Cal Wright, Mora High School Class of 2018
Personal Records:
100m - 10.98
200m - 22.24
400m - 48.95
Long Jump - 21-4.5
Where were you born?
I was born here right in the local Mora hospital.
What are your earliest sports memories?
My dad was the Mora varsity coach for 15 years. As a kindergartner after one of the games they lowered the rims to 8 feet and my dad put me over his head and I dunked it! My first sport was basketball and I have played it from first grade to this year. In second grade I started soccer but I quit after two days because I was attached to my mom and hated how I hardly ever got the ball. I also started baseball as a first grader and played that until 9th grade. My football career has been from third grade to 12th grade.
Why did you quit baseball and eventually join track & field?
My favorite sport has always been basketball and in the spring I would play baseball and AAU basketball (I scored 25 points in my first AAU game). AAU basketball and baseball together take a lot of time. So I chose to just play basketball. It turned out that I would practice or play basketball games only a few days per week. Then the other days I would lift weights. I'm a person who always has to keep moving so I found out as a sophomore in high school that this was not enough for me.
Chris Goebel had been trying to get me out for cross country and track & field since I was quite young. So in late April of that year I decided to join the track team. Immediately I was the best 100-200 sprinter on the team.
What are your high varsity sports and what have you accomplished in each?
I have lettered four years in football as a wide receiver and cornerback. We made it to the section final my junior year and our senior year we made it to state. I made all-conference both years and all-section as a senior. I also broke the records for receiving last season with about 40 catches for 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.
I have also letter for four straight years in basketball. We never did anything significant as a team but as an individual I did well. I made all-conference three years, all section two years, and as a senior averaged 29 points, 3.5 assists, and 2 steals per game. I also became the only player in Mora history to score over 2000 points. I am 6'3 ½" and 180 pounds.
Track & Field has been an amazing experience for me. As a sophomore I did not get to run in many meets because I broke my scull open and got a concussion when I jumped down the steps in my house. This was my second concussion, I also had one when I was an 8th grader in football. Both times it took me about 3 weeks to recover. You are required to get a lot of rest and stay away from electronic screens. I missed a couple days of school and had to see the doctor a couple of times. It was hard to be away from exercise for that long a period. I still made the all-conference team in the 4x100 and long jump that year. As a junior I made all-conference in the long jump, 200, 400, and 4x200.
What was it like to win the Hamline Elite Meet 400 meter dash this year?
Nobody knew who I was and I wound up in lane eight for the final. My coaches told me to just run my race and to not worry about anyone else. It started to hurt really bad with about 150 meters to go, but then I felt all these guys starting to catch me, so I kicked it into another gear and felt no more pain and I won! It was my best sports moment ever!
Who are your coaches?
In 10th and 11th grade I had Michelle Ostein and Jonathan Hagman. This year Michelle had a baby and Channa Lennox replaced her, but Hagman was able to stay on for us.
Who are some of your toughest opponents?
There are three guys in our section that have given me fits for the last three years. They were all at the Hamline Elite Meet. They are all from Becker: Kevin Andres, Sidney Boros, and Austin Hemmelgarn.
Which teammates encourage and help you get better?
Ibris Anderson and Jon Smith are sprinters who I work out with. In addition Catie Pegg a hurdler and long sprinter has been a role model for me as she is a top point-getter for the girls' team.
Do you have family members that come to your meets?
Yes, my parents Jamie and Debra Wright, and my grandparents Jack and Liz Sahlstrom. There are other members of my family that come but they can't be as consistent.
What do you do besides sports?
My GPA is 4.042. I take AP classes so that is why it is above 4.0. I am President of Mora's chapter of the National Honor Society. I play the trombone in the band. Last week I won the AAA State Award for excellence in Academics, Arts and Athletics. I have been too busy to get a job with my three sports but this summer I want to intern at the local hospital because I want to pursue a medical field. I also have never been beaten by anyone in the game of Ping Pong!
What is a fun thing you have done in track & field with the Mora Mustangs?
Last year after the sub-section meet we set up tents inside the track and stayed overnight. We played different kinds of games like basketball and stuff. Only the boys' team does this. One of the coaches comes by to check on us occasionally during the night.
What are you plans for after high school?
I definitely plan to continue to play sports in college (I'm going to Concordia Moodhead). My academic goals are to do something in the medical field such as be an anesthesiologist, orthodontist, or dentist.
