When Shawnee Mission East’s wrestling team starts its season next winter, it will be under the direction of an athlete who knows a thing or two about competing at the highest levels of physical sports.
Lucas Vincent graduated from Olathe North in 2010 before heading off to play football as a defensive tackle at the University of Missouri. Though he wasn’t drafted, he signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was ultimately cut, however, and decided that instead of “bouncing from team to team and always being in a different place, I wanted something a little more permanent.”
In addition to his standout football career with the Eagles, Vincent was an accomplished high school wrestler. As a sophomore, he placed second in the Class 6A 285+-pound division. He went on to take the state title as a junior.
So when saw a posting for an assistant coaching job at Blue Valley North, and put in an application. For the last two years, Vincent worked with the Mustangs wrestling and football programs. This week, he and SM East announced the Vincent will be coming to Prairie Village to lead the program next school year.
“I want to turn the SM East Lancers into a state powerhouse,” he said. “We’ve got some good success with individuals. But I want to see us compete as a team.”
Vincent said the Lancers have a good deal of talent to work with. Dane Erickson, the sophomore who took fourth place in last month’s state tournament in the 113-pound division, has a ton of potential, Vincent said.
“I know they also had a lot of injuries this year,” Vincent said. “So I’m really excited to coach those guys and get them back from injury. There’s some tough kids in the program.”
Vincent will also work in the special education department at SM East. He’s currently working on a master’s degree in special education through Grand Canyon University.