Sports Spotlight on Andrew Beine | Video

Alexander Gorney | 2/13/2013

The State Wrestling Tournament is this week and one athlete who will definitely have his chance to bring home a state title is Napoleon`s Andrew Beine. This two sport standout will be fighting for much more than a title after his high school days are over.

Opponents often have trouble taking down the guy in Blue. His name, Andrew Beine.

"I`ve been blessed to coach Andrew in two sports in football and wrestling. We`ve known he was going to be something special since he was a an eighth grader," said Imperials Wrestling Head Coach Kelly McCleary.

So special that in his five years at Napoleon, he`s won a state championship in football, been named a two time all state offensive lineman, and a two time state placer in wrestling. He says his technique on the gridiron goes hand in hand with that on the mat.

"It`s a lot of the same movements. wrestling is probably a little harder physically so football kind of helps get ready for it. It`s a good combination of speed and strength and knowing your angles and how to get to a guy."

Beine is the number one ranked wrestler in 220 pound weight class and he won the Rotary this year which is often more difficult to win than a state title. "I made the finals last year and I lost in the finals and just year I went in with a goal I wanted to win. I went 4-0 to get that title."

"He`s not a kid that`s going to score 30 points in a match, but he`s going to be hard to score on and he gets those points when he needs to," McCleary said.

For an athlete with as much talent and passion as Beine has for wrestling and football, his immediate plan is to bypass both because his biggest desire is to serve his country in the military.

"It`s a good career cuz theres so many advantages. If I want to go to school, I can."

"I mean you don`t really see bigger guys like him in the National Guard, a 220 pounder. He was at basic training last summer and soon as school gets out this spring, he`ll be heading back down south again to go to National Guard," McCleary said.

"It just teaches you better values in life and learn about yourself and you just become a better person," Beine said.

BACK TO SPORTS SPOTLIGHT ARCHIVE

FEATURES AND PROMOTIONS