Sophie Machen (left) and Ellie Langeman (right) are the recipients of the 2019 MatBoss Manager Scholarships
MatBoss, wrestling premier videostats app, is pleased to announce that Sophie Machen (St. Clair, Mo.) and Ellie Langeman (Carmel, Ind.) are the recipients of the 2019 MatBoss Manager Scholarships.
Sophie and Ellie were selected from a large pool of candidates across 24 different states. Each will receive $500 scholarships.
MatBoss Manager Scholarship recipients are chosen based on their service to the sport of wrestling, academic achievement, honors and awards, as well as their involvement in outside activities and community.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the student’s wrestling team must be a MatBoss customer and she/he must have served an active role as a manager on her/his team and be a high school senior or currently enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution.
Below is a brief biography on each of the recipients.
Sophie Machen
Sophie Machen has been the “backbone” of the St. Clair wrestling team for four years, according to St. Clair High School assistant wrestling coach Michael Rodgers.
Mel Hughes, who has served as a head wrestling coach for 34 years in five districts and worked with well over 100 wrestling managers, says that Sophie is “without exception” the most effective and productive manager he has worked with.
“I have had some amazing managers, but she clearly tops them all in terms of her commitment, effectiveness, and love and support for her team, school and community,” said Hughes.
Sophie served as the wrestling manager at St. Clair High School in St. Clair, Missouri, since her freshman year.
“Being a wrestling manager has opened my eyes to the world of teamwork, sportsmanship, and being a team leader,” said Sophie. “It requires great patience and effort and teaches you what it means to be responsible.”
Her high school wrestling team didn’t start using MatBoss until Sophie’s junior year. She admits that initially she was wary of the new technology and responsibility, but quickly learned to enjoy it as it made her job easier.
“Instead of filming on a recorder and keeping score on a paper, we could now do it in the same place,” said Sophie. “It was amazing! Not only that, but we were able to access the videos online for our athletes to watch on their own or even send them to college coaches! It was an amazing opportunity for our athletes, and I was glad to have something that made my job a little easier when it came to keeping stats for matches as well as trying to record them steadily.”
Sophie maintained a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Future Farmers of America, Pep Club, Drama Club, among other organizations. She volunteered her time with the St. Clair Library and Special Olympics. Sophie was also a member of St. Clair’s cross-country running team and earned the All-Heart Award as well earning Academic All-Conference.
She plans on attending Southeast Missouri State University where she will study forensic chemistry and criminology. While the college she is attending does not have a wrestling team, the sport will always remain special to her.
“Wrestling has had an enormous impact on my life and will forever hold a place in my heart,” said Sophie.
Ellie Langeman
Ellie Langeman is a natural leader. When her high school wrestling team at Carmel High School, located in Carmel, Indiana, signed up for MatBoss before the 2018-19 wrestling season, the coaches called a meeting and asked if anyone was willing to take a leadership role and implement the MatBoss technology.
Without hesitation, Ellie, who was in her second year as a wrestling manager, raised her hand and asked how she could be that leader.
“What I witnessed in the following months will forever be a fond memory,” said Carmel head assistant wrestling coach Jim Selvio. “Ellie embraced the challenge to implement MatBoss into the program. She watched all the training videos, asked questions, tested the system and then taught it to all six of the other managers with very little help from us.”
Ellie had been around wrestling her whole life, but it wasn’t until her younger brother started wrestling for the high school team that she decided to become a wrestling manager.
“As a wrestling manager, I quickly learned organization is one of the most valuable tools you need to have,” said Ellie. “I have become adept at adjusting to situations quickly after enduring the repeated chaos that is often times inherent to wrestling meets.”
In addition to her involvement with the Carmel High School wrestling team, Ellie was involved in many other extracurricular activities, such as Bee Aware Club, Young Life, WyldLife, Africa Outreach Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Spanish Club and Ping Pong Club. She also competed in travel soccer as well as cross country and track. Ellie excelled in the classroom, maintaining a cumulative GPA above 3.7.
Ellie’s impact on the Carmel wrestling program will be felt for years to come. The program recently announced the creation Ellie Langeman Wrestler Manager of the Year Award, which will be awarded annually to the Carmel High School wrestling manager providing the greatest value through leadership and actions that go above and beyond.
“Carmel wrestling will forever be grateful to Ellie Langeman for setting the standard to which others will aspire,” said Selvio.
Ellie plans on seeking a wrestler manager position in college.