August 17, 2007

Shaw is a small-town kid with big-time dreams

STEVE RANSON

The aura of a small town attracts long-time Fallon native Glenn Shaw.

It's that same small-town charm that beckons the 23-year-old wrestler to St. Charles, Mo., where he will attend Lindenwood College on a full-ride scholarship.

"I spent a day and a half there. I liked it," Shaw said. "I like St. Charles. It has a small-town atmosphere like Fallon, but if I want to go to a big town, then I'll go to St. Louis."

Shaw is stepping into a collegiate wrestling program that dominates the NAIA. The Lions won the NAIA national title in 2002, 2005 and 2007 and were runner-up in 2003 and 2006. Lindenwood won the NAIA National Duals Championship this year and in 2005.

"They're trying to get back-to-back championships," Shaw said. "They have a history of winning."

Shaw also has a history of winning.

As a a high school senior, he won the Nevada state title at 152 pounds.

Last year at Palomar College, a two-year college near San Diego, Shaw won the California Community College weight championship at 165 pounds and finished the season 30-2. His only two losses came to wrestlers from Iowa State and Cal State Fullerton.

"Glenn can add a lot to their program," said Palomar coach Byron Campbell. "He will do a great job and will certainly have quality wrestlers around him who will help."

Campbell said Shaw has proven he can compete against top wrestlers. Iowa State's Travis Paulson, who defeated Shaw 10-6 in a tournament, eventually became the NCAA champion.

Shaw admits he liked the "big city," but his small-town roots always stayed with him.

"Every chance I got to return to Fallon I took," he said.

Now, his dream is to win an NAIA championship.

Shaw said he will wrestle at 165 pounds for Lindenwood coach Joe Parisi, himself an All-American college wrestler. In 12 seasons, Parisi has coached 89 All-Americans and 20 national champions. Parisi was named the 2002 and 2005 NAIA Coach of the Year.

When he visited the college earlier this year, Shaw said he was impressed with the coaching staff and the team's wrestlers. Although his workout routine has been light this summer, Shaw said he will be focused once he leaves Fallon in a few days.

"I've enjoyed my summer. I wrestled with coach (Mitch) Overlie (Fallon wrestling coach) a few times and Tyler Reibsamen," Shaw said.

Reibsamen enters his senior year on the high school team.

Shaw's workouts with his former coach, though, were beneficial.

"Mitch never gets out of shape," Shaw said.

Shaw wrestled for Overlie for three years and for Louie Mori during his freshman year. The Fallon grappler said both coaches gave him a solid background for college wrestling.

Overlie said Lindenwood College has much to offer Shaw.

"I feel he (Shaw)) will become a national champion and All-American,"Overlie said.

But Overlie has advice for Shaw.

"Glenn needs to pace himself for the season. He'll see more talented kids, but he will be a force in the NAIA," said Overlie, who was an All-American wrestler in college.

Shaw said his only regret about wrestling so far away from Fallon is not having his parents and brother attend every meet. When he competed at Palomar College, his mother attended every meet.

"She would leave work and drive for eight hours and then watch the meet. Then she would turn around and drive back to Fallon," he said.

Helen Shaw said she has saved up some money and vacation time to see her son wrestle this season. She figures she will be able to attend several meets and the championship.

"It's a long ways but we'll attend as many (meets) as we can," she said.

Helen said she was excited when Glenn was offered a scholarship but not surprised.

"He's worked real hard to prove himself," she said. "I was glad he was offered a scholarship from the top school."

Helen said her son has the potential to win a national championship at Lindenwood.

"He has the maturity behind him, and he worked real hard this year," she said