Photo by SportsInk.com
Copley-Fairlawn junior Samuel Wheeler is the SportsInk.com Athlete of the Week.
“I like to win,” said this week’s SportsInk.com Athlete of the Week, Samuel Wheeler of Copley-Fairlawn High School, when we asked him what he likes most about wrestling.
Samuel Wheeler is a late bloomer as wrestlers go. He did not start the sport until the seventh grade, but he quickly caught on and now has numerous tournament MVPs to his credit. He has done a lot of winning since he decided to make the game his. Wheeler is 35-0 this season, including a Dies Tournament Championship and Tournament MVP last weekend at Firestone High School in the 171-pound weight class.
“I trained for five hours a day heading into last week’s tournament," Wheeler said. "I needed to win it.”
Wheeler has had to do a ton of training to just get on the mat at Copley the past three years. As a freshman he struggled in the classroom and could not contribute to the team, but after a slow start his sophomore season he rebounded and finished with a state honorable mention.
“Sam is a very coachable wrestler (who) is a gifted athlete, but more important, has put the effort into reaching his potential,” said Copley Wrestling coach Jim Dies.
“It is all about grades now for me," Wheeler said. "I work hard in the classroom, and then I know I can wrestle." He is also a three-year member of the Indians football team, excelling on defense as a linebacker.
Samuel (he prefers Samuel to Sam) got his lead into the sport from his father, who was a wrestler. After his dad took him to his first practice, Samuel knew what he wanted to do. “It came natural for me, and Dad helped me as well,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler has also captured tournament championships this season at Southview and Medina. “He has improved by leaps and bounds and gets better every day,” said Dies.
“In college I certainly want to pursue wrestling and hopefully become a teacher," Wheeler said. "Now at Copley the teachers sometimes put me up in front of the class to teach and I really like that.”
It looks like the word “teaching” has been a constant for Wheeler for most of his life, from teaching himself to wrestle to training to be disciplined in the classroom and on the mat. “Teaching young wrestlers about being physical and technique is big to Sam,” said Dies.
Samuel Wheeler
Copley High School
Junior
Wrestling, football
GPA: 3.4