Senior spotlight: Athens' Tyson Sommer eyes state title in final year
ATHENS - Tyson Sommer captured an elusive Marawood Conference tournament title last Saturday, one that he has chased for the past four years of his prep wrestling career.
It is not the only championship the Bluejays veteran hopes to capture this winter.
The senior, who is ranked first at 285 pounds in Division 3 by Wisconsin Wrestling Online, won the Marawood title after falling in the championship match the past two seasons. He hopes it is a start of a postseason run which ends with a return trip to the WIAA state individual wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.
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Last winter, Sommer reached the state championship match at 285 pounds before he lost to Coleman's Donovan Salewski. His goal this year is to join his relative, Pat Switlick, as a state champion. Switlick was Athens' first state champion, winning the title at 185 pounds in 1977.
"Coming up just short last year has motivated me to just work harder and hopefully take (the championship) this year," Sommer said. "I have a lot more confidence this year. I know that I have been working hard and I have the confidence that I am going to go out and get the win."
Sommers, who was a first-team all-CloverWood Conference selection as an offensive lineman for the Athens football team, recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his prematch routines, his favorite athletic moment and some of his future plans, among other topics.
Do you have a certain nickname which your friends/teammates or family members call you?
They pretty much call me The Big Guy or just Sommers.
Are you a superstitious person at all? Do you have any routines?
I am a pretty laid-back guy. I listen to music (before a match) but I don't listen to get pumped up. I just listen to block everything out and get my mind set on what I'm going to do (in a match) and how I'm going to do it.
What has been your most memorable sports moment?
It would have to be last year. Going through the parade of champions at state (wrestling) will be a moment that I'll never forget. It was just an amazing feeling.
What did it mean to you to finally break through and win a Marawood Conference title after being close the past couple years?
Being my senior year, it was really cool to finally see all of my hard work pay off. It is just the start of the journey.
The Marawood Conference meet was the start of the wrestling postseason. Do you have a different mindset at this time of the year?
It is a lot more intense now but my game plan (for each match) is still the same. I just want to go out, give it all I got for one last run.
Who is your celebrity crush?
I would say Taylor Swift is looking pretty good.
Where would your dream vacation be?
Puerto Rico.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I want to go play college football but I haven't accepted an offer yet.
Is there a school that might be a favorite right now?
UW-Stevens Point.
Do you know what you want to major in?
Either forestry or civil engineering.
FAVORITES
Sport: It goes hand-in-hand (between football and wrestling). I can't really choose which one. I love them both.
Movies: Comedies.
Music group or artist: It depends. I usually just will turn on Pandora and let it go.
Food or meal: I can't say I have a certain favorite one.