Caleb Henson: Georgia’s Wrestling Hero

In the heart of Georgia’s wrestling community, Cartersville native and Virginia Tech sophomore Caleb Henson etched his name in history at the NCAA wrestling championships in Kansas City. With a record of 30-2 and seeded fourth, Henson’s victory in the 149-pound final against Austin Gomez from Michigan was not just a win; it was a triumph for the entire Peach state.

“Henson’s victory means a lot to me because he is only the second wrestler to graduate from a Georgia High School to make the NCAA D1 Finals and the first to win,” remarked Bud Hennebaul, GHSA State Wrestling Tournament Director and current NWCA Scholastic CEO Leadership Academy Director. “The first was my old college teammate and friend Charlie Heard who wrestled in the finals in 1983. I coached at UTC when Charlie was on the team. Caleb has finally broken through and given all of Georgians our first NCAA Champion.”

Many people from Georgia were there to watch history being made. “I am grateful I was able to witness it myself,” Hennebaul said.

Among the spectators were Chattooga County resident Adam Lee and his son Coleman, of the Northwest Georgia wrestling community. “We got to see one of ‘our own’ win a National Championship and got to be a part of an even larger wrestling family,” Adam Lee expressed. “The 2024 NCAA National Wrestling Championship Finals is a memory that my son and I will never forget.”

The historic moment was celebrated by wrestling enthusiasts and members of the wrestling community who had followed Henson’s journey from the early days. “We have been a wrestling family for the past fourteen years since my oldest son started wrestling USA youth tournaments. We have grown to love so many things about this sport, but the best thing has to be the people. We become an extended family that sees each other year after year, connecting in the off season to check in and of course talk wrestling. One of those families who traveled in the same wrestling circles was Caleb Henson’s family,” Lee said.

“At several youth tournaments, like Battle at Little BigHorn, Pepperell Dragon Classic, and South Paulding Trojan War, I noticed a skinny little kid named Caleb Henson. I watched him over the years as he wrestled local wrestlers such as Lincoln Maddux, Ty Veatch, Griffin Jarrett, Luke Overbay, and Bowden Brock. We continued to follow Henson’s success as he excelled in high school and later signed with Virginia Tech,” Lee said.

“I remember Caleb being a really good wrestler at Woodland High School. He was one of Adrian Tramatola’s better wrestlers on one of Georgia’s best teams at the time,” Hennebaul said.

“When Caleb Henson came out to his walk-out song, ‘Enter Sandman’ we could hardly contain ourselves,” Lee said. And he was not alone.

Hennebaul and many others were present at the championship to witness history being made and to offer an ‘atta boy’ when he came off the awards stand.

As Henson continues to inspire aspiring wrestlers and represent Georgia nationally, his journey is a testament to the power of dedication, perseverance, and extensive community support in achieving greatness.