About the Contributor
Angelica Carter, FCHS Journalist
Angelica is a sophomore and in her first year of Journalism. She served as a Yearbook Page Editor in 2019.
Pin it to Win it
September 7, 2019
Are wrestlers adrenaline junkies? Does it give them a rush that they can’t feel with any other sport? One student who would agree with these thoughts is junior and FCHS athlete Shawn Metcalf, who enjoys wrestling and the adrenaline that comes with it.
Metcalf went into wrestling when he was in seventh grade, and has loved it ever since. One of the main reasons he got into wrestling was because he was getting bullied and decided he needed to defend himself. Another reason he joined the team was due to the influence of his brother, Logan Wall, the last Fluco to win States for wrestling back in 2012. Last March, Metcalf followed his brother’s footsteps and also competed at States for wrestling.
Even though there is some controversy about whether wrestling is considered a sport, Metcalf has repeatedly defended it and believes wrestlers do just as much as any other athlete. When the sport is in season, they have daily practices and attend meets. “You put your mind and body through extreme challenges that cannot be found in any other sport,” said Metcalf.
In the off-season, Metcalf stays fit by lifting weights, and has recently joined the cheer team. Depending on who you ask, Metcalf may be the first male cheerleader ever to join the FCHS cheer team. “The kid is capable of doing anything he puts his mind to, and he is a very hard worker,” said Wrestling Coach Jordan Divine.
Coach Kenny Larios, FCHS’ new male cheer coach, said he was “very impressed with Shawn when I first met him. When he came to his first practice he wanted to learn everything he could. In one week he was able to perform all the stunts we asked from the team. Everything he learned in one day I learned in a month.”
Metcalf plans to keep on wrestling and take FCHS to States once again. “No matter what happens in a match, never stop wrestling. If you pause for even a second, that could be the difference between winning and losing,” he said.
Editor’s note: For more information on Coach Larios and the new male cheer team, visit this article by Maddy Eubank.