Shawn Brew gains control in a match earlier this season.
(Photo by Mike Brew)
Swept up in the hoopla at the Palace of Auburn Hills last year, Shawn Brew soaked up the atmosphere but lost sight of the blueprint that got him there.
It’s not an uncommon outcome for first-time wrestlers at the Michigan High School Association Individual Wrestling State Finals, where emotions run high and the view from the Palace floor includes 360 degrees of distraction.
“Last year I got caught up in the atmosphere and kind of choked,” said the Three Rivers 160-pounder, now a senior. “I was predicted to make it to the semifinals. I ended up losing to a kid I should not have lost to. I think I learned a lot from that. You just have to keep your focus on one match at a time instead of thinking of wrestling for a state title.”
It’s a brutally honest assessment from the mature multisport athlete, one who has already signed to play baseball at Grace College, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, next year.
That trip to Auburn Hills resulted in a finish one spot away from the All-State (top eight) podium at 152 pounds. Brew ended his junior campaign with a 34-10 record and ample motivation.
“It was an amazing feeling going out for the Grand March,” he said. “It’s kind of nerve-wracking, too. You’ve got to take it all in at once and it’s a crazy feeling. I shouldn’t have the nerves this year. As soon as I left there I knew I wanted to come home [this year] with something … hopefully a state title.”
He’s on the right path so far. Brew knew he’d have to try his hand at a higher class after weighing in at 180 pounds in September. Because the Wildcats have talented senior Bailey Miholer-Wortinger at 171 pounds, Brew trimmed down to 160. That transition still required some extra bulk than he was used to at 152.
“I was pretty relaxed in the offseason and tried to stay away from the mats until around October,” said Brew, who just slipped out of MichiganGrappler.com’s top-10 state rankings in Division 2 in the 160-pound class and currently has a 12-2 record. “I knew I’d have to get bigger and stronger if I wanted to wrestle at 160, so I lifted a lot for wrestling. It was a lot of lifting, not a whole lot of wrestling.”
Miholer-Wortinger, who got off to a rough start this season, credited Brew for helping turn his year around. Brew is equally grateful for the propulsion his teammate provides during practice.
“He started off shaky and was really frustrated,” Brew said. “He talked to me one day after practice. We had a good talk. I just told him what he needed to work on. Ever since that he’s been pushing me just as hard as I push him in the room. That helps a lot. He’s improved from that and it has helped me improve from the start of the year.”
Three Rivers gets into the meat of its Wolverine Conference schedule Jan. 8 in a double dual at Otsego. Allegan is again the team to beat in the league, but the Wildcats, which boast a pretty loaded lineup in the heavier classes, hope to give the Tigers a run for their money.