From Champion to Comeback: The inspiring journey of a wrestler who refused to quit

In the world of U.S. high school athletics, it takes much more than just physical ability to succeed.

The mental strength and dedication to become a champion in a sport is extreme, and no one knows this better than two-time Louisiana wrestling state champion Corey Hyatt.

On the night of October 21, 2022, Corey’s world was turned upside down.

At approximately 7:30 PM, during a high school football match for his beloved home town, Sulphur Tornados, the 18-year-old inadvertently made his final play when he tore both his ACL and MCL making a tackle.

Corey said: “The play went one way, and my knee went the other. I instantly knew the injury was bad.

“Although I was lying on my back in football pads, all I could really think about was my last high school wrestling season.”

For Corey, his athletic season was always split into two very distinct halves.

From August to December, his focus was on high school football but after Christmas the football campaign was over, and all attention shifted to wrestling. The sport in which he placed his future on.

His goal had been to compete in the 195-pound Louisiana State Championship that he had won the previous two years and become the only wrestler at Sulphur High School to win three state championships.

Furthermore, Corey aimed to become a second time High School All-American which is the highest honorary title given to outstanding U.S. athletes.

By winning these titles Corey would have almost guaranteed himself scholarship offers from Division One collegesto take him on the journey to the elite level.

Corey said: “After an MRI, it showed that I had blown both my ACL and MCL.

“It didn’t take long, and I was in Houston getting surgery.

“Having the surgery done meant my high school wrestling career was over.”

Playing in the football season was always a risk given the physical nature of the game and this is something that Corey’s dad, Dwayne Hyatt was well aware of.

Dwayne was his son’s biggest fan having travelled across The States to tournaments since Corey began wrestling at the age of five and had teased with Corey about the possibility of hanging up his football boots in order to keep himself fit.

Dwayne, 52 said: “I had jokingly made the statement that he just needed to go ahead and quit.

“The football season really wasn’t that great; they had won maybe four games up to that point out of ten and they were facing the number one team in state.

“So, I had joked saying you have gotten through your entire high school career and football is not where it’s going to be at so quit while you’re ahead because wrestling is the priority.”

Corey was forced to begin the biggest fight of his life in recovering and getting fit to attract interest from junior colleges.

With his injury a direct move to a Division One college was completely off the table as from a college’s perspective it would be too risky to offer a scholarship to an athlete who may never get back to his best ability.

However, receiving an offer from a junior college would mean that he would have a pathway to wrestle at a Division One College if he performed to a high standard there.

Corey said: “Number one, the surgery hurt and number two, the physical therapy hurt. But the biggest challenge I believe was having to reset my goals.

“You’ve heard the saying you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Well, it’s true because I’ve lived it. It’s made me wanna push harder because you never know when it’ll be taken away from you.”

Corey was out injured for five months, and this proved to be both a mental and physical contest.

He said: “Wrestling is as much about the mental as it is physical, so the biggest challenge was just getting my mind right. I had to decide every day to work hard and just to get better.

“There were times when it was tough. I really wanted to be out there competing with my teammates. I channelled a lot of my emotions into my therapy and workout routine, and I had to change my mindset from competitor to coach.”

It was not just a challenge for Corey but his family also. Dwayne was concerned that Corey would never wrestle again.

Dwayne said: “I was dying inside; I was a mess.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t live vicariously through Corey.

“It means everything to me to see him wrestle. Me and my wife have always said that we’d bankrupt the Hyatt household to see our kids follow their dreams.”

Corey’s sister, Charleigh, was at the football game when it happened and has supported Corey throughout his rehabilitation.

Charleigh, 23, said: “He took the whole rehab process head on. I know it was painful and hard, but he had the attitude of I’m gonna do what I have to do in order to wrestle again.”

Fast forward to April 2023 and Corey has been back training with a brace on the mat for 30 days.

He has not been fully released yet but is expecting a full return to the sport in a few weeks.

Corey said: “I’ve still got some recovery to do, but I’m in the best shape of my life.

“My knee is about 80%. But my physical strength and health are, I’d say 110%. I’d say I’m getting really close to being released and being able to compete again.”

Corey was recently given unexpected news when he received a letter in the post about the opportunity to wrestle at junior level Southeast Community college in Nebraska. News he had been praying about.

He said: “I had no clue.

“After I got hurt, I wasn’t sure where I’d land. I thank God that I have been given this opportunity.

“I still have a goal of wrestling in Division 1, and they (Southeast college) are committed to helping me get there.”