| Hi, my name is Shane Hepner. I am 18 years old and a Senior at McQueen High School. I have been a wrestler since the age of 6. I was not born a natural athlete and have had to put in a lot of work to improve. My dad and coaches always told with me that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. |
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| My mom had me try wrestling after my first year of tackle football to try to keep me active with all of the energy I had. But that first year was too hard, and it was not fun. In fact, during the first year, I wanted to quit and my mom agreed. I didn’t even finish the entire season. |
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| The following year, when wrestling season started again, my dad and coach PJ Harshbarger both encouraged me to try again. So, I said I would try one more year and I haven’t quit since. I have had to work hard. I have always been tall, skinny, and awkward. I lost more matches than I won when I was younger, but everyone would tell me that one day, everything would come together and I would be great. I just had to keep working at it. |
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| As I went into middle school, things did begin to click and wrestling started to become more fun and I was getting better, starting to win more matches than I lost. I started to win matches against kids that had beaten me when I was younger. In high school, I placed 2nd at Regionals in my Freshman year and went to my first State Tournament. It was a great experience, and I decided to quit football and wrestle year-round. |
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| In 2020-2021, during COVID, when the season was cancelled, I continued to wrestle at tournaments out of state, with my parents driving me anywhere we could find mat time. I was placing at tough tournaments and beating significant opponents all over the west coast. As a Junior, I won Regionals and placed 2nd at State, just falling short of my goal. I am in my Senior year and working hard to get to go to State again for another chance, but just reached my 100th High School win at Rollie Lane on Jan 6th |
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| My mom often says that wrestling has been the most helpful in raising me. Wrestling has taught me a lot about discipline and structure, how to focus my thoughts and actions, be in control of my emotions and learn from experiences on the mat. |
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| Wrestling will always be part of who I am and what I have learned growing up. I am thankful to my dad, Brandon, for always being in my corner and pushing me to work hard. My mom, Dawn, who has supported me all the way, and all of coaches that have been in my corner and taught me along the way. |
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