Luke Hopkins, a senior majoring in moderate educational needs and BW wrestler, prevails through multiple knee injuries, relying on his faith in God. 

Luke Hopkins has dealt with knee injuries much of his college career, having three knee surgeries performed within his first two years. Hopkins missed some early 2022-2023 season tournaments due to a herniated disc and did not make the starting lineup until a month before the NCAA regional wrestling tournament.  

Luke Hopkin’s father, Mike Hopkins, has been at Hopkins’ side his whole wrestling career and has served as his assistant coach. Mike Hopkins said that Hopkins connection with God was never forced but was adopted. 

“I really think he just saw us reading the Bible and showing love how Jesus shows love,” Mike Hopkins said.  

Mike Hopkins would often calm down his son with a prayer before his match. When Luke Hopkins was faced with adversity, he remembered what God has intended for him, his father said. 

“It’s a warrior’s spirit with a servant mindset,” Mike Hopkins said.  

Hopkins is the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group at BW. Christen Pfeiffer, a sophomore sustainability and environmental science major, is a close friend and member of FCA with Hopkins.  

Pfeiffer said he and Luke Hopkins will call each other before his wrestling matches to pray. Additionally, Pfeiffer was one of the first to know Hopkins had won a “wrestle off” and was going to be on the starting lineup for the regional meet.  

“He ran over to the high jump pit repeating, ‘I’m going to be in the regional meet, I’m going to be in the regional meet,’ you could just tell he was just grateful to be part of the squad,” Pfeiffer said.  

Pfeiffer said that Luke Hopkins deserved to be on that lineup by overcoming and working hard the last three years.  

“I just really wanted to compete and if I couldn’t do it on the mat, I wanted to translate that energy to the classroom,” Luke Hopkins said.  

Hopkins has translated his energy to the classroom and has been a leader to his team and to athletes like Evan Daniels, sophomore finance major, who is a part of FCA. 

Pfeiffer said that Luke Hopkins has been there for Daniels by mentoring him and preparing him to take over Hopkin’s role as president of the FCA club.   

Luke Hopkin’s teammate Robbie Palmieri, junior national security major, described Hopkins as the perfect teammate and a model kid inside and outside the wrestling room. 

“He’s a special kid, he has a special work ethic, and it is not matched by many others,” Palmieri said.  

Palmieri described Hopkins’ story as unique because at any point he could have given up for his senior year.  

The way he finished will leave behind a strong legacy and many motivational stories for other wrestlers to hear, Palmieri said.