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Post by The Cats on Jan 28, 2013 8:55:10 GMT -5
It's 18 days until first pitch at Hennon Stadium against Washington State. While we're waiting, let's get to know this year's team and meet the freshmen. #47 Jonathan Waszak  Class: Freshman Hometown: Wendell, N.C. High School: East Wake HS Height / Weight: 6-6 / 245 Position: RHP B/T: R/R Prior to Western Carolina: A three-year varsity letter winner, was a two-time All-Greater Neuse Conference selection as a junior and senior after posting back-to-back 5-3 records with five complete games ... Additionally named Academic All-Conference in his final two seasons as a prep ... Made the North Carolina State Games twice including after his senior season ... Also played basketball as a prep. Personal: Full name is Jonathan Lee Waszak ... Is the son of Donna Waszak ... Has one sibling, Caitlin. Courtesy WCU Sports Information |
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Post by SCCat66 on Jan 28, 2013 9:16:20 GMT -5
June 2012 article from the EAST WAKE NEWS:
Waszak returns to Powerade State Games; Warrior senior named to East team
By R. Cory Smith, Correspondent
WENDELL - Four years ago, Jonathan Waszak was just a freshman at East Wake High School when his father suffered a heart attack that took his life.
Today, the senior pitcher who will soon graduate has made a name for himself and will participate in the Powerade State Games in Winston-Salem for the second time. While he has worked hard to get to this point, Waszak admits that he wouldn’t be anywhere without the people around him.
“My friends and family have really helped me get here,” Waszak said. “It wasn’t just me. I could have gone down the wrong path after my father passed, but I was guided by the right people. Without my friends and family, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“Instead of doing the wrong things, I’m living every day for him and played every out in his memory.”
With several lasting memories of his father until he passed, Waszak said he left him with a life lesson that he continues to live by today.
“I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t think of him,” Waszak said. “He always told me that if I start something, I need to finish it, and to always give it my best, whether it’s in the classroom or on the baseball field.”
Waszak has compiled back-to-back 5-3 records during his junior and senior seasons and has thrown five complete games.
After two standout seasons, Waszak said he’s still proud to be named to the East team.
“This is a huge honor for me,” Waszak said. “I made it last year as a junior, so it’s really special for me to make it again. I did pretty well last year, so I hope I can do the same this year.”
The Powerade State Games are typically where baseball players go to get looked at by college scouts. With several in-state colleges and some out-of-state colleges sending scouts to the event, student-athletes of all ages have a chance to earn a scholarship to play at the next level.
For Waszak though, he has already committed to Western Carolina and sees it as an opportunity to prove they made a good decision in giving him a scholarship.
“Western saw me in the state games last year, so I know they will be out there watching again,” Waszak said. “I just want to show them, again, that they’ve got a good ball player coming there next year. I’ve been coached to just have fun and that’s what I feel like I can do this year.”
Without the added pressure of hoping for a college team to give him an offer, Waszak has something not a lot of other participants in the state games will have.
“It’s just great to be going into this one with no pressure to perform,” Waszak said. “I’ve got a lot of buddies who are in crunch time and they have to go out and get looked at to hopefully earn a scholarship.
“I know where I’m going and I’m not going to change my mind. That helps me enjoy it a lot more.”
After three years of raising Waszak as a single parent, Donna Waszak, his mother, said she couldn’t be more proud of her son.
“He’s had a tough time since his dad passed away during his freshman year in high school, but he’s managed to keep it together,” Donna Waszak said. “He’s graduated from high school with high honors and got a baseball scholarship and I couldn’t be more proud of him."
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