[Anonymous]

I want to share the incredible story about Wyatt Sladek’s run to the 2018 finals this weekend.

This 12th grader at Flowery Branch High School loves the sport of wrestling but has always came up just a tad short in competition to place in the past. This year was different. This year was very different. This year his Father could not be with Wyatt and be by his side to watch and cheer his son on. His Father did not and would not choose to do this intentionally. His Father is at home with Hospice by his side dying of cancer.

Wyatt said he expected the call every time his phone rang. After every match he ran over to check his phone and then call home. Can you imagine the stress? The emotions? The highs and the lows? The constant fear and borderline raging emotions running through his head and system? Neither can I. But I put an arm around his shoulder every time I saw him. I talked to him and talked to him and was there watching and cheering every match for Wyatt Sladek. So were all the parents and fans of my old school of Flowery Branch where I taught and coached for many years.

Wyatt decided to do something special for his Father. He decided to win the 2018 GA State Wrestling Championship and dedicate this championship to his Father.

Wyatt won his Sectionals in a quite dominating fashion of controlled fury. He now advances to State. Step one= check.

Wyatt won his first state match at State unleashing the fury in a whirlwind of scoring teching his opponent 20-4. Wyatt advanced and kept winning. In his second match, he comes out like a beast and pins his opponent in a little over 60 seconds. Wyatt runs to his phone to check. No call. Wyatt advances to the semi-finals for the first time ever in his career. He waits and waits and has to wait some more. When he steps on the mat he looks calm and relaxed but yet Wyatt wrestles up and tough a wins a major decision 13-1. He now advances to the 2018 GA State Championship. His goal. His ultimate victory for his Father dying of cancer.

Wyatt is wrestling at 152# in 5A. His opponent in the finals was set and was Union Groves own Mr. Justin Ruffin. The Justin Ruffin. Mr. Georgia Wrestling. The current 3X reigning champ of 5A going for his 4th GA State title. What a mountain to climb. What a devastating turn of events- right? No. Not in Wyatts mind.

I had coached Flowery Branch once this summer at an Archer Dual Tournament when his Coach had to leave to be with his expecting wife. The Dads from FB came and asked me and I agreed to help. Several wrestlers on the team are good friends with Charlie and my own daughter goes to school there as a Senior. I knew Wyatt was a good looking, muscular, and athletic kid and was good with a great attitude and calm spirit. I did not know Waytt was going to be in the finals vs. Justin Ruffin at State good. The one time I was asked to coach them who does Flowery Branch draw but Woodland. They are stacked. We came up with a slogan that we decided to use before every wrestler went out on the mat. That slogan was, “balls out.” No, not politically correct – but it was funny and appropriate for this situation. The wrestlers laughed, relaxed, and just had fun. We decided to go out and leave it on the mat vs. Woodland High School. Give them a fight, give 100%, and just try your best knowing all the time they are a better overall team. “Balls out” started working for us. Kinley Chadwick pinned the first opponent. Our fans and wrestlers went crazy. Balls out was how they wrestled.

When I was sitting with Wyatt and trying to think of how to tell this kid how great Justin Ruffin was I was shell shocked and confused. Do I put a damper on his dream he sat for his dying father? How do I let him know 2nd place is ok where he will not be in therapy when he is 25 for not seeing his dream through. I start talking to him and I start crying. I tell him how proud his Father is of him for getting this far. How proud his coach and teammates and parents and I am of him. I struggle for words. Wyatt looks at me and says, “Coach – its ok I know. I am going to wrestle like you told us to- balls out!”

And Wyatt did wrestle balls out. He fought Justin as well as anyone can wrestle Justin. He fought off his back, he bridged out when he could have just lain there. I saw effort and triumph in Wyatt as he battled with the best wrestler in GA to fulfill his dream gift to his dying Father. Wyatt did not quit. He did not ask for a fake injury time so he could rest. He went into battle and wrestled up a level. He inspired me as I watched with tear filled eyes for him knowing he was going to come up short in his quest.

Justin teched Wyatt 16-1 to win his 4th State title. Congrats. However, when I saw both warriors walk off that mat as Seniors wrestling in their last every high school match, I saw 2 true Champions. I saw 2 warriors. I saw and understood the reason that we all love this sport. I saw Wyatts quest play out much different than he would have liked. I saw a dramatic play of sorts and understood why we are crazy as a fox lunatics about wrestling and what unique experiences it gives our wrestlers. I saw all this through tears but still I saw it and felt blessed to be there.

Please keep Wyatt Sladek’s Father & Family in your prayers.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing that RD.

[Anonymous]

Great back story.

[Anonymous]

This story has stuck with me the last couple of days. Thank you so much for sharing.

God Bless,

Charlie Higdon

[Author]

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