Josh Wood has experienced more highs and lows in the past three months than most high school seniors will ever face.
In light of the tragedy that the Baldwin High School senior went through in November, he has overcome several obstacles in his path to qualifying for the state wrestling tournament.
"Wrestling has helped a whole bunch, just by me being out on the mat," Wood said.
"This is one of the biggest things that my mom and I had. In 13 years, she never missed a match."
Wood's late mother, Sherrie Wood, died Nov.
25 after succumbing to cancer. Wood has used that tragic event as motivation for himself this winter.
"To cope with what he has had to cope with, he is still an important contributor to our team and a leader," BHS wrestling coach Kit Harris said.
"He is a special young man. I am glad wrestling has been able to be there for him and I'm glad we've been able to be there for him as well."
The wrestling season began Nov.
13, but not for Wood. He spent all of his time by his mother's side and not on the wrestling mat.
"I spent everyday at home," Wood said.
"Whenever she was awake, I was right there with her. Toward the end, she was sleeping a lot. I wanted to be there as long as I could, because we knew it wasn't much longer.
"
Less than two weeks later, Sherrie Wood died at their home. Wood continued taking personal time away from the sport that he loved. He did have plans to return for his senior season, but not until the new year began.
"I talked to Harris and the guys and everybody knew what was going on," Wood said. "I pretty much knew I was going to come back after Christmas break."
On Jan.
4, Wood returned to the Bulldog wrestling squad. He practiced three days before competing in a dual. He won the match, but it was an emotional match for him.
"My first match of the year was really tough," Wood said. "I cried warming up before my first match and I cried afterwards. It was really emotional, because not only was she a mom, but she was another coach.
She was the first person I went to after every match. It was tough."
As January rolled on, Wood continued to better condition himself and improve his skills.
Making weight was one tough issue for him, because he gained a few pounds during his time away from the sport.
"Getting into shape was really tough," Wood said. "It took me the better half of three weeks to get into decent shape.
I got up to 210, but had to cut back to 189. It took a little over three weeks to do that. After that I would go to practice and I would run after practice just to get in shape so I could compete with these guys who have been going for three months already.
"
Although practice was difficult at first, Wood was thrilled to be back with his other family.
"It was great to be back," Wood said. "This is another family for me.
I've been around all of these guys forever. Harris and I have been close since I was in sixth grade, because I've been involved with the wrestling program since sixth grade. It's been really good getting back and staying close to these guys, especially during my final year.
"
On Feb. 10, Wood placed fourth at the Frontier League Tournament in Louisburg. Then he returned home with the rest of the Bulldogs for regionals last weekend.
He had a goal of qualifying for the state meet, but not before he redeemed himself against a fellow competitor.
"My first motivation was beating (Matt) Lemke from Louisburg," Wood said. "He beat me and shouldn't have at league and I wanted to beat him so bad.
I did in the second round Friday. That was my first goal for the tournament. Then the next was going in with a full head of steam and taking out everybody in my way.
"
Wood won his two matches Friday to advance to the semifinals. He lost his first match Saturday, forcing him to win his next match or his season was finished.
He pinned Mike Diehl from Chapman in the third round, giving him a berth in the state tournament.
He lost his next match to place fourth at regionals.
"I was very happy to qualify," Wood said. "That was my biggest goal coming in to this season.
Since it's my senior year, it makes it all that more special." This is easily the highlight of my year."
Harris said the BHS students and wrestlers were excited and proud of Wood.
"That was special and all of the students knew that and saw it when he won," Harris said. "You could see everybody leap up and get really excited for him. That was really meaningful for him.
"
Wood will now be traveling to Salina this weekend to compete in the Class 4A state wrestling tournament for the first time.
"Everybody wants to place," Wood said. "I'm in a stacked bracket.
All I can ask of myself is to go out there and wrestle as hard as I can. I know I am a good wrestler and it's time to hang with the big boys now."
Besides wrestling, Wood has found another way to honor his mother.
He got a tattoo on the day she died that is dedicated to her.
"I got it on the day that she passed," Wood said. "She passed at 12:30 a.
m. and that day I went and got my tattoo. I wanted to put so much meaning into it.
I've got her birth date and a tribal sun with an eye in the middle of it. The eye represents the eye that she lost. It's actually a replica of it.
It's a tribal sun that means life with her eye in the center, and under it is the day that she passed. It has a lot of meaning.
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