The love the Walsh Jesuit High School wrestling community showed Joe Heskett on Tuesday night brought people to tears.
Heskett’s induction into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame during a banquet at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron also provided a powerful reminder about how sports can forge lifelong bonds.
A heart issue discovered as a result of a life-threatening cardiac event in 2007 robbed Heskett of becoming an Olympian and ended his legendary wrestling career. Heskett’s health issues became worse when he suffered strokes in 2020 and 2023, his grandmother, Akron resident Evelyn Nye, said.
Yet, Heskett is still inspiring his former Walsh teammates and coaches who witnessed him win three high school state titles, capture an NCAA championship and become a four-time All-American at Iowa State, a five-time U.S. National Team member and a Pan American Games silver medalist.
A 1997 Walsh graduate, Heskett traveled from his home in Columbus to attend the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame’s 66th induction ceremony, where former teammates and Warriors wrestling greats Clint Musser and Sonny Marchette combined to deliver an emotional acceptance speech on his behalf.