Quaker Valley athlete of the week: Conner Redinger

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, January 7, 2019 | 6:24 PM

Conner Redinger

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Wrestling

Class: Sophomore

Claim to fame: Conner Redinger has been red hot in WPIAL wrestling since last season when he was a freshman.

With a 51-6 career record, the sophomore hopes to win a state title in 2019. Redinger recently won his second Ed Drsicoll MAC tournament title by beating four opponents in a 16-team field.

What does it mean to you to win the MAC tournament again?

This means a lot, especially being the first two-timer for the school since the program is only in its third year. This feels pretty good.

You’re wrestling up a few weight classes compared to last year. Has that been more challenging for you?

I’m adjusting to the strength of these kids. Last year, I was a lot stronger and a little bit bigger than some of the kids I wrestled. This year, I’m wrestling kids who are more my size, so it’s gotten tough and I’ve just got to keep improving.

Senior Geoff Magin said he’s pretty sure all you ever think about is wrestling. How true of a statement is that?

My mind does tend to wander in school, and I’ll start to think about wrestling and what I’ll do at practice today, which I think can be good. If that doesn’t happen a little bit, then that shows you’re not truly committed.

How much have seniors like Geoff Magin and JohnRocco Kazalas meant to your growth?

They’ve meant a lot for me, and they’ve done a lot for me. They are always pushing me to get better in practice. They also push me to be a better person and to get better with grades in school, so I’ve benefited all-around from being around them.

You were third in the state last season. What would it mean to you to win a state championship?

I’d like to wrestle at 132 and to win a state title; that would be the greatest thing ever. That would be something for younger kids to look up to, and I want to be great. I want to put this school’s wrestling on the map. It would show that nothing is impossible.

Who do you look up to in wrestling?

(Penn State’s) Jason Nolf. I love watching him wrestle. I get a lot of my moves from watching him. He’s so calm no matter what happens.

Shawn Annarelli is a freelance writer.

Tags: Quaker Valley