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COLUMBIA - For being just 17-years-old, Drew Lance has this whole perspective thing figured out.
The Summit junior had lost to Ozark's Shane Hardman 3-1 in overtime in the Class 3, 189-pound third-place match. But instead of feeling sorry for himself or slamming his headgear into the wall, Lance chalked up the situation as just another learning experience.
"Every time I learn more and more about this tournament - the inner-workings and what you need to do to prepare yourself," Lance said. "I just want to keep on climbing. I made a big jump from last year to this year. (Next year) I want to make a bigger jump, three places up to the top of the podium."
Lance had a goal of nothing less than third. As a freshman he went two and out at the state tournament, and last year he won two and lost two. Making the jump from medal hopeful to medal winner gave Lance a lift. Though he was disappointed to walk away with a season-ending loss, he still walked away satisfied.
"With time it will heal and I will get better," Lance said. "I plan on coming back and winning it all next year."
The 6-footer has reason to expect bigger and better. During the regular season he defeated eventual champion Justin Heberlie of Farmington as well as runner-up Glendal Whitney of Belton.
Lance finished the season 48-2. He lost to Whitney 4-2 in the semifinals. He came back to beat a solid performer in Pacific's Larry Schimsa to make it to the third-place match. Against Hardman, a strong, counter wrestler, Lance let his guard down for a blink in overtime and that was all of the difference as the Ozark freshman grabbed a quick takedown to end the match.
"Drew is a guy who is kind of slick. He is not a brawler. So he had a hard time getting around him," Summit Coach Brent Batchellor said. "It was one of those deals where he let his guard down and the guy slid right by him."
Lance's performance capped a big day for the Falcons program. He was one of three Summit medalists, the most ever for the school.
"We have a lot of potential," Lance said. "Up here you really have to wrestle right and be in the right mindset. We're starting to learn what it is."
Lance started wrestling in the first grade. But he entered the sport under the wrong impression.
"I was under the misconception that it was the WWF, off the top rope," Lance said. "I was all into that and ready to go. But it was a lot fun learning how wrestling really was."
He had so much fun that Lance never got discouraged, not even with the fact that he didn't win his first match until the sixth grade.
"I loved it. Even when I lost, I loved it," he said. "I talked to parents, coaches, other kids, anything. I love to make friendships and have fun doing it."
Batchellor is not only going to count on Lance to be even better next season, but to also grab a hold of the leadership reigns in the room.
"Drew is going to be that guy we are going to look towards to keep everything together," Batchellor said. "If he goes, everyone else will follow."
That type of responsibility is fine with Lance. As long as he is immersed in wrestling, he couldn't be happier.
"I just love the competitive nature of it and the unique ability that you have to have to be a wrestler," he said. "It is so much different than any other sport."
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