La Salle graduate Wergers impresses on and off the court
CINCINNATI (BVM) — Michael Wergers was a team captain for the La Salle High School basketball team. At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, he excelled for the Lancers on the hardwood, and even holds the school鈥檚 single-game rebounding record. But it is his work off the court that makes this athlete so special.
Wergers grew up in Cincinnati and has always had a passion for basketball. He started playing in kindergarten and has been drawn to the game through its opportunities and intensity. Wergers still plays baseball as well and has participated in numerous sports throughout his life, ranging anywhere from golf to kung-fu.
Wergers had a solid basketball career at La Salle, spending time at the varsity level each of the last three years, something he is proud about.
鈥淚t鈥檚 meant a lot to me,鈥� Wergers said. 鈥淟a Salle has a proud tradition of players and championship success and to be a part of that is truly special.鈥�
The Lancers鈥� big man helped lead his team to the district championship this season over their cross-town rivals. It is one of his favorite on-court memories he holds on to, as is what he accomplished in his junior season — leading the league in rebounding and breaking La Salle鈥檚 single-game rebounding record with 22 boards.
鈥淚t was a crazy night,鈥� Wergers said about his record-setting game. 鈥淚 was super proud of it and it鈥檚 pretty incredible to me.鈥�
However, the favorite memories for the former Lancer may come from what he did before each game. About a year and a half ago, Wergers and a few of his classmates got together to 铿乬ure out a way to give back and honor veterans who have fought for our country. From there, the La Salle High School Honor Guard was created.
Before different events, including football games, basketball games, and assemblies, Wergers and his peers presented the 铿俛gs and ri铿俥s. A true patriot, the La Salle grad feels he had the best part of the guard.
鈥淚 think I had the best job on the Honor Guard because I鈥檓 the tallest which means I get to carry the American 铿俛g,鈥� Wergers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥�
The 18-year-old grew up in a very patriotic household. His father, a retired police officer, won a purple heart in the line of service. Wergers also has uncles who have served in the military, as did his grandfather. During his youth, Wergers gained more and more interest in politics, history and military, and now aspires to serve and protect our country as well.
The creation of the Honor Guard was just one way he felt he could have an impact on his school, and he is proud of what he and his peers have accomplished.
鈥淚t was super meaningful,鈥� Wergers said. 鈥淓verything that those veterans have put into this country and into our freedom, it meant so much to me to be able to give back. It鈥檚 de铿乶itely been one of the proudest accomplishments of my life.鈥�
Veterans who have seen what the La Salle students have created are appreciative as well, and Wergers has seen 铿乺st hand how much it means to them.
鈥淭he veterans have come out and told us this is awesome and that they are proud of us,鈥� Wergers added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really what means the most.鈥�
Wergers is not your average 18-year-old who spends time playing video games or watching TV. Instead, he can often be found reading history books, watching war documentaries on YouTube, or listening to music from the 1920s, 鈥�30s or 鈥�40s.
In addition, Wergers also puts in time in the classroom, which has led to some exceptional academic success. Wergers held a 4.3 GPA at La Salle, and took all honors classes his entire four years at the school. He also took a total of nine AP classes, including 铿乿e in his senior year. The basketball player has been a straight-A, 铿乺st honors student throughout his high school career, and is proud of his accomplishments considering the challenge of his classes.
Impressive on and off the court, words people typically associate with Wergers are: faithful, responsible, hard-working, and gracious. He has acquired these qualities through some of his role models, including his parents, Kobe Bryant, and most signi铿乧antly, Dwight Eisenhower.
鈥淓isenhower has been my hero and the way he led and carried himself as a president and as a general truly spoke volumes to me,鈥� Wergers said.
Based on what he has done on the court and in the classroom, it would also be fair to call Wergers a goal-setter, and he has one ultimate goal not many of us will ever set – running for President after his military career in 2052.
鈥淚 feel that this is something I can do,鈥� Wergers said. 鈥淚 love this country enough and I know a lot of people who will also be in the political game. I think I can really do some great things with the country at that time.鈥�
The Cincinnati native will attend the University of Tampa in the fall and begin his military tenure as part of the Army Reserves Officers’ Training Corps after being awarded an Army ROTC scholarship in the spring. He hopes to eventually move up the ranks to work at the Pentagon and ultimately build up a presidential resume.
The La Salle graduate has already put together a special resume throughout his four years of high school. A true passion for history, politics, and military that not many have at his age, Wergers has even been dubbed with the nickname 鈥楶rez鈥� by his basketball teammates. If his post-high school career is anything like the 铿乺st part of his life, we may just be calling him 鈥楶resident鈥� sooner than later.
