Calderon plans to keep working at Shawnee

CHESAPEAKE — When it comes to four-letter words, there’s one that Chris Calderon never gets tired of.

Work.

The Chesapeake Panthers senior two-sport standout has had some setbacks, but through them all he continues to work and it is that characteristic that saw him sign a letter-of-intent on Wednesday with the Shawnee State University Bears track program.

Chesapeake's Chris Calderon

“He’s been hurt this year. He’s getting it work on and he’s improving and I think if he keeps working like he has been — and he’s been working really hard — he’s just going to keep getting better and better and he’s going to do really well there,” said Chesapeake head track coach Layne Wireman.

“From the beginning of the year to now he’s improved a whole lot and he’s going to keep improving because his back is getting healthy.”

The 6-foot, 275-pound Calderon will pull double duty with the Bears.

“I’m going for shot put and he said I could try out for weight throw (hammer),” said Calderon.

And to do both events well, Calderon knows that work is the key.

“It’s not just doing the workouts he has set for us, it’s going out and putting yourself out there. You’ve got to put in the extra work,” said Calderon.

“For track, I talked to Shawnee State and Rio Grande. For football, I talked to KCU (Kentucky Christian) and West Virginia State,” said Calderon, which led to the inevitable question.

Why track?

“I messed up my back a little bit earlier in the season and the doctor said I could choose a non-contact sport that would be preferred,” said Calderon. “So, I went with track and field.”

Another reason for the choice of Shawnee State was head coach Connor Flynn wants to see his players work hard.

So, with two local schools to choose from for track and field of virtually the same distance from home, Calderon elected to go with Shawnee State.

“The coach (Flynn) was very enthusiastic about the program and he wants better,” said Calderon. “And he’s going to force everyone to put in the same amount of work whether he’s the best or not the best, or a senior or a freshman.”

Calderon said he began track in the seventh grade only to have COVID hit and wipe out the entire year.

Calderon worked with Rusty Smith when possible during his first three years of high school, but the Panthers hired Trey Cox this year as the throwing coach.

“I’ve only did track in high school,” said Calderon. “The first three years we didn’t specifically have a throws coach and then this year  we got one and it helped a lot.”

For a big, strong, husky player, Calderon is easily linked to sports like track and football. But he does have another sport he favors.

After church on Sundays, Calderon said he and his friends go disc golfing.

“We usually go to Barboursville Park for disc golfing. I’m not too good at golf, but disc golfing is different. You throw a plastic disc,” Calderon said.

Calderon plans to major in accounting.