Some high school wrestling teams have the luxury of working mostly with experienced upperclassmen. Other teams are young and have more inexperienced wrestlers. At Woods Cross, the Wildcats have a good blend of veterans and newcomers.

“The wrestlers are super excited this year,” head coach Zak Erickson said. “We have a good group of guys returning that are hungry to improve their performances from last year. However, we also have a group of new incoming freshmen and sophomores that are eager to prove themselves and earn a spot on a competitive varsity lineup.”

The Wildcats have some proven leaders on the team. These wrestlers have not only been through the rigors of multiple seasons and numerous meets and matches, but they know how to mentor younger wrestlers and set good examples. Erickson believes this group of athletes could be the recipients of years of hard work and dedication from wrestlers that have come before them. 

“The strength of our team is experienced leadership,” Erickson said. “Our seniors and juniors have gone through tough battles and come out better for it. This creates a great environment in the room where they can challenge the newer guys during practice and make them even tougher before ever competing at the high-school level. This is the type of atmosphere that helps build a successful program for years to come. We have been building toward this for the last few years, and we are now at the point that we will start to see more of the payoff for that hard work.”

Headlining Woods Cross is Cash Henderson, who will wrestle in the heavyweight class this season. Last season, Henderson wrestled in the 215-pound class and won an individual state championship. He went 42-2 a season ago and won three of his four matches at state by fall. Henderson is headed to Cornell University next year to wrestle and attend school. The senior standout will be going for his third state title this season. 

“Cash is one of our top competitors because of his work ethic,” Erickson said. “He practices year-round while also succeeding on the football field. He is also one of our only athletes that competes year-round, going to national level competitions to seek out the highest level of competition. This makes Cash important to the team because he is a great example of how far effort and dedication can take you.”

The Wildcats’ goal is to finish in the top five of the Class 5A state tournament this February. Accomplishing this would be the highest-ever finish for a Woods Cross wrestling team. Erickson is confident his team can achieve this goal. 

“To achieve this goal, we will need some of the wrestlers to take that next step,” Erickson said. “A lot of our guys have had successful seasons in the past and have either qualified for the state tournament or gotten really close to qualifying. This year, we need to them put in that extra effort throughout the season so that instead of qualifying they are placing in the top 6 or instead of almost qualifying they are qualifying and winning matches at the state tournament.”

Being a top team in the state won’t be easy. Because wrestling is such a grueling sport, injuries are common, so staying healthy is critical. Erickson wants to push his team, but he also realizes he needs to know when to let his wrestlers take it a little easier. 

In wins and losses, Erickson believes wrestling is instructive for the athletes. He enjoys working with the young men and teaching them not only the sport but life lessons through hard work and competition.

“My favorite part about coaching is helping the athletes become better men on and off the mat,” he said. “Wrestling will take athletes to their breaking point in a unique way that no other sport can. This helps them learn lessons that better prepare them for the challenges that life will throw at them even when they are done competing.”