Veterans senior wrestler Wylde Wilkerson is looking forward to serving his country and we are all better for it

Macon–The first wrestler on the mat was the last one off the mat when all was said and done. 

Veterans High School senior Wylde Wilkerson ran out from behind the stands and out onto mat number 8 at the Macon Centreplex Friday night with a goal in mind. Wilkerson had been wrestling for the Warhawks program his entire time in high school and accomplished many things, the most prestigious being a invitation to wrestle and study (maybe that should be study and wrestle) at West Point Academy in the fall. “Being back in the Centreplex is a great thing, it feels like home,” said Wilkerson, who wrestles at 182 pounds. “I have been here all four years and every year it gets more amped up and our whole team is comfortable and ready to compete.”

Path to West Point

Those four seasons of wrestling and studying at Veterans has helped Wilkerson plot his path to West Point, an accomplishment not lost on his head coach. “I think Wylde is a well-rounded kid,” said Veterans head wrestling coach Garrett Martin. “He’s not only a great athlete but smart too.”

Having taken honors classes at Veterans since his freshman year, Wilkerson approached academics the same way he did wrestling, with skill and foresight. He always wanted to wrestle in college but he also wanted to serve in the armed forces. Consider both missions accomplished. “I kind of always had a work ethic, and it’s a little nerve racking going to one of those [military] academies, but I just have to make sure I stay on top of my courses and I’m confident that I’ll be able to,” said Wilkerson who credits Veterans for getting him ready for his next stage in life both on and off the mat.

“I think Veterans is one of the top academic schools in the county for sure,” added Wilkerson. “all of my teachers were very close to me and every teacher I’ve had so far during my entire high school career has always been on top of me about making sure I get stuff done.” 

Wilkerson said about this time last year he made his mind up about wanting to attend a military academy after high school. With an impressive wrestling career and, more importantly, great grades, on his transcript that was a possibility. Now which one to apply to. “I’m from an [United States] Air Force family,” said Wilkerson with a smile.

Looks like he’s going to be an Army man. “I’m excited, I want to serve my country.”  

Something to prove

At the Georgia High School Association state team duals however Wilkerson and his teammates had yet to qualify for a finals appearance. In the semifinals Friday were the Buford Wolves, a regular at the state team duals. Buford had been in the finals the past three years. Along with Wilkerson there are fellow seniors Julian Farber, who is headed to the University of Northern Iowa, and Francis Morrissey, on his way to Appalachian State University give the Warhawks wrestling program one of the most skilled and highly regarded teams in AAAAA wrestling. If they were going to go to the next level together they would have to defeat Buford. 

Veterans would win the match 37-25, Wilkerson’s six-point pin of Buford’s Jacob Downing in the final match of the night sealing the deal. “That was the first time in my career Buford didn’t make the finals,” said Wilkerson moments after the victory.   

Even before the match Wilkerson had nothing to prove after a decorated academic and athletic high school career but that’s the difference between being good and being one of the best. Wilkerson wrestled with his team ahead by six points. All he had to do was not get pinned, which hadn’t happened to him all season. Typical Wylde, he went the extra mile and took acre of business.

“Now I’m really out there not trying to prove anything, well I still have something to prove to myself, but it’s just a whole lot more comforting knowing that I have a plan after all of this is done,” he said.

It’s also comforting knowing a young man of this caliber will be training to defend this country at the United States Military Academy at West Point this fall. 

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