2020 Senior Spotlight: Deven Wieland

Louisburg Sports Zone will be running senior spotlights in an effort to honor seniors who had their seasons taken away due to the spread of COVID-19.

Deven Wieland wouldn’t say golf is a passion of his.

Wieland took the sport up shortly before high school and found his way onto the high school team as a freshman. Since then, he has been a member of the Louisburg junior varsity team and has enjoyed his time with the program.

A lot of that joy comes from his senior teammates. Eight seniors were scheduled to vie for varsity spots this year and be a part of a Wildcat team that was trying for its second straight trip to the state tournament.

“This senior class is what has made my golf experience so special,” Wieland said. “Compared to grades that preceded us, our golf class is massive. I believe we would have had about eight seniors on the team, and I’m friends with each of them. We always get together over the summer in the offseason and play just because we enjoy the sport and each other’s company. Growing up together and playing the same sport over four years of high school I feel like gave us a really tight connection as a team and as a class.”

Wieland was all set to try and make the varsity roster as he wanted to experience the same success that his team achieved a year ago when they took third at the regional tournament and qualified for state.

After a couple weeks of practice, that opportunity was never going to happen for Wieland as COVID-19 shutdown the spring season before it could even get started.

“Hearing the news of everything being canceled was definitely pretty devastating at first,” Wieland said. “I was really looking forward to playing a lot of golf and improving myself. I was also bummed out about not being able to experience all of the normal activities that the senior classes usually do.

“I think the thing that was most disappointing though, was not getting to spend my last quarter in high school with all of my friends. I’ve been dealing with that disappointment by keeping in touch with as many of them as I can and staying busy with other hobbies and activities.”

Even though COVID-19 took away the final couple months of his senior year, Wieland still holds on to the memories he created during his time with the Wildcat program.

“It’s hard to choose a definitive moment, but one of my favorites would be chipping in for par at the Anderson County meet” Wieland said. “Coach O’Brien was there to witness it, and I remember being really ecstatic to save what most likely would have been a double bogey. Chip-ins are rare to begin with during practice, so it was a pretty awesome achievement to make during an actual tournament.”

Now that Wieland is preparing for his next stop in college, he knows he won’t get the opportunity to compete with his teammates much, but he is looking forward to taking the game of golf with him.

“To me, golf is relaxing,” Wieland said. “Walking around on the course and working on developing my shot is fun, and practicing doesn’t feel like work. On top of that, the guys that I play with are awesome, and they have become some of my best friends. I know that everyone involved with state last year was really looking forward to earning another trip this year, and it’s really unfortunate we don’t get to see that dream come to fruition.”

Other than golf, Louisburg Sports Zone also had a chance to catch up with Deven on how he has been coping with an early end to his senior year and some of his other interests. Here are his responses from the rest of our Q&A.

LSZ: What have you been missing the most during this time away from everyone?

DW: I’ve really just missed hanging out with, and seeing, all of my friends. I wish that I could have this time back to spend with them before I go to college.

LSZ: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete or in school, and why?

DW: My most memorable moment from any school activity would have to be the choir trip to New York City. Our choir was very fortunate to be selected, and it was something that very few other high school choirs have done. The entire process from the selection to the trip felt surreal. I made so many awesome memories during that trip, and I have absolutely zero regrets about going.

LSZ: What is your favorite activity/hobby outside of sports and why?

DW: I’m bad at favorites so I’m going to list three of my favorite hobbies. First, I really like making videos. I started a YouTube channel when I was 10 or 11, and ever since I have been working on making videos. I find it really enjoyable, and I love watching the finished result. Secondly, I like playing the piano. Piano is very relaxing to me, and I like just picking a song that I think sounds good and trying to teach myself it. Lastly, I like solving Rubik’s cube. I learned how to do it when I was pretty little, and I even went to a few speed solving competitions as well. It serves as a great time waster on road trips.

LSZ: What are your plans for after graduation?

DW: After graduation, I plan to attend the University of Alabama and study Mechanical Engineering. I am currently deciding if I want to obtain a master’s in business administration or go to medical school after my first four years.

LSZ: What accomplishments that don’t involve athletics are you most proud of and why?

DW: I’m really proud of winning the video and social media competition that KanSPRA hosted my sophomore year. It was awesome to succeed at something that I enjoy doing so much. I’m also proud of my two musical performances in high school. I had such a blast with all of the people involved both years, and I will remember those experiences my whole life. Lastly, I’m proud of all of the friends that I have made in Louisburg. I feel extremely blessed to have met all of them, and I am very grateful for their friendship and support throughout high school.

LSZ: What do you think would be something that a lot of people don’t know about you?

DW: My best friend is ranked No. 3 in the world in gunfight on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare