Shanks to attend Briar Cliff University
Athletic Profile:
Caleb Shanks – Briar Cliff University
Born: August 26, 1998 in Topeka, Kansas
Parents: Chris and Rebecca Shanks
Sibling(s): Karlie Shanks- Jr. in HS
Career Aspiration: Physical Therapy
Favorite College Wrestler: Bryce Meredith
Favorite Song: Back-to-Back by Drake
Favorite Food: Chicken Fried Chicken
Hobbies: Playstation 4
If you could go back as a freshman… “I would have skipped freestyle practice the day that I broke my arm.”
The Cameron High School multi-state medalist will attend Briar Cliff University next fall. The Sioux City, Iowa, based school offered much of what he desired. Briar Cliff University boasts a small campus, a competitive wrestling atmosphere, and preferential entrance into a program in his chosen career pathway. Briar Cliff University participates in the Great Plains Athletic Conference and is in the North Division of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Chargers are coached by Joseph Privitere and are ranked #18 in the NAIA Wrestling pre-season poll. Coach Privitere commented that “we are excited to have Caleb onboard. As a hard worker in the class room and on the mat, he exemplifies what we are looking for in student athletes. We expect him to make an immediate impact on the roster and look forward to helping him continue to reach his goals."
Shanks began wrestling at the age of five with the Nevada Youth Wrestling Club. At that time the Shanks Family lived in El Dorado Springs, which did not have wrestling. At the age of eight, the family moved to Adrian where Shanks continued to wrestle with the Adrian Youth Wrestling Club. At the age of nine, he began training in the Purler Wrestling Academy. At the start of his eighth grade year the family moved to the Cameron R-I School District. For the last four years, during the off-season, Shanks has trained with the Greater Heights Wrestling Academy in Kansas City.
Cameron Head Coach Phillip Limb commented that “when Dr. Shanks took the assistant superintendent job in Cameron I had heard that his son was a wrestler. I was excited to have a new, experienced athlete in the program. Caleb has been a contributor and a welcome addition to our team.” Shanks is a three-time state qualifier; two-time state medalist for Dragons. He has earned academic all-state in each of the last two seasons. Shanks was the Midland Empire Conference Champion during his freshman and sophomore seasons, and he finished runner-up last year; losing by decision to the eventual state champion. Shanks has a 125-29 career record and is set to compete in his final season wearing the Dragon singlet.
Close family, friends, and teammates know that March 18th, 2014 is a day that will forever be in Shanks’ memory. He suffered a humerus fracture during freestyle wrestling practice. The injury compromised the brachial artery of his right arm. Shanks had two ambulance rides, a seven hour surgery, and spent the better part of the week in the pediatric intensive care unit at Kansas University Medical Center. Months of physical therapy followed the injury; all so that he could once again be ready to compete as a sophomore. Caleb noted that “the rehabilitation that followed my injury sparked my interest to pursue a career in physical therapy. I wanted to continue to wrestle in college. Briar Cliff University had all of the pieces that I needed. I am excited about the future. I am also ready to focus on my senior season.” Congratulations Caleb!
