Joe Heskett (Photo/Mark Aikman)A GoFundMe page has been set up Thursday, March 26 for former wrestler/coach Joe Heskett who suffered a stroke earlier this month.
Here's how the GoFundMe page, sponsored by Evelyn Heskett, described Joe Heskett's present situation:
"On Thursday, March 12, 2020 Joe had a massive stroke.
"He is currently in Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus Ohio which specializes in neurological medical conditions. Fortunately, he is resting and in stable condition at this time and the staff is working on helping him to understand what has happened.
"The next phase is to transfer him to a rehabilitation facility for extensive therapy. Unfortunately, the insurance that he has will not cover the rehabilitation facility for his therapy and any financial assistance will be much appreciated.
"I am remarkably blessed to be alive," Heskett said. "This situation, although unfortunate, is the will of our great Lord and I turn over every fiber of faith to his plan. I don't have time to ask why and ponder. I will get healthy and I look forward to the next chapter of my life. I do not hang up my shoes easily, but the reality of the situation leaves me with one option and that is to stay optimistic and begin to excel in other areas of my life that I have been extremely blessed to possess."
As the write-up states, Joe Heskett's stroke earlier this month isn't the first medical challenge Heskett has faced.
"Five days after placing 5th at the 2007 World Championships Joe went into sudden cardiac arrest and his wrestling career unexpectedly ended due to a rare congenital heart condition."
However, Joe's story of survival in 2007 is just a part of his awe-inspiring journey.
Prior to his retirement from competitive wrestling in 2007, Heskett was training as a 2008 U.S. Olympic Team hopeful. In June 2007, he earned a spot on the U.S. World Team roster and won a silver medal at 163 pounds at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the World Wrestling championships in 2007, Heskett was one of five wrestlers to qualify his weight class for the 2008 Olympics after winning a silver medal."
Joe Heskett has long been an inspiring individual in wrestling in so many ways.
A native of northeast Ohio, Heskett was a three-time state champion wrestler at Walsh-Jesuit High School who, after graduation, headed west to Iowa State, where he was a three-time Big 8 champ, four-time NCAA All-American, and NCAA 165-pound champ for the Cyclones in 2002. (And a teammate of future Olympic gold medalist and eventual Penn State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson.)
Heskett then directed his attention on freestyle wrestling, becoming a Cadet World Championships bronze medalist, Pan Am Games silver medalist, and fifth-place finisher at the World Championships before going into sudden cardiac arrest five days after the Worlds. Heskett focused on coaching ... first, as an assistant coach and chief recruiter at Cal Poly, then Ohio State, then taking the helm of the wrestling program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for four years before accepting the position as Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance at West Virginia University July 2014. Three years later, Heskett left WVU to focus on his h Leadership consultancy to help young athletes develop their leadership skills and make smart choices regarding their educational and athletic goals… and find success beyond school and their sporting careers.
To contribute to the GoFundMe for Joe Heskett, click here.
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