The Ballad of Jared Platt – Wrestler/MMA competitor remembered through song
Jared Platt was well-known and respected in both the wrestling and mixed martial arts communities. He was an All-American at Blair Academy under legendary head coach Jeff Buxton, he was a Junior Nationals freestyle champion in 2007 at 215 pounds, placed second in the 2010 University Nationals and fourth in the 2008 University Nationals. He went on to win gold medals in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2007 Pan American Junior Championships.
Platt lived most of his life dealing with Type 1 diabetes and wrestling against the advice of doctors.
“Wrestling and Diabetes have made me the person that I am today… My kids AND my dog think I’m pretty awesome. So that’s really cool,” Platt said.
When you have the wrestling pedigree that Platt had it is very hard to find opponents to take you on inside the cage for a mixed martial arts fight. Platt had multiple fights announced, only to never come to fruition. According to the fighter’s Tapology page, 8 fights were put to paper but never actually took place. On April15, 2013, Platt had his hand raised for the first and only time in his MMA career when he defeated Mitch Whitesel via TKO at Ring of Combat 44 in Atlantic City.
In September 2015 Platt announced that he was battling Stage 4 Cancer. Shortly thereafter the beloved father and husband unfortunately passed away on January 22, 2016 at age 26. He left behind a wife and two little girls.
Nearly one year after Platt’s passing, Willy Sisca launched Maverick MMA in honor of his best friend.
Musician Mike Herz wrote and performs a song which he entitled “The Ballad of Jared Platt.” Herz performed the song in New York City where he recently recorded a live album. The song details the day-to-day struggles that Platt endured during his short time here on earth. Tune in below to hear for yourself.
LISTEN TO THE BALLAD OF JARED PLATT BELOW:
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