Back in March, I posted a photo of Perry wrestler T.J. Huxel from 1994 for my Throwback Thursday sports post. Recently I received an email from T.J.'s mother, Marsha Huxel, who filled me in on some of what T.J. has been up to for the last 19 years:

TJ wrestled at the Air Force Academy. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2001.
He qualified for the 2001 NCAA Div. I National Wrestling Championships which were held in Iowa that year.
He is the only Perry H.S. wrestler to qualify for the NCAA Div. I National Wrestling championships.
He was also The Air Force Academy's 2001 Most Valuable Wrestler.

In high school, he placed 3rd in State as a sophomore (Div.III) and 4th (Div. II) as a junior. The brakeman report (1995-96) said his weight class (Div. II - 112 lb. weight class) was the toughest weight class of all three divisions because of all the returning state champs, state places, etc. When he was a freshman in h.s. he beat "the-to-be"
Div. I state champ at the Toledo Waite Tournament. The News-Herald pointed this out after the State meet.
At the beginning of the 1996-97 (his senior year) wrestling season, TJ tore his shoulder during practice. He had surgery in Jan., 1997, thus was unable to wrestle his senior year. He worked hard to recover and was able to
attend the Academy and wrestle!

TJ's dad, Jack Huxel, started the Perry High School Wrestling Team in 1971. The team went undefeated in their 3rd season!!!

TJ is a Major in the Air Force. He has flown C-5s and C-17s. 

Thank you for your service, T.J.! And thank you, Marsha, for all of the updated information on your son.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl