“Jack is a senior who has yet to earn a spot in our postseason lineup but still brings a positive attitude and tireless work ethic to each and every one of our practices. He is a leader by both voice and example who elevates his teammates in the practice room, locker room, in team talks, and more. You don’t always see his name in the headlines, but our team is undoubtedly better because of Jack,” said coach Ray Blake.

We caught up with Jack Lane to discuss his team and what it means to him to be the unsung hero of the Spartan wrestling program.

VYPE: What do you love most about your team and teammates? 

Lane: What I love most about being part of my team is being able to watch everyone grow in every aspect of their life. Biggest example would be when a new kid joins and I’m able to watch them go from a kid who knows nothing about wrestlers to a confident wrestler who’s perfecting their skills every day. It could also be someone who’s always been good, but just grows as a human being and becomes a better person, but it’s definitely the personal growth that I enjoy most.

VYPE: What is your favorite subject in school and who is your favorite teacher? 

Lane: My favorite class is AP literature with Miss Coulson. She’s amazing and always make reading classics a ton of fun. She truly enjoys what she does making it a good experience for every student.

VYPE: Who has been a big influence in your life? Explain

Lane: The biggest influence in my life has been my coach Greg Evans, aka Coach Money. He has always believed in my abilities even whenever I was a seventh grader who had wrestled for years getting beat by first year wrestlers. He is without a doubt a reason I am who I am. 

VYPE: Coach said you were the unsung hero of the team. What does that mean to you and how do you define that term? 

Lane: My coach saying this about me definitely means more then I know how to put into a sentence. I’ve never been the best wrestler on the team, but I’ve always tried to my best to make the team feel like a home for everyone involved. My coach always says be “Bixby built,” this doesn’t just mean winning matches, but also means carrying yourself with a level of class that everyone looks at and recognizes as leadership. I might not be the best wrestler, but I do believe I’ve become someone who leads on and off the mat.