Shoemaker wrestlers to grapple in Oklahoma
Posted On: Sunday, May. 31 2009 05:22 AM
By Jason Chlapek
Killeen Daily HeraldChelsea Koenen and Josh Mains made the Shoemaker wrestling program into one of the best in Central Texas.
Now, though, they are taking their prowess on the mat to Oklahoma.
Koenen and Mians both signed with colleges in on the other side of the Red River last week. Koenen chose Oklahoma City University, while Mains inked with Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla.
"Ever since I started wrestling (four years ago), I knew I wanted to wrestle in college," Koenen said. "Oklahoma City has one of the best women's wrestling programs in the country and a great pre-veterinarian program as well. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian, and I've always loved working with animals."
Koenen chose OCU over Missouri Valley, Lindenwood (Mo.) and Brock and Regina (Canada).
Koenen was one of the most successful wrestlers in Shoemaker history as she won four district championships and qualified for four state meets. She is the second Lady Grey Wolf in the last three years to sign a National Letter of Intent.
Former teammate Jenny Torres signed with Missouri Valley two years ago.
"Jenny was the first person I ever sparred with, and I looked up to her," Koenen said. "It'll be interesting to see her again even though she'll be wearing a different team's uniform."
Koenen is expected to wrestle either in the 112- or 120-pound weight class at OCU.
While Koenen went to the state meet all four years of high school, Mains went to the region meet all four years – twice in Indiana and twice in Texas. Mains moved to Killeen his junior year from Indiana.
Mains was under the recruiting radar until he attended a tryout at Bacone.
"I went for a visit, tried out for the team and everything worked out," Mains said. "I hope to make the national All-Academic list all four years, and win at least one national championship."
Mains will wrestle either in the 149- or 157-pound class.
As a senior, Mains won the District 25 championship in the 152-pound class and advanced to the second round of the region meet.
The two wrestlers leave an outstanding legacy at Shoemaker. The Grey Wolves won three of the last four district meets and won the regional title in 2007 and was the runner-up in 2008.
"We (the coaches) don't recruit, the program pretty much recruits itself," Shoemaker wrestling coach Ken Soloff said of the success he has had in program participation throughout his six seasons at Shoemaker. "The only thing I really do is tell incoming freshmen that they can be successful in wrestling, particularly smaller kids who have been told that they are too small to succeed in team sports."
Contact Jason Chlapek at
jchlapek@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7565.