Sometimes life can throw a double leg takedown we aren’t ready for. That is what happened to Devon Rupp and Jon Williams of the Wildcat wrestling team.

Rupp found out his mother had cancer in November of 2014. Finding out a loved one has cancer is something no one is ready for. Rupp was home for summer break when his mother, Joey Jackson, passed.

A lot of the team texted and called him, letting him know they were there for him. In sports, your teammates are your family. The wrestling family always had his back.

“It is a lot easier to cope with what is happening when you know you have a team or family to help you deal with everything,” Rupp said.

Jennifer Williams, mother of Jon Williams, passed away on December 20. Williams was home for Christmas break. Jennifer also passed from cancer. It is not often two teammates have their mothers pass away in the same year. Williams had a lot of the team as well as some alumni come to the funeral.

“It was a little different for me. My mother passed away this summer. I knew everyone was there for me and had my back. I never felt alone, but no one really knew what I was going through,” Rupp said.

“I didn’t feel alone. I had my wrestling family, along with Devon, who went through the same thing, there to help me and make it easier. The pain will stay with me but she is in a better place. She will always be there,” Williams said.

Despite all the pain, these two men wrestle for their mothers. Williams went 6-0 at the National Dual. Rupp went 4-2.