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Emmanuel Browne is cool in the face of adversity

Posted at 10:45 PM, Mar 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-04 00:08:07-05

One can describe Sumner Academy Senior Wrestler Emmanuel Browne in many different ways. Some call him cool and confident under fire while others may call him intense. 

However, there's one thing that's indisputable about the person many affectionately call Manny - he's a two-time Kansas Wrestling State Champion and this week's Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week. Manny is certainly proud of his accomplishment.

"One thing about wrestling is every day, you're proving yourself. You're proving who you are. Every day, I fought for my state title," Browne said. "You know, I was determined to get another one this year. And, you know when people are coming for you like that, you know, you just have to stay motivated, keep your eye on that prize."

Sabres Wrestling Head Coach Frank Gonzalez has been at Sumner Academy for six years. Gonzalez says he's been a Wrestling Coach for over 25 years. In all of his coaching, he says Browne is one of the finest.

"Manny's a very intense wrestler. He has a passion for winning. [He] does not like to lose," Gonzalez said. "Manny goes out of his way to make sure he learns everything possible so that he puts himself in a winning situation. He's probably one of the best wrestlers I've ever coached." 

Browne repeated as a Kansas Wrestling State Champion in the Class 4A, 126 pound weight division where he defeated Chanute's Nickolas Ornelas 5-2 over the weekend. He also finished tops in the KSHSAA Class 4A De Soto Regional the previous week. 

He's also representing Sumner Academy in this year's 21st Annual Kansas City Metro Classic; Browne is only the second wrestler in the history of the Sumner Academy Wrestling program to ever participate in Metro Classic. 

"His ability to come out, you know, starting at 12, 13 years old and within five years, come into the pinnacle of his sport, not only climbing that mountain not once, but twice is very impressive," Sabres Wrestling Assistant Head Coach Adam Beatty said.

Emmanuel has received some collegiate scholarship offers to wrestle such as Fort Hays State & Iowa Western. The sky certainly seems to be the limit for Browne. 

"People are looking at me as as a leader. And, if I don't keep that intensity, they won't keep that intensity," Emmanuel said. "Of course, it's a little self-motivated. But again, I have to lead by example."

NOTE: The Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week segment airs every Thursday during the 10 p.m. sportscast.