Senior spotlight: Spencer/Columbus Catholic's Bryce Shaw focuses on return trip to state
SPENCER - Bryce Shaw feels healthier and even more motivated as he heads into his final attempt at a state championship.
The Spencer/Columbus Catholic senior missed a trip to the WIAA state individual wrestling tournament last year as he finished fourth in his weight class at a Division 3 sectional meet. He competed with a torn labrum, an injury he had sustained earlier in the season, but isn't using it as an excuse.
"I can't blame it all on (the injury)," Shaw said earlier this week. "It was a mentality thing. I wasn't in the right mindstate."
RELATED: Luke Bogdonovich an outside threat for Loyal basketball
RELATED: Cale Jacoby thrives in starting role with Auburndale boys basketball
That hasn't been a question this year.
Shaw, who finished sixth in Division 3 at 113 pounds as a freshman, is ranked ninth at 145 pounds in Division 2 by Wisconsin Wrestling Online as the Rockets head into Saturday's Cloverbelt Conference meet.
Shaw, who also competes for the Spencer boys cross-country and track teams, recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his top sports moments — good and bad — his mindset going into the wrestling postseason and his future plans, among other topics.
Do you have a certain nickname your friends/teammates or family members call you?
Shawsome. I got it during eighth grade. One of my friend's dad is one of the junior high coaches and he gave it to me.
What is the most memorable moment of your athletic career?
As far as success, it was freshman year. I took sixth at state (wrestling).
At the same time, is there a moment you would like to forget?
I could say all the times I didn't do very good but you take it with a grain of salt and use it as a learning curve. You want to forget about it but at the same time you need to learn from it for the next time.
The conference tournament starts the wrestling postseason. Do you have a different mentality at this time of the year?
You just focus more and keep your diet even better. Just make sure that you are doing all the right stuff now.
Where do you feel you have made the most improvement as a wrestler since your freshman year?
I went to a wrestling camp last summer —the J Rob one — and it's really a mentally tough (camp), so my mentality now is a lot better. Physically, I lifted a lot more between my freshman and sophomore years and jumped up to 120 and 138 pounds my sophomore and junior years.
Are you superstitious at all? Do you have any certain routines before a match?
Not really. The times I feel like listening to music to get jacked up before (the match) I'll do it. The one thing I am kind of superstitious about is my socks. I'll have one pair that I will wear for every meet or tournament.
What is the biggest thing you have gained from wrestling?
Just knowing that you don't get anywhere without hard work, and if you want to be good at something, you have to be willing to put a lot of time in.
Where would your dream vacation be?
Either Hawaii or anywhere warm on a beach which is nice and quiet.
What is your post-graduation plan?
I am going to (University of Wisconsin) Stevens Point. I am going to wrestle there and major in marketing and minor in financing.
FAVORITES
Sport: Wrestling.
Pro or college athlete: (Former Nebraska and Olympic wrestler) Jordan Burroughs.
Activity outside of sports or school: I am a big video game player.
Video game: "Call of Duty."