West Newsmagazine 2-7-18

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Lafayette’s Wegener sets sights on
winning state wrestling championship
February 7, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I SPORTS I 27
By WARREN MAYES
When Cameron Wegener came to wrestle
at Lafayette, he wanted to make varsity
and a name for himself. He can check off
both of those goals.
The Lancers begins the two-day district
competition Friday, Feb. 9 at Lindbergh
High. They are one of 16
teams competing in Class
4 District 1.
Wegener, a senior in
his fourth year on varsity
who wrestles at 145
pounds, topped 150 wins
in January in his Lancers’
career.
“It’s amazing just
being on the team to me,”
Wegener said. “I never
thought about 100 wins,
so it’s cool that I’d get
that far.”
Wegener hopes he has
more wins in store.
“I’m not finished,”
Wegener
Wegener said. “I could get to 175 when it’s
all done. That would be really awesome.
That would be third highest in team history.”
The school record is 192 wins.
Coach Jonathan Sumner is impressed
with what Wegener has accomplished thus
far.
“Earning 150 victories in our lineup is a
big deal,” Sumner said. “Just to crack the
lineup as a freshmen has been a difficult
task over the years, and then to win 150
matches in a tough schedule is an amazing
accomplishment. It shows how tough and
hard-working of a young man Cam is.”
When Wegener came out for the sport as
a freshman, he saw the possibility he could
earn a spot on the varsity roster, and he did
just that.
“It was just kind of surreal,” Wegener
said. “I was proud. I was thinking, ‘I’m
actually this good to be wrestling with the
big kids now.’”
Wegener noted that, in Little League
wrestling, he did not have even a glimpse
of what was to come in high school.
“I wasn’t really that good,” Wegener
acknowledged. “In my eighth grade year
going into my freshman year, I started
working with coach Sumner. That’s when
my wrestling really took off. That’s when
I felt like I could be good wrestler. Coach
Sumner is a huge reason for my success.”
Getting Wegener into the program and
learning was essential, Sumner said. He
also was better than he said he was.
“We knew Cam had the potential to be
great,” Wegener said. “He came in with a
great skill set and we saw a bright future
for him. His hard work has led him to
where he is now as a senior.”
Working to get better is something on
which Wegener thrives.
“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of
hours in the wrestling room,” Wegener
said. “When you’re in
the middle of the mat,
there’s nobody else to
rely on. It’s just you and
the other guy. You can’t
point fingers. It’s all on
you if you win or lose.”
Wegener qualified for
state both as a freshman
and sophomore, finishing
in the top eight – one
match from finishing
with a state medal.
It all came together for
Wegener as a junior when
he placed fourth in state
at 132. Finally getting
that medal drove him all
that much more to do better in his last campaign
as a senior Lancer.
In addition to being a standout athlete,
Wegener, a team captain this season, has
become a role model for his younger team
members.
“Cam is a lead by example kind of guy,”
Sumner said. “He is constantly taking care
of business and doing the right things and
other kids look up to him. When you have
been to the state tournament every year you
have been in high school, naturally kids are
looking at you for leadership. He has done
a good job of showing our younger kids
what it takes.”
Wegener has set high hopes and expectations
for himself.
“I really expect myself to win state this
year at 145,” Wegener said. “My main
competition will be from Josh Steele
of Park Hill and Corey Wait of Francis
Howell I think.”
After high school, Wegener said he may
wrestle in college.
“I’m still thinking on it,” Wegener said.
“One school is Colorado School of Mines
in Denver. Maybe Missouri S & T. I want
to study engineering.”
Sumner fully supports Wegener wrestling
at the next level, but admits he will
miss having Wegener around.
“Cam is a great young man. Our whole
coaching staff enjoys being around him,”
Sumner said. “We look forward to a great
finish from him this season and, most
importantly, seeing him grow into a great
man who will pursue his life goals.”
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