2010 Male Athlete of the Year

2010 State Bank Tri-County Area Athlete of the Year

Josh had a tremendous high school career … on the field playing football, wrestling on the mat and even more important in the classroom. He finished his academic career in the top 10 of his class with a 3.94 gpa.

Let me introduce you to the Holly High School Male Athlete of the Year…the Josh we, at HHS, have grown to know and love.

Football – 3 year varsity player
--Senior Year – starting quarterback and safety
- team captain
- 2nd team all league
- State Bank Athlete of the Week
- voted offensive MVP and team MVP
- team scholar athlete and FML scholar athlete awards

Coach Ryan Culloty stated “Since I have known Josh Houldsworth as a person and athlete, I feel that I can comment intelligently and accurately concerning his person and ability. Josh's personal characteristics are outstanding. He is a very enthusiastic individual whose moves are well planned and then well executed. Emotionally, he exhibits excellent self-control, is very natural, human, and secure. Socially, he is cooperative, sensitive to others and anxious to please. Furthermore, Josh is serious in purpose and any job he begins is completed excellently. Athletically and socially, Josh has excelled. Josh is noted for enjoying helping his teammates and was a very coach-able, disciplined, unselfish participate who always demonstrated a high degree of sportsmanship. Academically speaking, Josh is very hard working, as is evidenced by his high school course work and G.P.A. (3.95). He is in possession of genuine academic interest. As a student all of Josh's academic skills are excellent and well polished. Perhaps Josh's most impressive trait is his ability to manipulate time. He is an outstanding student and socially involved in the school. Josh is a fine young man. He without a doubt will achieve success in anything he endeavors."

Now on to wrestling…the sport Josh learned to love as a young boy.
--Wrestling

--Freshman Year – FML champ, Oakland County champ, 7th in state, FR record 56 wins, MVP and team scholar-athlete award

--Sophomore Year – captain, FML-Oakland County-District-Regional champ, 3rd in state, MVP, team and FML scholar athlete award

--Junior Year – team captain and MVP, he broke the record for single season wins with 60, was named Dr. Pepper Ath of the Month and was crowned FML, Oakland County, MHSAA District, Regional & STATE Champion, team and FML scholar athlete award.

--Senior Year – team captain and MVP, 4x FML champ, 4x Oakland County champ (2nd time in Oakland Cty history), MHSAA district, regional and 2x STATE Champion. He broke his own 60 wins in a season record with a total of 61. He broke the 10-year old record for career wins of 199 with an amazing total of 235…a record that should stand for many years to come. A few more honors bestowed on him…Wendy’s Spotlight athlete award (this award is a bit ironic as Josh is very unassuming and doesn’t like the spotlight!), Michigan Grappler 1st team Dream Team and Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Palace (all divisions and weight classes). Josh was fortunate to attend the senior nationals and won All-American honors. Josh won State Bank Athlete of the Week during wrestling season every year.

Holly alum and 35-year veteran coach Don Pluta stated “Josh has accomplished more than any wrestler in Holly history. His achievements did not happen by accident. He was the hardest working, most dedicated wrestler I have ever coached.”