The family of Caleb Young was honored by the wrestling team on senior night.

For Scott Herbert, this wrestling season was more than just wins and losses. It was about honoring one of their own.

The Tecumseh coach and his players were wrestling with an added purpose this season, as they were dedicating their success to former Arrows wrestler Caleb Young, who passed away April 5 of last year in an automobile accident.

Young, who would have been the lone senior this season, was recently honored by the Arrows on a special night as Tecumseh battled Stebbins. Herbert emotionally remembers what kind of kid Caleb was.

“He was such a hard-working kid who ever since I knew him had a job,” Herbert said. “He was always helping people out and was very respectful, and that back to his family. He was an outdoors type of kid, who loved to hunt and fish.”

“Caleb was put in a leadership role as a junior and led this team, and he worked very hard to get to where he was at.”

Young was honored recently at a meet against Stebbins as the team, Young’s family and friends, and several students turned out for what was a very memorable night at Reynolds Gymnasium.

“We wrestled inspired against a very good Stebbins team, and they were very gracious to us for all that we did that night.,” Herbert said. “We beat two kids that night that we lost to this past weekend. They wrestled with some extra urgency that night for sure.”

“It was actually kind of nice that he was our only senior we were honoring so we could dedicate the night to him,” Herbert said. “His whole family was there on the floor. We presented them with flowers and it was nice to recognize his family for all they have done. They are so supportive of the team. His sister, Megan, is a stat girl for us. It has been tough for the kids knowing he should be there with them.”

When a wrestler retires, he puts his boots in the middle of the mat, which is what the Arrows did to honor Young.

“It was so great to be able to that for him,” Herbert said. The Arrows coach also stated that Young was honored by several students and former teammates who returned for the night.

“There were a lot of students who had never been to a wrestling match before, and a lot of graduates who wrestled with him,” Herbert added.

“A lot of the kids knew him, and the sophomores and juniors all wrestled with him. Wrestling is quite a different bond between the guys and it has been a trying year for sure,” the Arrows coach said. “There is a hole there, he would have been our senior captain and our leader. (Tommy) Rowe has stepped up with him not here, along with some other guys.”

According to Herbert, Rowe was close to Young and always thinks about him.

“He thinks about him all the time, and thanks him when he wins,” Herbert said. “He is very close to the family, in the back of their minds, this drives them to do well.”

“That was probably the biggest funeral and viewing I have ever been to,” Herbert added. “Caleb touched so many people.”

As six members of the Tecumseh wresting team head to districts this weekend, one can bet that Caleb Young will be right there with them.

First Group 2x2
First Group 2x2
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