OUR PATCH WHIZ KID OF THE WEEK:
Whiz Kid's name: Bret Haley
Whiz Kid's school:
Whiz Kid's age: 18.
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Whiz Kid's accomplishment: 2011 Cobb County Wrestling Champion; 2011 Region 5-AAAA Wrestling Champion; 2011 Georgia AAAA Sectional Wrestling Champion; 2011 State AAAA Wrestling Tournament - placed 3rd - all at 215 pound weight class. Most wins for Sprayberry High School in 2010 and 2011.
Whiz Kid's key to awesomeness: Bret believes that his training and mental approach help him be successful. Before a wrestling match, Bret imagines that he is unstoppable and that he will dominate his opponent. Once he is on the mat, he works hard to make his imagined result happen.
Find out what's happening in Northeast Cobbfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Bret also credits his off-season and overall training attitude to his success. He wants to know that every time he practices, he improves. He works hard to make sure that his practice will make him better, and he looks forward to practice for that reason.
Bret credits several people for their support in his success. Coach Gary DeHaven, the current Sprayberry coach, and Robert Hudson, a youth wrestling coach and father of 3-time wrestling state champion and Sprayberry graduate Alex Hudson, are both strong influences on Bret's wrestling success.
Bret also credits his family, known as "Team Bret" during the state tournament, for their enduring belief and support of him. Bret will continue wrestling next year at either the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He plans to major in engineering.
Each week we'll highlight an individual child, youth group, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box or e-mail the editor at julia.harris@patch.com.
Be sure to include the following information: 1. Nominator's Name, 2. Nominator's e-mail, 3. Whiz Kid's Name, 4. Whiz Kid's Age, 5. Whiz Kid's School, 6. Whiz Kid's Accomplishment, 7. Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)