On Nov. 19, 2023, his family gathered to celebrate Scotty Moreau Jr.’s 17th birthday with laughter, cake and fun on the eve of the upcoming wrestling season.
After becoming a New England champion at 113 pounds his freshman year, the next morning was like Christmas Day for the new sophomore sensation for the ISL juggernaut of Belmont Hill.
But Moreau’s world was turned upside down quicker than a double-leg takedown.
During a routine drill at the first practice of the season, the Chelmsford resident took an elbow over his right eye. Initially, it seemed like nothing more than a bump. However, while jogging around the gym, Moreau noticed his vision fading. As Moreau described the situation, a “dark curtain” covered his right eye.
Within minutes, thanks to the quick action of coach George Sullivan, he was rushed to Massachusetts Eye and Ear, where doctors quickly diagnosed an eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, a rare and devastating occurrence for any teenager.
The elbow to Moreau’s face had caused a vessel in his eye to shear, blocking blood flow but after countless tests, including parents Scott Sr. and Tara having to sign off on an experimental procedure, there was one difficult truth: Scotty Moreau would never regain vision in his right eye.
But make no mistake – wrestlers are a different breed – and this setback was not going to label Scotty Moreau as an athlete or in life.
“Having a stroke would never define the person I am or stop me from setting out the things I set out to achieve in life,” said Moreau. “I was thinking this is what I’ll just have to deal with. I’m not going to grieve over it, or I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“I can still be the same person I am – nothing truly in my life has changed – and I haven’t let it. I could have let some things in my life change, but I wasn’t going to let anything have an effect on me.”
His parents were devastated. Their son, a dedicated honors student-athlete, was now faced with a life-altering challenge. But the elder Scott knew if anyone was built to manage adversity, it was his son.
“My wife and I were at hospital when we heard the news first – earth shattering at that moment. Your heart goes into your stomach, you get emotional, but you try to stay strong for your child,” said Scott Moreau Sr., who coached his son through his youth wrestling career. “We’ve always been results-driven in wrestling. But now, just seeing him compete again — seeing him out there battling — is the greatest victory of all.”
Moreau Sr. was prophetic with words of wisdom for parents facing similar adversity.
“You have to let your kid breathe a little. They are as nervous as you are and feed off your emotions and anxiety so be as calm as you can because kids are pretty resilient,” said Moreau. “If they must overcome – they are great at it. They will show you their resilience – that was a big piece for us. My wife could not get it out of her mind – but he was doing great. We were the ones crazy, so don’t give them a chance to feed off your own anxiety. Try to support them as much as possible.”
While his son battled to get back, it was off the mat that he had real adjustments. The toughest part of his journey wasn’t wrestling, a sport that demands vision and precision – it was reading. The seemingly simple task of studying became a challenge.
“There were things I took for granted,” said Moreau. “After my freshman year, I was just relieved the season was over. I wrestled my whole life. But when my sophomore season was taken from me, I realized how much I loved wrestling and the small things. I don’t take anything for granted now.”
Belmont Hill’s wrestling community, led by head coach Don Bradley, and coaches Todd Davis, Dave Leonardis and Sullivan, embraced Moreau’s return.
“We were all heartened to learn that Scotty could train and compete again,” said Bradley. “But it was not a smooth road for right as this season began, he injured his shoulder in a tournament, which again put his season in jeopardy. But he committed to rest and PT with some indomitable spirit until he made his return in early January.”
“It was a special moment for us all when he stepped on the mat against a very good opponent and six minutes later – raised his arm,” added Bradley.
With the unwavering support of his parents, teammates, and coaches, Moreau has turned his setback into another comeback. His story is more than wrestling — it’s about the power of resilience, the strength of the human spirit, and the refusal to be denied by any roadblock.
Even though competing during his sophomore year was lost, Moreau leaned on his teammates he trusted the most.
“I was still getting a light roll with them (last year),” said Moreau with a slight laugh. “I must mention Andrew Pimental, Isaac Novod, Jack Dragoumanos and Henry Santini. I’ve been going with them every single day and certainly now this year. So big things are set to come in the next few weeks.”
Moreau’s resilience was tested repeatedly as his junior year progressed, but he never wavered. Almost two years to the day and competing two weight classes up at 126 – Moreau shocked everyone but himself as he picked up three pins along with a fist-pumping technical victory to capture the championship last weekend at the 2025 Graves-Kelsey Tournament.
With the win, Belmont Hill (26-2) picked up its 20th Graves-Kelsey team title and ninth in a row since 2016.
Moreau is back but remains determined and wants to focus his next set of challenges on the end of season team competitions. New Englands are this weekend at Phillips Exeter and nationals are next weekend at Lehigh University. The stroke changed his life, but it never changed who he was or his character.
Now, under the bright spotlight of wrestling competition, he continues to prove that no obstacle is too great to overcome.
“I get my mindset from my dad,” Moreau said. “He’s always been in my corner, always pushing me to be the best version of myself. That’s why I’ve been able to come back. Because of him, because of my coaches, because of my teammates. I refuse to quit.”
Moreau’s journey is far from over, but he is building a legacy of impressive perseverance and no matter what the future holds, he is a fighter and champion.