PETE WESSELMAN FINDS GREAT SUCCESS ON THE LACROSSE AND FOOTBALL FIELDS

Providence High School senior Pete Wesselman has found success in two sports for the Panthers.  The son of Bob and Barbara Wesselman has developed into one of the top lacrosse goalies in the state and also starts for the Panthers football team.   A recent knee injury on the football field has placed Pete on the sidelines, but the rugged offensive lineman has vowed to return later this Fall.

Success has come to Pete thanks to a lot of hard work.  Nothing has ever been handed to him, including a starting position on the lacrosse team.

“Last season I was coming into the school year not knowing if I was going to be the starter but I came in and won the job,” said Pete.  “Then I was selected to play Team charlotte and with good play during the season play I had the opportunity to play for Team Carolina.”

Pete allowed just 7 goals per game with just under 21 saves a game last season; including a season high of 22 saves versus the powerhouse Chapel Hill High School team.  Pete’s play earned him All-Conference honors at goalie.  Following the season, he played for the Team Carolina Lacrosse squad for 3 tournaments and the Carolina Colts for one more event.

Pete also makes special mention of the Providence game with Greensboro Page last year.  The Panthers traveled up Interstate 85 to defeat one of the top teams in the state on their turf.

“I feel like that was the game I proved myself as a player in front of my team. It was great that the goalie who had mentored me the year before, Tyler Hull, an all state player my sophomore year, was at the game.  I had 15 saves. I still have goose bumps thinking of that night.”

“My goal going into the summer was to be recruited and put myself in the position to play college lacrosse. I was also the goalie for the West team for the North Carolina State Games and we won the gold medal. It was the best summer of my life. I met a lot of new friends and made some memories I will hopefully never forget.”

Even with the full summer of lacrosse, Pete found a way to be at football strength and conditioning drills Monday through Thursday for three hours a day.  

For the spring lacrosse season, Pete is aiming to be in the best shape of his life.  He wants to win both the City and State Championships, no small feat!

“We have 8 or 9 players that could play at the next level and a great group of underclassmen.  For myself I’m shooting for an all state selection.”

Most athletes as successful as Pete would focus on one sport, yet Pete continues to feed his football hunger.  He starts for the Panthers football team and was having a great start of the season until the September 5th game versus North Mecklenburg.  He was injured on the third play of the game when someone rolled up on his knee while he was blocking another person.  His body twisted and his knew stayed straight which caused the knee cap to dislocate.

Pete climbed back up and tried to make it to the Panthers huddle.  He fell back to the ground fearing the worst, an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear.  The trainer, James Olgosby helped him to the sidelines and stabilized the knee.   An MRI only revealed a medial collateral ligament tear and a 4-6 week recovery period

“I hope to regain all the flexibility and movement I had in that knee... I will be ready come March, don't worry I’ve worked too hard to not be.”

We asked Pete to share his thoughts on the two sports for our readers and tell us why he plays both now that he has suffered a serious injury.

“Football is all about contact and discipline. I came to Providence to play football.  I love playing on Friday nights in front of thousands. All of my friends that I’ve made, they are some of my best friends I will always remember those hot summer days I spent with them. We hang around each other all the time and I love each and every one of them. Lacrosse is amazing, I love it. It's just so fast and anything can happen. I love getting warmed up before games,  Coach Lazo just ripping the ball at me from 10 yards away and just knowing that they 're not going to get anything bye me. It’s the way the ball moves from stick to stick and every lacrosse player has a special personality.. a little crazy.. tough.. and goofy. It’s because lacrosse is more relaxed and still has that discipline in it. and it’s a sport I can always play no matter what all in need is a stick a ball and a wall or even better a friend.”

It’s easy to hear the passion in Pete’s voice.  Amazing that this player who was stuck in goal the first time he went out to play at AG Edwards Middle School has come this far, so fast.  A lot of people have doubted the abilities of Pete Wesselman, but he keeps rising to the top! 

Pete also does well in the classroom, earning a 3.8 grade point average last lacrosse season.  He enjoys his teachers at Providence, including Mr. Church, someone he calls “a great teacher, relaxed and just a good guy.”

From this point forward the next 9 months, Pete hopes to return to the football field, play well in the lacrosse goal and hopefully be rewarded with an opportunity to play lacrosse in college.

The South Charlotte Sports Report wishes Pete a speedy recovery and the opportunity to continue to fuel his passion for lacrosse and football!  Good Luck Pete!