Will Harper – Page 4 – Green and Gold

Girls and Boys Cross Country Teams Perform Well Under Tough Conditions

Published on December 7, 2015 in Sports by Will Harper

For the sixth year in a row, both the Boys’ and Girls’ Wesleyan Varsity Cross Country teams made it to the state meet. After a state championship for the boys and a runner-up finish for the girls in 2014, the runners were hungry for another solid performance. The races were held at Carrollton Elementary school on a five kilometer course under very muddy conditions. “Today we faced the toughest state course that I have ever seen. I feel like we rose to the challenge and attacked it head on,” said Head Coach Chad McDaniel.
This year, the boys finished third out of 31 schools with a fifth place finish from junior Bailey Renfroe, a 13th place finish from senior Mikey Olson, 16th from senior Henry Collins, 25th from sophomore Peter Hess and 26th from senior Clay Tyler. Times were slowed substantially by course conditions. Ahead of the Wolves were state champions from Bleckley County and runner-up finishers from Pace Academy. Collins has struggled with a back injury for the majority of the season which had a significant impact on the team. Renfroe has consistently led the team and typically finishes with sub-18 minute times.
The girls finished runner-up for the second year in a row out of 29 schools with a fourth place finish from senior Ellie Bradach, seventh place from senior Kylie Reed, 19th from senior Beck Coxhead, 20th from freshman Quinn Kaloper and 28th from junior Sophia Kidder. Lovett came in first. Solid senior leadership has been a big factor for the girls.
Wesleyan’s cross country program has consistently contended for state championships over the last 15 years, and draws enormous participation from the student body. This year, well over 100 high school students participated. McDaniel leads the team with the help of six other coaches. “I believe that we are able to compete at a high level every year because our athletes are willing to endure a great deal of pain day after day for a greater cause. They are doing it for each other,” said McDaniel.

Wesleyan Alumnus Wins $20,000

Published on December 7, 2015 in Uncategorized by Will Harper

Schroer and two fraternity brothers won $20,000 for their invention at a Georgia Tech sponsored competition.

Georgia Tech student and Wesleyan alumnus Scott Schroer recently won the Georgia Tech InVenture competition with a $20,000 prize for his innovative grill alert system. Schroer graduated from Wesleyan in 2010. He played on the state championship football team as a junior in 2008 and was crowned homecoming king in 2009.

Schroer and his fraternity brothers Alex Roe and Will Sweet started a company called FlameTech, and the Grill Defender is their product. The Grill Defender is designed to alert grillers when gas levels around their grill become dangerously high. The device can be easily fitted to any grill.

The three students entered the InVenture competition and came in first place. Schroer and his partners applied their studies at Georgia Tech in a practical way. Their experience has taught these entrepreneurs that resourcefulness and a willingness to learn are vital for success. Schroer’s major is in mechanical engineering, so his studies were very applicable to his invention, but he found that there was still a lot to learn.
“When you start out with an idea, even if you think you know a decent amount about the subject, you will inevitably run into something that is completely out of your wheelhouse,” said Schroer. For these three, the electronics proved to be more complex than they could handle without some help. YouTube videos, articles, talking to friends with more experience in that area and trial and error finally equipped the inventors with what they needed.

Schroer’s high school career at Wesleyan helped prepare him for college and entrepreneurship. “Wesleyan is where I feel my solid foundation in persistent and resourceful problem solving comes from which, I think, is the key to success in any professional field,” said Schroer. Wesleyan helps students develop time management and resourcefulness that are tools for success well beyond high school.

In regards to advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Schroer said, “Just jump in with both feet, be willing to be persistent and acquire subject knowledge however you have to and ask for help.”