Battling Tourette’s Syndrome … A Journey to the Top
Wrestling is a sport that demands relentless discipline, mental toughness and an iron will. For Palmyra’s Jason Foutz, these qualities have been essential – not just to his success on the mat, but to the way he navigates life with Tourette’s Syndrome.
Last weekend, Foutz won the District 3, Section 2 3A 107-pound championship, achieving a goal he had set months ago. But this victory wasn’t just about a title – it was about overcoming obstacles that most wrestlers never face.
Foutz started wrestling in first grade, but things really clicked for him around fifth grade when he joined a wrestling club in Hershey.
“My fourth-grade year, I heard about this club in Hershey. I went to that and saw major improvements,” Foutz said. “I came back my fifth-grade year and started winning matches. It kind of clicked. And I thought, if I keep doing this and work hard, I can do well.”
That work ethic has carried Foutz to the top of his sport, but he has had to manage his Tourette’s Syndrome along the way. The neurological disorder sends involuntary signals to his body, sometimes causing unexpected movements or noises. After intense matches or grueling practices, his condition can trigger full-body spasms, leaving him temporarily unable to move.
“It’s definitely a juggling act,” Foutz said. “I’ve learned what my body can handle. If I overdo it, I pay for it later.”
One of the toughest lessons came during his sophomore year, when his coach, Jonathan Regets, required the team to participate in early morning lifts. Foutz, determined to do everything his teammates did, tried to push through – until he physically couldn’t.
“I remember after a hard morning lift, he was locked up on the mat later that night,” Regets recalled. “He couldn’t move, but he looked up at me like, ‘I just need a second.’ After that, I knew we had to adjust his training.”
Now, Foutz lifts in the evenings to allow his body time to recover overnight, a small adaptation that has helped him continue to compete at a high level.
And high level he is. Foutz is ranked among the top wrestlers in Pennsylvania in his weight class, climbing as high as sixth in the state rankings. Just last week, he was named Mid-Penn Keystone Division MVP, an honor given to the best wrestler across all weight classes in his division – an accolade chosen by the coaches of nine different schools.
His coach believes Foutz’s work ethic is second to none.
“If I had 12 more guys like Jason – guys who are dedicated not just to the sport, but to self-improvement in every area of life – we’d be an undefeated team,” Regets said.
That dedication has turned Foutz into an inspiration for his team and a role model for athletes facing similar challenges.
“He never complains, never makes excuses, and never lets his condition define him,” continued Regets. “Even when his Tourette’s has impacted matches – like during the grueling second day of the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Classic last year – he’s never used it as a reason for a loss. He’ll just say, ‘I wrestled like crap.’ But I know the truth. His body just wasn’t as fresh as the other guy’s.”
Now, Foutz has his eyes on the District 3 Championships and beyond.
“I don’t focus on rankings,” he said. “Numbers don’t matter. I just want to win.”
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