Katie Brock was a seventh grade cheerleader when she met Sequatchie County High School wrestling coach Junior Amburn and told him that she wanted to wrestle. It was an encounter that would change her life.

As the only female wrestler in the area, Brock had to overcome obstacles and criticism to compete. She found support through her teammates and her coaches who viewed her as a competitive wrestler, not as a girl.

As a freshman, she became the first wrestler, male or female, from Sequatchie County High School to win a state championship. Three years later, she pinned her way through the state tournament to become a four-time Tennessee state champ. The former cheerleader turned wrestler has captured more state championships than any other team or individual in school history.

Brock finished with a career record of 113-2 in three different weight classes and as a senior, earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the regional and state tournaments. She received the Best Match award in 2014.

During her high school career, Brock was not only the captain of the wrestling team all four years, but also lettered in volleyball and was team captain as a senior. Despite her busy schedule, she maintained a GPA of 3.54.

In her spare time, Brock volunteers at the Sequatchie County Fair, winning the “Fairest of the Fair” title in 2015, and is involved in the Junior Health Council, the Beta Club and the Connect Crew at SCHS. Brock has accepted a scholarship and has signed a letter of intent to wrestle at one of the nation’s top programs, Campbellsville University in Kentucky, where she plans to study pediatric nursing.

In recognition of outstanding wrestling and scholastic achievements, citizenship and community service, Katie Brock is the 2016 recipient of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award.