Winter Senior Athlete Spotlight: Josh Pauling

Going against his mother's wishes, senior Colonel wrestler Josh Pauling took the mat for the first time in 7^th grade.  Eventually, the Wilkes wrestling team and its fans were grateful he ignored his mother's advice so many years before.

Pauling wrestled throughout high school at Hughesville Junior Senior High School and in his senior year there, became a member of the 100 wins club,  and qualified for the Pennsylvania state tournament.

The Colonels welcomed Pauling to the team in the 2005-2006 season and he has been a constant contributor for the past four years.  Wrestling at primarily 133 pounds, Pauling boasted a 30-8 record in his final season on the mat.  He also won the Metropolitan Conference Championship, which earned him a bid into the Division III national tournament.

Head coach Jon Laudenslager said Pauling's conference final match was one of the most memorable.

"The conference finals will probably be the match I remember most.  It was the third time he beat the defending champion on the year and everything was at stake with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament," Laudenslager said.

Along with wrestling, Pauling has also participated in various community service activities.  On May 16, Pauling will walk across the stage and receive his Bachelors of Science degree in nursing, which was his primary reason for coming to Wilkes.

"The nursing program is very demanding and requires a lot of time to become successful.  I told my mother and my coach that academics come first. I came to school to receive an education.  I placed greater emphasis on my academics but it doesn't mean I didn't care for wrestling.  Both required time, sweat, blood, and effort.  I have had to miss practices for clinical and class but I always made them up in my spare time either by myself or with teammates," Pauling said.

Laudenslager believes Pauling reflects one quality which made him so successful both on and off the mat at Wilkes.  "I think the word 'commitment' would be best to describe Josh.  Both on the mat and in the classroom Josh has always done the right things to prepare to be successful," Laudenslager said.

Pauling plans to pass his nursing boards and become a nurse following graduation.  He chose nursing for a few reasons.

"I wanted to help people, I enjoyed the sciences in high school, and the problem solving is appealing,' Pauling said.

The Colonel wrestling team will surely miss Pauling next season.  Laudenslager explained, "I think the thing the team will miss most is he is a person with a lot of character.  He is a stand up guy who you know you can trust and count on to always give you his best and a helping hand if you ever need it."

Other noteworthy winter senior athletes:

Men's Basketball: John DeFeo

Women's Basketball: Chelsey Gosse