St. John's University Athletics
Chris Wingert: A Blueprint for Success
1/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 18, 2004
Carson, Calif. -
If you were to place St. John's University graduate Chris Wingert's career inside of a box, its walls would be formed by the strengths of his academic honors, distinguished accolades, and prestigious athletic awards.
The strength of these walls could only be paralleled by a foundation poured from greatness. The 21 year-old's grandfather, Warren Mehrtens, is a Triple Crown winner and Chris' father, Norman Wingert, a former goalie for the North American Soccer League.
The family's historic success laid the groundwork for the defender's future. But even with Wingert's excellent genes, success has been the result of his own hard work and perspiration.
Wingert first kicked around the ball with his father long before he even began playing any type of organized soccer. He enjoyed the game almost instantly and played on his first team when he was about five-years-old.
Progressing consistently at his game, Wingert made his first state team when he was just 12-years-old. Aside from travel soccer, this was the first major steppingstone the adolescent took into the world of competitive soccer.
"I was constantly training and constantly involved with the sport," Wingert explained. "Once I got started with the state team, things really started to roll."
Wingert rolled from sixth grade straight into high school. And before long, the student began preparing for his next journey. Little did the St. John the Baptist senior know at the time, but his final decision to attend St. John's University would give him the ride of a lifetime.
Delegated captain the first week into his sophomore season, Wingert was a leader from the start. It was a pleasure for the rising athlete to lead his team to greatness, though Wingert's team members weren't the only ones learning from another's example.
"From very early on, I learned a lot about work ethic and the importance of commitment to our team," Wingert said of his experience.
"Matia Damiani is probably the toughest kid I have ever played with, but probably the nicest kid I have ever met off of the field.
"To break his arm like he did (in the 2003 NCAA Tournament), yet still come into the playoffs and be ready to play was just incredible. It was just a really gutsy performance and exemplified what he is all about."
Life is an endless learning process for Wingert, whose parents are both teachers. Aside from the boundless lessons he has learned from them, the defender has also been instilled with a strong and moral and belief system.
"I have been raised as a Christian and that is definitely the most important part of my life," Wingert said. "It's that the idea of being a good person is more important than anything else."
"No matter what lies ahead in Chris' future, we have the faith that God will see him through," Noreen, his mother, says. "We know that in the long run, everything will work out for the best."
And that's the foundation from which their son has built his success, and hopes to add to with his own experiences.
In recent months, Wingert has constructed for himself a promising future. A mixture of pure talent and intelligence, the defender has learned to become his own architect for how life will turn out.
As a member of the United States Under-23 National Team that could be attending the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Wingert was offered an MLS contract last year.
"They kind of advocated the idea of all National Team competitors playing in the MLS," he explained. "They wanted everybody to be in the best environment as possible, day in and day out."
Following his gut, Wingert waited down to the wire before ultimately deciding to stay in school for one more year. Acquiring his diploma and having the opportunity to work alongside his coach, Dave Masur, for one more season could hardly harm the young talent.
"I figured I was going to continue to develop under Coach Masur where I was still going to be in a good soccer environment," he said.
Masur has had an exceptional relationship with Wingert since he arrived on campus more than three years ago.
"He has really been just a pleasure to play under," Wingert said.
Masur believes that the player's most powerful quality is his pure genuineness, a characteristic that makes all of his relationships so real.
"We're real honest and are always looking to try to learn from each other," says Wingert. "So although we can sometimes have different opinions, we have them in an honest fashion in a way where we both respect eachother."
He adds, "If it wasn't for him, I definitely wouldn't have had the success I've had over the past few years. He has as much or more to do with that any other person I can think of."
Others have come close. John Boos, a former Mr. USA and personal trainer, has been working with Wingert since about ninth grade when the student went to him with a hamstring injury.
"We started doing a lot of the massage work and the necessary strengthening work such as balance," Boos explained. "From that point on, his strength levels, which increased dramatically, reduced his injury complaints.
He was just getting so far ahead, and I found it impressive."
Boos was also impressed with Wingert's open nature, and his willingness to be flexible. "He was doing something that very few young athletes do, and that's listening to experience without having experienced it," Boos said.
"John Boos has been an incredible influence in my life," Wingert said. "He really has an incredible mind in the areas of strength, fitness, and nutrition.
"He has done a great job of helping me to stay fit and keep my body healthy, which are important things for an athlete. I may not have time to see him as often anymore, but I still see him to this day for massage therapy."
Wingert's days now are taken up by soccer. His cell phone rings constantly, from friends asking how he's doing, to his parents and sister catching up, to reporters asking for a few minutes, and to conversations with his girlfriend.
