| My name is Kash Hendrick. I was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe. My parents are from South Lake Tahoe and decided to raise my brother and I in the mountains as well. My first experience with wrestling happened when I was around seven years old. My younger brother Krew and I were both on our town’s youth wrestling team together. We didn’t have the opportunity to wrestle in any tournaments, so it was really just wrestling practices. I would eventually join the South Tahoe Middle School Wrestling team when I was in the 6th grade. During that time my coach, Ryan, invited me to wrestle with the South Tahoe High School Wrestling Team before their season began. I didn’t know it at the time, that Ryan would end up having the best influence on my life for the years to come in the sport of wrestling. |
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| It was during my time spent with STHS Wrestling Team where I found my passion for the sport. The next year in 7th grade Ryan asked me if I wanted to be the manager for the STHS Wrestling Team. I was very excited about the opportunity, since I would be able to travel with the team and inevitably get better at wrestling. By the time my 7th grade season started I was unstoppable. Disappointedly, we had to shut down wrestling due to the growing concern of COVID-19. I was devastated by this. However, I never stopped pursuing my goal during this period. I continued to work out every day possible and went to our private practices. |
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| When I was a freshman at STHS, I was off to a hot start in the season at 11-1. Even though things were looking good, we had to shut down again because most of our high school team had Covid. We had only wrestled at one major tournament before League Duals. Going into the tournament our STHS Wrestling team was basically unheard of. One of the coaches from Lowry even commented that they didn’t think South Tahoe had a team because we did not have the opportunity to compete earlier in the season. |
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| League Duals: I knew in my heart that this was our time to prove to everyone what our team was made of. Ultimately, I wrestled a perfect 9-0, (12-0 including forfeits). Going into Regionals I was the number one seed and knew I had a target on my back. At Regionals I ended up getting 2nd place. Disappointed by my loss, but still focused on the goal, a State Title. State was definitely a battle for me, but I fought hard for a 3rd place finish as a freshman. I already knew how much potential I had but wanting to earn a State Title has only propelled me to work harder and harder every day in the off-season. |
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I am currently going into my sophomore year ready for anything, and giving it my all each and every day. I have the best support system in the world from my mom, my dad, little brother, Ryan, Robert, the STHS Wrestling team, friends, family, and our town supporting my passion.
I appreciate the unwavering support and enthusiasm of each of these individuals sharing in my journey. |
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From Coach Ryan Wallace:
As a coach for most kids the primary task is to give the kids the tools they are going to need to thrive in life, then provide opportunities for them to test and sharpen those tools. Occasionally a kid pops up who already seems guaranteed to succeed in life due to their positive, striving nature. For those kids the task is pointing them towards goals big enough to match their ambition, then it’s just a matter of hooking a lasso around them and letting their enthusiasm carry you to a higher level as a coach, mentor, and fan. |
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| Kash Hendrick is most certainly the latter, he is potentially the most eager, dedicated, and willful kid I have ever seen. His desire to meet new challenges has spurred growth in me as a coach and helped our program blossom. We’ve had to constantly hunt practice partners, coaches and competitors that are willing and able to match his year-round intensity. They all benefit from their work with him. The height of his goals has raised the ceiling for his teammates as well, he has helped introduce them to the awesomeness of the highest levels of our sport. |
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| His growth has been inspiring. In the blink of an eye, he rose from being the pesky, hyper-annoying little brother who was always around and constantly in the way to a foundational piece upholding the principles and standards of wrestling’s greatest champions. |
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| Psychologically, he has provided me with a peace of mind that is hard to quantify. I do not have children of my own, but the role we play in each other’s lives has created a connection that is as strong and tight as any father and son, and he is the exact person I am proud to have carry on my legacy. His ultimate ambition is to coach wrestling someday which I receive as the highest possible compliment and fulfills me knowing he will be guiding the kids towards their own big goals. Kash is one of kind and he has a lifetime of positive impact to look forward to. |
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