From Day 1, Kurt Habeck could see George Farmah's unique style.
Habeck, the Eastview wrestling coach, had talked Farmah onto the mat after the then-freshman had been cut from the basketball team. Albeit raw, Farmah was strong, athletic, quick and, Habeck said, a natural.
"He has this uncanny strong grip that allows him to just latch on to [opponents] and they can't do much about it," Habeck said. "It's just all strength and athleticism. Everyone could see that at his first practice."
More than anything, though, Habeck said Farmah simply has a knack for adapting to situations — whether as a 12-year-old moving with his siblings from Liberia to Minnesota, as a novice at his first wrestling practice, or as a first-timer to the state meet last year.
Now a senior, Farmah is among the state's best wrestlers in the 132-pound weight class. The last six years have been a whirlwind, he said, but he's handled adversity the same way he approaches every match on the mats.
"I just try to only worry about what [is in front] of me," he said. "I try not to get caught up in everything else, and just [control] what I can."
Quick learner
Farmah grew up playing soccer in Liberia, living with extended family as his mother worked in the U.S. to bring her three children stateside.
Farmah said the move, particularly dealing with the cold, was a big adjustment but sports played a large role in his transition. "It helped a lot with making friends and getting to know people," he said, and it made him more comfortable around his classmates.
