Shannon pins big goals on 2017

North Penn wrestler Colin Shannon has his sights set on a state medal in 2017

submitted photo

submitted photo

TOWAMENCIN- For Colin Shannon, his father’s simple request to learn self-defense became the biggest part of his life and the love of his life. Many wrestlers don’t start wrestling until the middle school level, but for Shannon wrestling has been part of his life since kindergarten. With all these years of hard work, he has impacted the Knights’ wrestling team in a big way, being a varsity starter since his freshman year.

Shannon was heavily influenced by his father to wrestle. Wrestling may not run in the family but he explained how having younger siblings affected his father’s push toward wrestling.

“My father never wrestled himself, but he does stuff like Jujitsu. He felt I should start with wrestling because I have two younger siblings, and he believes wrestling is a great source of self-defense when we go to a school with 3,000 people. So he had me start it for me to be able to defend myself and my siblings,” said Shannon.

Shannon comes from a large interconnected family, with whom who he spends a lot of time. Being in a family of athletes, his success in wrestling is an example for his sister in soccer and lacrosse at North Penn and his little brother who follows in his footsteps as a wrestler.

Not only does he have his younger siblings looking up to him, but he also has the team looking up to him as captain. This being his second year as captain it means a lot to be a captain with such a great team. Although Shannon’s job as captain is to lead the team in stretches and to be the team representative at matches, he also has to be an example when he steps on the mat. Shannon explained that Wrestling is at first a team sport making it mentally harder.

“At first it is an individual sport, then it becomes a team sport. On the mat all the pressure is on you, and you can’t rely on a teammate to pull your weight or help you out. The responsibility is all on you. I think it’s even better you can’t rely on anyone on the mat because it makes you work harder to get better. That pays off in the end to be the better athlete,” said Shannon.

For some time all the responsibility is on one wrestler at a time, but in the end, you score points for the team by winning individual matches. No matter how much pressure is on Shannon, he values the team and the synchronization it needs.

Team means everything. When I wrestle I don’t only wrestle for myself, I wrestle for each and every member on the team. My success is their success

— Colin Shannon - North Penn Knights wrestler

“Responsibility is on the rest of the team to keep your weight going forward and keep your momentum going in dual matches. When you are on the mat you are also wrestling for the team. Team means everything. When I wrestle I don’t only wrestle for myself, I wrestle for each and every member on the team. My success is their success, and their success is my success. I find strength and motivation through my team,” Shannon added.

Shannon has an exciting team this year having a full roster for the first time since he’s been playing at the high school. The Knights are favored to win the League after defeating their rivals, Pennridge. As for himself, individually he has been placing pretty high at his opening tournaments preparing himself for the one goal he has in mind.

“My goal is to place at states. I’m a two-year state qualifier and came back without a medal both times. I have to place top 4 at sectionals, districts and regionals. At states there are about 20 wrestlers per bracket and top 8 place. My goal is to get a medal and going for a medal is my motivation,” said Shannon.

Shannon does not go into matches with any type of strategy or plan, just simply instinct. He steps onto the mat with confidence that he will win. He is never cocky, but confident in his ability and feels his biggest improvements this season will be grit and toughness.

“Colin is a very tough wrestler. He is like a wolverine backed into a corner always ready to come at you, ready to score. He is wiry on his feet, and he grinds his opponent when he is on top. On bottom, Colin can escape from anyone. Colin is a dangerous wrestler to his opponent from any position,” said Head Coach Robert Shettsline.

With such a great talent, Shannon has made a verbal commitment to a D1 school for wrestling. He appreciates his coaches and how much he has grown throughout wrestling at the high school. He feels his coaches have made him love the sport even more.

“Our coaches are phenomenal. All 3 of the coaches are great coaches and they have helped me develop more as a wrestler. The environment they create is exhilarating, especially the one we had at Pennridge, and I think it’s great to perform with,” said Shannon.

Besides keeping him in shape and forcing him to watch what he eats, Shannon feels wrestling has taught him so many things that will have a long lasting impact on him for the better. Shannon explained he has learned humbleness, respect and general appreciation from wrestling.

“Wrestling has taught me great life lessons. It taught me how to work hard, to respect everyone and it taught me a lot of discipline. Most importantly wrestling introduced me to some of the greatest friends I’ve ever met,” Shannon added.