Rivertown Magazine is delighted to share this month’s scholar-athlete: Joe Parisi, a 2023 graduate of Nanuet Senior High School. Joe was a varsity wrestler at Nanuet High School for five years (8th grade – senior) and received All County, All Section, and All League honors. Joe was the captain of the wrestling team his senior year and won the Sol Gordon Memorial Award, Most Valuable Wrestler award for Nanuet, and the Goshen Duals MOW. In addition to Joe’s wrestling prowess, he is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo and an amateur boxer.
Joe will be attending Cumberland University in Tennessee where he plans to major in chemistry.
Besides being a stellar athlete, Joe was an active student participating in many extracuricular activities and receiving several academic honors:
- Math League
- AP Scholar
- National Honor Society
- President’s Education Award
- AP Chemistry Award
- Honors Chemistry Award
- English Department Award
- Outstanding Business Award
- Alpha Mu Theta (Math Honor Society)
- Honoraria Sociedad (Spanish Honor Society)
- Sam Zachariah Memorial Scholarship Award (for science majors)
- Black and Gold Award (sports and academics)
- Italian American Scholarship
- High Honor Roll 4 years
- Seal of Civic Readiness
- Financial Literacy Award
Outside of school, Joe is very involved in the local community where he volunteered for the Black and Gold Club, the Mat Club, the Penguin Plunge, and St. Anthony’s Church Food Drive.
Q&A with Joe Parisi
How do you motivate yourself?
I have been able to stay motivated in school and sports because I have a wonderful and supportive family, teammates, and coaches. Whenever I fell on hardships my father, mother, and brother were always right there for me. It was their support and encouragement that helped me develop determination and perseverance to push past academic and athletic obstacles.
What is the most rewarding part of athletics for you?
The most rewarding part of athletics for me was having the team camaraderie and unity that came with wrestling together. The Nanuet wrestling team aren’t just friends but a close-knit family. From seniors to 8th grade pull-ups, we all worked as one and put our blood, sweat, and tears into wrestling. We all are invested in each other’s success and strive to help each other be the absolute best we can be. This care that we all held for each other has left a massive impact on my life and is definitely the most rewarding part of sports to me.
How would you describe your experience as a student-athlete in one sentence?
It has allowed me to strive to be the best I can be physically and intellectually. I am forever grateful to my family, the Nanuet wrestling team and staff, and the Nanuet teachers who have helped me so much.
