The Wrestler Who Beat a Deadly Disease | Off the Mat
Aaron Nagao’s journey didn’t start on the mat — it started with survival.
Diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening disease as a child, Nagao wasn’t expected to make it. After a bone marrow transplant saved his life, he’s gone on to become one of the most unique wrestlers in college wrestling — blending jiu-jitsu instincts with elite NCAA competition.
In an extraordinary interview, Aaron sits down to talk about how he survived, the art of jiu-jitsu, becoming an All-American collegiate wrestler, and why he wanted to come to Penn State more than anything.
This isn’t just a story about a wrestler…
The skinny
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