Shawnee High School wrestling has come out of the gate this season on a high note.
The team is currently 11–0 with no sight of losing steam.
“It’s a good group of guys. They put in all the extra time that you need to put in in order to have success in the sport,” said head coach Timothy Mann, a history teacher at Shawnee.
The team was successful last year, beating Lenape High School for the first time since 1991. The team also made it to sectionals and came out as conference champions, both milestones for the Renegades.
“I think we need to repeat as conference champs and to go further in the playoffs. We still have to go out and wrestle some very tough competition,” said Mann. “In order for this to be a successful year, we need to take a step toward some of those goals.”
According to Mann, the hard work at practice has translated to the competitive success in matches, with fierce rivalry during practice and a notable camaraderie between teammates.
A major goal for the season is to continue the momentum.
Last year, the team came out strong, winning the Pine Barrens Tournament, a goal the Renegades surpassed at the beginning of the season.
“They need to keep doing what they’re doing. I told them to be greedy, and I think, to a certain degree, they are. They’re working to achieve the goals we set,” said Mann.
Mann attributes a large portion of the team’s success to senior and captain Austin Wetterau, who recently gained his 100th career win against Egg Harbor Township High School.
“He’s a natural leader,” he said. “He might be the best leader I have been around as a coach. Maybe even as a competitor myself.”
Wetterau wanted a change in the team, unhappy with losing and the feeling of mediocrity he had experienced during the beginning of his career with the team.
“When I came in my freshman year we were about .500, and no one gave a second thought to Shawnee wrestling. Personally, I don’t like losing. No one on this team likes losing,” said Wetterau. “I feel like practices have led us to where we are now. Every practice we have is some of the best we’ve had. This was our hardest preseason, but it was worth it.”
Wetterau used his position as captain in the beginning of his sophomore year to become more vocal, fully taking on the leadership role.
“We started to get a winning mentality, we started putting things together, and we began to produce,” he said.
Mann noted the high standard Wetterau holds himself to on and off the mat.
“He does all the right things; you don’t have to ask him. He does them naturally. He’s both a vocal leader and a leader by example,” Mann said.
Wetterau credits his positive outlook to his upbringing.
“My parents always raised me to do the right thing. Obviously, right now in season I can’t be doing anything crazy. If I get a chance to help my teammates, it’s even better,” he said. “They’re the people I care about.”
Wetterau is set to attend college and wrestle at Bucknell University, a private, liberal arts college located in Lewisburg, Pa.
“Wrestling is one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of. It is one of the things I can say has definitely changed me as a person out of my four years here at Shawnee,” Wetterau said.
The next match will be Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. against Seneca High School at home. Additionally, Shawnee will wrestle Cherokee away on Friday, Feb. 1.
For more information and the wrestling schedule, visit www.olympicconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=349&school_id=13.
