Featured Wrestler Profile – Shayvis Wilson

March 26, 2011 by T-Bone
Filed under Featured, Featured Athlete

40624 Comments2011-03-26+10%3A42%3A39T-Bone

Matside Hawaii is proud to present its Featured Wrestler Profile which pays tribute to outstanding senior wrestlers in the state of Hawaii.

Name:
Shayvis Wilson

Nickname:
Shayvis

What area are you from?
Ewa Beach

School:
Damien Memorial School

Grade:
12

School achievements:
Played in the All-State football game as a cornerback.

Weight classes competed in:
112, 135, 140, 140.

Wrestling achievements:
Took first at 140 in Maui invitational this year, 6th in the state at 140 last year.

When did you start wrestling?
I started wrestling in 7th grade for Damien Memorial School unlike some of the other more experienced guys who have been wrestling since they could walk, I had to work hard to try and catch up to their experience level.

What aspects of wrestling do you like the best?
The aspect of wrestling that I love is the pure competitive nature. There is really no other sport out there quite like wrestling. You pretty much step into a circle with your opponent and show how much work you have been putting in over time and you test your opponents willpower, there is no one to blame but your self.

What aspects of wrestling do you like the least?
The thing I like least about wrestling is definitely cutting weight simply because I love to eat. Eating is like my second passion, too bad it doesn’t go hand-in-hand with wrestling.

Who has been your toughest competitor in your wrestling career?
I would have to say that the toughest competitor I ever went up against comes from my very own team. Landon Oka and I have been around the same weight ever since last year and every day at practice, when we go live wrestling, we never hold back. It’s always all out because we both know that’s the only way we will get better.

What has been your most memorable match?
My most memorable match would have to be against last year’s 140lb state champ, Galen McCleary. He tore me apart during the regular season and as soon as that match ended, I was embarrassed and promised myself that I would work so hard that I would never feel this way again.

Who has been your greatest inspiration in your wrestling career?
My greatest inspiration in my wrestling career would have to be Marcus Finau. He was Damien’s first ever state champion at 215lbs. He always worked hard and taught me what it takes to be a champion. He taught me about how in wrestling there are two things that make a champion, taking risks and making sacrifices. With these two things, your odds of obtaining a state championship definitely go up.

Have you participated in off-season training or competition?
I really haven’t got to train much in the off-season because football did take up a lot of my time.

What is your favorite wrestling venue?
My favorite place to wrestle has got to be at the Blaisdell at the state tournament. Just because the crowd is crazy the arena is gigantic and our team has the same spot every year. When I first wrestled in the arena, it kind of felt like I was a Roman soldier fighting in the coliseum

What are your favorite “off-season” foods?
My all-time favorite food to eat when I can just pig out is warm bread pudding from Kakaako Kitchen at Ward… it’s to die for.

Have you or do you also compete in other sports besides wrestling?
I participate in football

Do you have any words of advice for the younger wrestlers?
My words of advice to younger wrestlers are to never put any one on a pedestal, because with hard work and dedication anyone can be beaten on any given day.

What are your future plans after high school?
After high school, I want to major in physical therapy and maybe one day come back and coach DAMIEN’s wrestling team.

One thing that others may not know about me:
Something others may not know about me is that I am kind of a clown. I really like to make people laugh and I am always looking to have a good time.

Hobbies:
Outside of wrestling I like to fish with my friends and my uncle. Once in a while, my uncle will take us out on the boat for a good day to relax out on the water.

Family:
I was raised by a single parent, my mom Kristi Wilson from Ewa Beach, HI, and I have one younger sister, Tazsia, who is now 2.

For my wrestling career, I would like to thank:
I’d first like to thank God because without him life just wouldn’t be possible. I would especially like to thank my mom who has pretty much been my number one fan ever since day one. And I would like to thank all of my family and friends who have always been there for me.

From Coach Lawrence Kahakui:
As head wrestling coach of Damien High School, I have known Shayvis Wilson for six years and have come to appreciate his many fine qualities as a student athlete. He always wrestles with 100% effort against a novice or a seasoned athlete.
Shayvis is always willing to help younger athletes understand the sport and the total attention to detail the activity demands. He understands that success can only be obtained through hard work and positive altitude both on and off the mat. His hard work and determination earned him a spot on the second team in both wrestling and football for the Interscholastic League of Hawaii. As he graduates from high school, this young man realizes that he is destined to for great things far beyond the four walls of Damien Memorial High School. It is an honor and privilege to have Shayvis on my wrestling team. He will be missed on and off the wrestling mat.