“I expect James to make it down to Madison this year” said Parker Peterson, Senior at CHS and captain for the CHS wrestling team. “James has worked hard all summer long, working out at TNT doing kettle bells and has become a lot stronger.”

James Hawley, junior at CHS, is ready to do some damage this wrestling season. James broke the varsity line-up late in his freshmen year and took third in the conference and was a sectional qualifier. Hawley was conferences champ his sophomore year at 160, as well as a sectional qualifier. Hawley has danced around in the state rankings, at one time being as high as 12th. He wants that to change by the end of the season.

Hawley has set some big goals for himself this year. “I expect to go down to state and place, and take conference. I also plan on having less then 5 losses this year.”

Hawley believes that since he has started wrestling, he has improved greatly. Wrestling has given him a better work ethic, and he has gained a lot of new friendships. Wrestling has taught Hawley many important life lessons and skills, such as the great work ethic and the importance of being a part of a team.

Hawley’s dedication and commitment to getting better serve as an inspiration to all the younger wrestlers in the program. Hawley has worked hard since the end of last season to get ready for this season. Hawley has basically lived in the weight room, lifting weights about five days a week. Over the summer he went to TNT Fitness Results to work out with Derek Toshner, who has instituted the kettle bells program here at Campbellsport. Besides lifting weights and working out with kettle bells, Hawley also ran and rode his bike almost everyday this summer.

Mark Peterson, head coach of the CHS wrestling team, has some big expectations from Hawley. “James is the returning champ and is going to be the man to beat this year for the EWC conference title,” said Peterson.

Jamie Straub, a junior from CHS and teammate of Hawley’s, expects the same from Hawley. There seems to be a consensus opinion around Campbellsport, that he will make it down to state. Straub believes that Hawley is a great teammate because “he helps me at practice, and stays after practice to help me on my moves. James also believes in everyone on the team and in himself. James is a very aggressive teammate and he never gives up.”

Payden Salm, another junior from CHS and teammate of Hawley’s, agrees with Straub that Hawley is a great teammate. “James wants the best for all of us,” stated Salm.
For Hawley to be able to win another conference title, everyone agrees that Hawley is going to have to keep up his hard work. Hawley’s childhood dream has definitely become a possible reality. He always dreamed of going to college, and becoming a successful collegiate wrestler.

Hawley might have a little work to do in the conference, depending on what weight class Ben Chappa and Bo Seibel go during the year. All three of them were conference champs last year, and, as of right now, they are all wrestling at the same weight. No matter where his top opponents finish, it’s become apparent to Hawley’s teammates that he is ready to take on any challenge, and if he continues to work as hard as he does, the sky is the limit for this talented junior’s already stellar career.