Jacob Hyde is one of the most inspirational stories of a Holly athlete. There is a reason that within the Holly wrestling program the team’s most improved wrestler award is named the Jacob Hyde Most Improved award. In 2005, Jake entered Holly High School as a freshman that was trying to figure out what it took to compete as a high school wrestler. During this period in time, Holly was in the midst of having some of the best wrestling teams in our school’s history. As a freshman, it was very difficult for Jake to break into the lineup at his weight class and at the end of that freshman season, Jake had amassed 6 victories, 3 of which were awarded via void. This did not discourage Jake as he knew the work that he was putting in while at practice against very tough competition, would only make him better.

Jake continued to work hard and possessed a drive to improve and succeed. Each year of his high school career, Jake improved and the work continued to translate to success on the mat. During his sophomore year, Jake finished fourth in the MHSAA Individual Regional securing a spot in the MHSAA Individual State Finals. At the 2007 State Finals, Jake went 1-2 bowing out of the tournament short of placing. Building on that experience, Jake returned his junior year and took 2nd place in his weight class at the FML Championships and finished third in his regional securing his second trip to the MHSAA Individual State Finals. The result his junior year was the same as the year prior finishing 1-2 and coming up short of his goal to place. This just provided more motivation for Jake to continue to work hard and improve. By the time his senior season rolled around, Jake was a leader on the team and the individual success he experienced went through the roof. In December of 2008, Jake ran through his bracket at the Oakland County Tournament becoming an Oakland County Champion. The success continued as Jake went on to win the FML Championship again at his weight class and then proceed to win the MHSAA individual district and regional. This year at the State Finals was different. Jake won his first match by pinfall then proceed to defeat his opponent in the quarterfinals 13-6. In the semi-final match, Jake earned a 7-2 victory leading to an appearance in the state championship match against the overall # 1 seed in the weight class Jake Johnson from Rockford. In the state championship match, Jake did what he always did, took the mat and was full throttle. Jake won a very good match 3-2 and became a state champion. From a wrestler that won only six matches his freshman year to a state champion is quite the story.

Upon graduation, Jake went on to wrestle for Team Michigan and attended Oakland University where he participated on their wrestling team prior to it being dissolved. Jake currently works as a commercial underwriter for MetaBank and resides in Davisburg with his wife Karly. Jake is also giving back to the team that meant so much to him as he is an assistant coach for the Broncho wrestling team. In the words of his wife Karly in his nomination, “Jacob not only demonstrates passion for the sport of wrestling, and the life skills it teaches an athlete. His passion for the Holly community is unmatched. As a lifetime Broncho, Jacob bleeds red and white and would do anything for his team and Holly as a whole.”