Like his peers, all Cody Wheeler wished for his final year of high school were experiences the previous two senior classes missed out on.
On and off the playing field.
“Honestly, it was as regular as it could have been,” the recent Hockinson High School graduate said. “I think we (the Class of 2022) got the lucky stick out of the past three years.”
Wheeler felt fortunate the 2021-22 school year had fewer pandemic-related hurdles to navigate. That included high school sports’ return to its traditional form, complete with a full allotment of games and contests, and state playoff opportunities.
And because of it, Wheeler, The Columbian’s All-Region male multi-sport athlete of the year, gained a better appreciation and perspective for what high school sports are all about. Competing for and representing Hockinson, and being surrounded by friends and teammates in football, wrestling, and track and field is what it’s all about for Wheeler.
“It’s what makes high school fun for me,” he said.
Wheeler has consistently been in motion as a three-season high school athlete dating back to freshman year. He mastered the fall, winter and spring this school year as an all-league running back and starter at linebacker in football, went 35-1 as a 195-pound state semifinalist in wrestling, and became a nationally ranked javelin thrower in track and field.
