Hendrickson High wrestler Rachael Cook has certainly had a senior season to remember, winning a district title and qualifying for the region tournament.

For Cook the success probably was not much a surprise. Winning district titles is something she’s been doing for almost as long as she’s been wrestling. The title is her third in her four years of wrestling.

“I was not surprised,” she said.

That does not mean it was easy. Cook said that bringing home the title took a lot of hard work.

“You go in and you try your hardest,” Cook said. “You don’t think about beating anyone you just give it your all.”

Winning district was not the only highlight of Cook’s season. She took second at the AISD tournament at the Delco Center and said that finish was pretty big for her. Cook’s success on the wrestling mat should come as no surprise to those who know her family. Her father and her brothers all wrestled, but she says her father made her wait to get in on the family sport.

“My dad made me wait until high school,” she said. “I was so excited. I love it.”

Cook says one of her favorite things about wrestling is the chance to prove herself in a sport usually associated with men.

“People think of it as a boys’ sport,” she said. “I like to show that it’s not just a boys’ sport.”

When she is done at Hendrickson Cook says she will attend the University of Texas at San Antonio where she hopes to be able to continue her wrestling career.

“I want to help start a woman’s program as a club sport,” she explained.

Cook headed to the region meet last week shooting for a top four finish and a chance to earn her first trip to state. She knew it would not be easy.

“It will be really hard,” she said. “We have one of the best regions in the state.”

Editor’s note: Cook did not qualify for the state tournament.