In a world of nearly 8 billion people, it is often astonishing how individual lives can cross paths.
Local student-athletes Judson Kilpatrick, a junior at East Hamilton, and Noah Adkins, a sophomore at Marion County High, are blessed by their friendship formed through a terrifying life experience.
In January of 2021, Kilpatrick’s and Adkins’ worlds collided at Children’s Hospital, where the two kept each other uplifted and entertained while both battled cancer.
With weakened immune systems neither could spend much more than a few minutes talking face to face. However, the two bonded for hours each day by playing video games — often talking through online headsets while being just a room apart — as they received treatments.
“I would definitely say we were meant to meet there, because stuff like this doesn’t happen often,” Kilpatrick said. “You don’t meet people who are going through literally the same exact thing you are and understand your struggles. They are there and you have each other for support. Our time there together formed a bond we definitely will hold on to for forever.”
The two friends eventually were declared cancer-free within one month of one another.
“When I got to Children’s, I heard about Judson who was about the same age as me,” Adkins said. “It gave me hope I would say. We shared a lot in common with our love for wrestling and we both played football, too. While I was there, I could call Judson and say, ‘Hey, do you have any snacks or drinks in your room?’ and he would always hook me up.”
On Tuesday evening Kilpatrick and Adkins will have the chance to celebrate the New Year by helping their teams compete against each other in a tri-meet between host East Hamilton, Marion County and Brainerd.
Kilpatrick is grateful for his health and the ability to compete. Once being told he could do nothing even remotely physical, now the 160-pounder is in tip-top shape and working to cut his weight down to 152 pounds to wrestle for what has been a dominant Hurricane program.
Eric Mountain’s first-year leading East Hamilton has been a success as the Hurricanes have won the Charger and Ooltewah Invitationals and also had a second-place finish at the Gobbler Classic. Kilpatrick also was a tournament champion at the Tullahoma preseason tournament.
“I am blessed to have my full strength back,” said Kilpatrick, who can power clean nearly 250 pounds. “To be able to wrestle well you have to have a strong body. I love being able to workout and get in the gym. That’s something I never take for granted after doctors told me I literally couldn’t do anything physical for several months at a time. My dream is to win a state championship.”
Adkins wrestles at 170 pounds for the Warriors, whose program is in only the second year of a comeback after not having the sport since the 1990s. Marion County is undefeated in its region so far and 8-2 overall.
“To wrestle takes a lot of determination,” Adkins said. “You have to cut weight every week, stay hydrated and really stay locked in mentally and physically. You give it all you’ve got and focus on one day at a time. That also helped me in the hospital. You take things day-by-day and try to progress each and every day.
“Wrestling is by far my favorite sport. To put in the work and go out there and feel like the strongest dude out there is really rewarding.”
From a point in time where both thought their athletic careers might be over, to now wrestling against one another, Kilpatrick and Adkins are forever grateful for the friendship which also played a key part in their recovery and comeback stories.
While both are eager to win team bragging rights, they have already won one of the biggest fights they will face, and did so with an assist from one another.
“The support Judson and I have had is amazing,” Adkins said. “Our school’s, family, friends, doctors and organizations like Lana’s Love and Little Wishes really took care of us in a time of need. Going through what we did definitely made us stronger and I am very thankful for the friendship we have.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.