Reality of the young man's busy schedule and how little time he actually gets to himself these days is evident. Moments without soccer have been few and far between for the athlete in recent months. Wingert understands though, everybody needs a little time away.
"Mentally, I need to stay focused on my game at all times and make sure I'm not getting worn out," he explained. "I think the best way to do that is by taking time off whenever possible. When the schedule allows, it's important to spend time with family and friends and to just break away from soccer."
A family oriented Wingert acknowledges that valuable family time is very important. He enjoys being around his parents and 25-year-old sister, Kerri.
"Even though I might be moving away," he said, "I know that I will always see my family wherever we are."
Wingert signed a professional contract with Major League Soccer in early January and was selected with in the second round of the league's draft. Ironically, Wingert will be heading to Columbus, Ohio to play for the Crew.
The ironic part for Wingert is that Crew Stadium was the site of both of the Red Storm's Final Four appearances (2001 and 2003) during his four years at St. John's.
"That didn't escape me," he said after the draft. "It's funny in a way, but looking back, I hold those as great experiences for me, and for St. John's. I just hope my experience with the Crew will be filled with a lot of wins."
He is also still uncertain whether or not he will make the final roster for the 2004 Olympic Team. Wingert has been giving his all every day in hopes of gaining a special spot alongside the list of greats that the U-23 National Team Head Coach, Glenn Myernick is in the process of finalizing.
"If I'm lucky enough to play in the Olympics, I am going to enjoy every second of it," he says. "I also understand that it can kind of be taken away from me at any minute. So without making myself a nervous wreck, the best I can do is just make sure I am always ready to play at all times."
Not only must Wingert make the final roster but also his team must first qualify. The national team will head down to Mexico on January 22 in order to fight for a place to compete in Greece this summer. If Wingert is lucky enough to go along for the trip, the only thing left is for the United States to win so that the player can prove in the months ahead that he is worthy of the trip to Athens.
"I've represented my country before. It's an amazing feeling when you are out on the field wearing a United States jersey and listening to my National Anthem." Wingert said. "I just know that playing in the Olympics would be an even greater experience on a level all its own."
"I have really tried hard not to take any of this for granted. I think its important to stay on top of yourself and enjoy where you are at, but at the same time, it is important to stay focused and determined while always pushing forward."
"I think Chris has a sense of patience in just letting things work themselves out without stretching himself out to thin or getting a little aggravated," Boos said. "His patience and understanding are qualities that are going to follow him in his personal relationships and business relationships."
Wingert plans to stay involved in soccer as much as possible in his future endeavors and his patience will most definitely be a blessing. In a country where soccer is not very publicized, the player with a pure love for the game might just have to wait a little longer for the sport to open up a bit.
"We don't quite get the support that some of the other major sports in the country get, which is fine. It's something I've grown up with," Wingert said. "It's still okay; because I believe it is expanding and growing every day."
Down the road, the defender would like to be involved in somehow promoting the sport. He doesn't see himself coaching quite yet but does admit that that all may change one day when he has children of his own.
For now, the player is going to take each day as it comes, being sure to never forget where he started. The bridges he builds and relationships he forms are sure to leave lasting impressions.
Achieving both on and off the field Wingert has graduated St. Johns a semester early and will continue to leave behind legacies wherever he goes, which is an all too familiar sight for this young star.
The two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Academic All American, and member of the U-23 National Team has had a storied career at St. John's up to this point. Not to mention he is this year's Hermann Trophy winner.
Receiving the single greatest honor a college soccer player can have, Wingert accepted the distinction on January 9 alongside his parents and his now former coach, Masur. He is the first player at St. John's University to ever receive the award and the first player in men's college soccer to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar-Athlete Award in the same season.
"Few people get what they really deserve in life, but everything that Chris has gotten so far has been completely due to him," St. John's teammate Andre Schmid said. "Any successes he has had or will have in the future are his to enjoy."
Wingert is happy with what has happened to him, and the honors he has received, but he always goes back to the life that was built for him by his parents.
"My mom has always been great in being there for me," Wingert said. "My dad has always been extremely involved, more involved than I think any parent could possibly be in a sport without making it unenjoyable for me."
After each game he's played, Wingert's parents wait for their son to walk off of the field.
Waiting anxiously, Wingert's father shakes other player's hands and gives out congratulations until the one he most anticipates finally comes out.
Norm Wingert hugs his son proudly.
It's a reminder of the dreams the family has helped to build together.
And it's a reminder that they'll always stay together.
