Robinson’s Charles “Chad” Heidt (’16) has been named a finalist for the 2016 Russ Mauger Mental Attitude Award, which is given to a Florida wrestler that “best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, leadership, ethics and integrity.” The award was named in the honor of long-time director of invitational, district, region and state tournaments Russ Mauger.

Heidt, who will be competing in this weekend’s state tournament, has a 6.69 GPA in Robinson’s International Baccalaureate Program and has dedicated four hours every Sunday for the last 15 months to THORN Ministries, which clothes and feeds the homeless.

He would be just the second Robinson wrestler to receive the award. 2013 state champion Luis Peguero (’14), who currently wrestles at Coker College, won the award in 2014.

“It would mean a lot because I remember looking up to, and I still do look up to, Luis as a wrestler and person,” Heidt said.

Every wrestling season culminates with the state tournament. Despite his high school career coming to an end regardless of this weekend’s outcome, the senior captain says there will be no mental adjustment for the tournament.

“I’ll approach it the same as any other tournament,” he said. “With first place as the goal.”

You can vote for Heidt here. Voting ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. The state tournament will be held this Friday and Saturday at Silver Spurs Arena (1875 Silver Spur Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744).