Classroom Champions: Reicher’s Wesley Ray

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Bishop Reicher senior Wesley Ray’s first love is soccer, but when he was asked to kick for the football team, he stepped up.

“I think it was a great opportunity for me to start playing football,” said Ray. “I was a little on the fence about playing and then they were like, ‘Hey, we really just need you to come out here for special teams.’ And I was like, “Absolutely, I’d love to do it.’ And here I am, I’m still the kicker.”

He’s not just the kicker, he’s the football team captain, and the only senior on this year’s squad. Ray has embraced that leadership role. His coaches say he’s the player they can turn to.

“Whenever I got here, he was already full-on into leadership mode,” said Reicher head coach Nick York. “He has a natural command of the locker room. When our kids voted for captains, that was something they said about him.”

“Right when (we) were starting spring practice, they were like, ‘You’re gonna love this guy,’” said special teams coordinator James Sherman. “Everyone respects him, everyone looks up to him, and it’s kind of crazy for a guy that just kicks and punts.

On top being a captain in two sports, Ray has an impressive 4.02 GPA. He serves in his church and he one day hopes to serve others as a physical therapist.

“I think it’s just a really, really cool field to go into,” said Ray. “I know a lot of people who have been in those shoes before, and I think it would just be really nice to help those people and serve people.”

Congratulations to Wesley Ray, you’re a Classroom Champion!

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