At that point, Miller pulled Vera from the regional tournament, to give him a better chance to heal by Thursday.
Vera’s high school career has been marked by a brand of intensity that has kept him in every second of every match.

When not on the mat, he’s locked on the action, encouraging his teammates, and motioning what they can do to out maneuver an opponent.

Now that Vera is Polk’s lone representative in the state tournament, they’re behind him as well.

“All of them are supporting him,” said Miller, who noted that several teammates will accompany Vera to the tournament.

Vera’s first match at state is against a wrestler from Croatan who is currently ranked third in the state.