Junior Jacob Wetzel Carrying On the Family Athletic Tradition
by Alec Parker for Walkersville High School Lion’s Pride
“I have been playing since I was five. I idol[ize] my brothers and my parents.” Jacob Wetzel was born on March 26, 2000; he’s a junior at Walkersville High with many names such as Wetz, White Knight, Twos, and Zeus.
Wetzel plays many sports including baseball, football, and basketball. He currently plays on the football team in which his position is slot WR and strong safety. In his first game as a junior, Wetzel had five carries for 77 yards against TJ High School. Against Liberty, Wetzel had two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. Last week Wetzel had one rushing touchdown against Blake High School. Right now Wetzel and the Walkersville Lions are 4-0 on the season.
Last year in baseball Wetzel batted .500 with 3 HR and 30 RBI, and tied his own record with six triples in one season, and broke the record for most triples in career with 12. He looks forward for this spring to play baseball once again. Wetzel plays both right field and pitcher. He has also signed a scholarship to play baseball for Old Dominion, a Division 1 college in Norfolk, VA.
Wetzel expresses his love in sports because, “it’s really fun, and the atmosphere is nothing you have ever seen.” Wetzel then added, “I would love to play in the MLB. [I] watch a lot of ESPN and Sunday Football.” Wetzel’s favorite teams are the Nationals and the Redskins. He also says that he loves the Cavaliers, and that he is not a bandwagon fan. Wetzel’s favorite athlete is Bo Jackson — “he’s so athletic, and he played my two favorite sports.”
On the field for baseball and football Wetzel chose number 22 because “it’s a family number. My dad wore number 22 when he played football and baseball in high school.”
Wetzel’s other accomplishments include being one of the first sophomores to start in a state championship game. Wetzel also was on the 9U state champion baseball team.
Wetzel loves hanging with friends, going to Sport and Health, and having UFC fights in his basement. Wetzel’s favorite movie is Step Brothers and his favorite books are any of the Harry Potter series. His favorite class is chemistry, “I love all the elements and making stuff explode and the reactions.” Wetzel then added “My favorite teacher would have [had] to be [past English teacher at WHS] Ms. Keleher. She was a great teacher, and was easygoing.”
One of Wetzel’s coaches, Coach Lee Palmer said, “Wetzel makes hard stuff look easy, and makes easy stuff look like air. He’s a great football player, but I know his heart is with baseball.”
Wetzel’s football coach, Joe Police also had some comments about Jacob Wetzel. Polce said, “He’s a great athlete. He does great things in both football and baseball. He has size, speed, and he is very versatile. He does great on all sides of the ball; offense, defense, and special teams.” He then added, “He has a great personality; a fun kind of kid. He tries his best at school and football. All his teachers and coaches enjoy working with him. He should pursue baseball, but if he wanted to he could pursue football.”
