Calem McElwee-Wise '18 Recruiting Profile

I began wrestling in 8th grade as way to become more integrated into my school and make new friends. Admittedly, I was awful. However, it was an opportunity, so I attended Penn State wrestling camps, drastically improved throughout that summer, and lifted weights like a Schwarzenegger. I have made it to IHSA sectionals all four years, and IWCOA Fresh-Soph state my Sophomore year. My junior year I was diagnosed with a minor umbilical hernia four days before regionals. At this point in my season, I was not about to cut and run to an operating table, so I wrestled anyway, and at Sectionals, was only one match away from making it to State. When I attended the University of Iowa training camps, my roommate and I would attend the Division I college teams practices, and while other attendees of the camps watched, we went on the mat(with permission from Coach Brands, take your pick which one), and wrestled the same drills as the Hawkeyes team did. As far as academics go, I already have many college credits towards my associates, and Honors classes all four years of my high school career, pulling an 1160 SAT score out of the hat. I work harder than my teammates in practice, strive to be first in every sprint and bleacher lap, I help teammates less experienced, and if I don't know something, I ask questions. I enjoy engaging in debates with teammates and coaches about principles of science, history, and literature during down time, and bring a sense of quiet(depending on who you ask) humor to the wrestling mat. With two parents holding extensive military careers, I try to be the best leader I can.