Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Ben Henderson
Mixed Martial Artist, World Extreme Cagefighting Interim Lightweight Champion
Decatur High School
Graduate, Class of 2001
Mixed Martial Arts competitor Ben Henderson is certainly strong, both physically and mentally. He developed that strength as a student and wrestler at Decatur High School.
"My experience as a wrestler at Decatur underneath head coach Mike Bressler prepared me for my future by teaching me to be tough and that no one is just going to give you something because you want it. You have to work for it and earn it," Henderson said.
Henderson attended Lake Grove Elementary, Lakota Middle School and Decatur High School. As a high school wrestler, Henderson took second in the state for his weight class. He graduated in 2001 with a wrestling scholarship to Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. There, he took fifth in the nation competing with his wrestling team. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in criminal justice and sociology. He hopes to one day go back to school and earn a Master's Degree in Social Justice.
"My experience as a high school athlete definitely contributed to my academic succes," Henderson said. "The Federal Way Public Schools did a great job in preparing me for my future academic and career challenges. My time at Decatur definitely prepared me to have my eyes opened in college and my time on the wrestling mats with head coach Mike Bressler and head-assistant coach Sam Hunt prepared me for the trials and tribulations of college wrestling." In addition to his wrestling coaches, Henderson recalls Mrs. Brazier, Mr. Harris and Mr. Kaufman as being among his most influential teachers in Federal Way.
After earning his bachelor's degree, Henderson returned to Dana College as a volunteer coach. It was there that a friend dared him to get involved with Mixed Martial Arts and his new career was born.
After Henderson is done with Mixed Martial Arts, he plans to pursue a career in law enforcement. For now, he is training hard to become the best contender he can. "It is extremely necessary as a fighter to have mental strength and discipline," Henderson said. "As with a lot of careers that focus on individual motivation, it can be hard to push yourself to do things that are required to be successful, especially because you're not in a stereotypical work environment where you have bosses and co-workers who can tell you exactly what you have to do to be successful. That self-motivation to push yourself every day takes not only mental strength but also severe discipline."
Henderson's athletic accomplishments include being named a World Extreme Cagefighting interim lightweight champion. He is also a third-degree purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a black belt in Taekwondo and a two-time NAIA All-American wrestler.
To students, Henderson says: "Be open to new experiences and opportunities and be brave enough to be unique and stand up for what you believe in. Be brave enough to be yourselves and realize that life outside of high school is way more important than life in high school."
To teachers, Henderson says: "It's okay to hold our kids to a higher standard and expect more."