothers.
"When I was really young, both my brothers wrestled," said Humphries.
"I was probably like 2 or 3 at every high school tournament and college tournament for them and I never really had any doubt in my mind that I wanted to wrestle watching them."
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Humphries also had a strong connection with a coach who significantly impacted his early development.
"He was basically like another father figure to me," Humphries said.
"He was always bringing me to practice. He was helping out coach the youth program at the school, he didn't even go to just because I was there. He was a really loved coach."
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Tribute to His Brother
On his way to winning the MIAA Division 2 state championship last month, Humphries paid tribute to his late brother by wearing the same pair of red shoes Kyle wore during his championship run in 2011.
"It meant so much more wearing his shoes because then it felt like I accomplished something," said Humphries.
"As a brother, he always wanted to see me winning my matches and winning states."
Minnechaug had five wrestlers qualify for the New England championship, and Elliot Humphries placed highest, finishing third in the 145-pound weight class.
“It was one of our best showings ever at the New England championships since this team has been in existence since 1996.”
“Tough as nails and doesn’t back down from the tough competition because he could have changed his weight class knowing that the guy who he was going to run into at New England’s was in that weight class.
He said from the start of the season, it is what it is. I’m going to give it my best.”
Hampden Charter East also had a wrestler place, as Jerameel Vazquez took third in the 220-pound weight class.
Cam Ice's Achievements
Cam Ice was the only other competitor to place, finishing fifth in the 138-pound weight class.
The senior finished his high school career with 173 wins and 24 losses.
“I’m super pleased with how he performed and his career overall was amazing,” Mike Ice said.
Following the tournament, Cam Ice and Mike Ice, who is both his coach and his father, reflected on his high school career, looking back from freshman year until now.
Throughout that time, Cam Ice only gave up 13 total back points, a number which Mike Ice said to be “pretty low.”
He was also only pinned one time while competing in high school, which came during his freshman year against a senior who went on to be an All-American.
Cam Ice capped off his time at Minnechaug with a state title this year and as an All-State runner up.
Cam Ice is one of three children that Mike Ice has had go through the program, with his older son being a two-time state champion before moving to wrestling in college and his younger son, Ryan, just having finished his sophomore season on the team.
“It’s the most rewarding feeling is helping kids succeed on and off the mat, but it’s even more rewarding when it’s one of you own,” Mike Ice said.