Photo by: Cal Poly Athletics
Mechanics Bank Cal Poly Student-Athlete of the Week: Jack Lenox
11/3/2020 9:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Editor's Note: From September through mid-December, student-athletes from each of Cal Poly's fall-season teams will be highlighted through the Mechanics Bank Student-Athlete of the Week series. Representing a variety of majors, each Mustang interviewed about their careers and studies is a member of the Fall Big West Commissioner's Highest Honors list (soccer, cross country, volleyball, tennis and golf), Big Sky All-Academic Team (football), Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete Team (wrestling) or Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Team (swimming and diving) or has earned a spot on the Dean's List or President's List at Cal Poly.
Jack Lenox, a redshirt freshman on the Mustang wrestling team and a sophomore academically, landed on the Dean's List at Cal Poly during all three quarters during the 2019-20 academic year and also was a President's List honoree once.
The biomedical engineering major is a 2019 graduate of Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri. During his redshirt season at Cal Poly last winter, Lenox won nine of 16 matches in four open tournaments at 125 pounds, placing third in the Menlo Tournament. He recently took a few moments out of his day to discuss balancing his sport and studies:
Q: You chose biomedical engineering as your major. What led you to decide upon that field of study, and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I always wanted to do something in the medical field, but I loved all the engineering and design classes I took while in high school, and I felt like biomedical engineering was the right major for me. So far, what I enjoy most about biomedical engineering are the amazing people in the department and all the opportunities to work on something I'm passionate about.
Q: You've proven to successfully balance both academics and athletics at a high level. How do you do it, and what are the keys to that success?
A: I've found that good time management is essential for excelling both academically and athletically. Planning for the week ahead and making sure I get all my work done are two things that have helped me find success. I think anyone can succeed in the classroom if they just put in the same work that they put toward their sport.
Q: What's been your favorite class at Cal Poly, and why?
A: So far, my favorite class at Cal Poly has been ME 228, Engineering Design Communication. This class teaches me how to use Computer-Aided Design software and hand drafting skills that will apply in future classes and projects.
Q: Who has been your favorite professor at Cal Poly, and what made him or her stand out as an instructor?
A: My favorite professor at Cal Poly was my MATH 142/143 professor, Anton Kaul. He had an interesting personality and would always have a big Styrofoam cup full of Pepsi. He is very knowledgeable in calculus and he was very understanding when I would go to his office hours.
Q: Do you have any plans for your senior project yet? If not, do you have plans or hopes for any summer internships coming up?
A: For my senior project, I would love to work with biomedical engineers to develop a medical technology, but I would also be open to work with other engineers and collaborate on a completely different kind of project altogether. I have been to the career fairs at Cal Poly, and I am hopeful for summer internships in the future.
Q: Also, what are your career goals once you finish your wrestling career at Cal Poly?
A: I would love to work for an engineering company as soon as possible after graduation and start making a difference in the world. I would love to see how my skills from Cal Poly transfer to the professional world -- as well as start earning a salary.
Q: Had you visited California prior to coming to Cal Poly? What are your impressions of the state? Do you want to stay in California or return to Missouri after graduation?
A: I had visited California previously, but never San Luis Obispo! California weather is much nicer than in Missouri, but the cost of living is much higher. After graduation, I will live wherever I can start my career and I am open to staying in California or moving back to Missouri.
Q: What advice would you give to future generations of student-athletes hoping to succeed in college while playing sports at this high of a level?
A: Some advice I would give to future generations of Cal Poly student-athletes would be to work as hard in school as you do on the field and to ask for help when you need it! We have so many options and opportunities for academic help that can be very useful for those tough classes.
Jack Lenox, a redshirt freshman on the Mustang wrestling team and a sophomore academically, landed on the Dean's List at Cal Poly during all three quarters during the 2019-20 academic year and also was a President's List honoree once.
The biomedical engineering major is a 2019 graduate of Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri. During his redshirt season at Cal Poly last winter, Lenox won nine of 16 matches in four open tournaments at 125 pounds, placing third in the Menlo Tournament. He recently took a few moments out of his day to discuss balancing his sport and studies:
Q: You chose biomedical engineering as your major. What led you to decide upon that field of study, and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I always wanted to do something in the medical field, but I loved all the engineering and design classes I took while in high school, and I felt like biomedical engineering was the right major for me. So far, what I enjoy most about biomedical engineering are the amazing people in the department and all the opportunities to work on something I'm passionate about.
Q: You've proven to successfully balance both academics and athletics at a high level. How do you do it, and what are the keys to that success?A: I've found that good time management is essential for excelling both academically and athletically. Planning for the week ahead and making sure I get all my work done are two things that have helped me find success. I think anyone can succeed in the classroom if they just put in the same work that they put toward their sport.
Q: What's been your favorite class at Cal Poly, and why?
A: So far, my favorite class at Cal Poly has been ME 228, Engineering Design Communication. This class teaches me how to use Computer-Aided Design software and hand drafting skills that will apply in future classes and projects.
Q: Who has been your favorite professor at Cal Poly, and what made him or her stand out as an instructor?
A: My favorite professor at Cal Poly was my MATH 142/143 professor, Anton Kaul. He had an interesting personality and would always have a big Styrofoam cup full of Pepsi. He is very knowledgeable in calculus and he was very understanding when I would go to his office hours.
Q: Do you have any plans for your senior project yet? If not, do you have plans or hopes for any summer internships coming up?
A: For my senior project, I would love to work with biomedical engineers to develop a medical technology, but I would also be open to work with other engineers and collaborate on a completely different kind of project altogether. I have been to the career fairs at Cal Poly, and I am hopeful for summer internships in the future.
Q: Also, what are your career goals once you finish your wrestling career at Cal Poly?
A: I would love to work for an engineering company as soon as possible after graduation and start making a difference in the world. I would love to see how my skills from Cal Poly transfer to the professional world -- as well as start earning a salary.
Q: Had you visited California prior to coming to Cal Poly? What are your impressions of the state? Do you want to stay in California or return to Missouri after graduation?
A: I had visited California previously, but never San Luis Obispo! California weather is much nicer than in Missouri, but the cost of living is much higher. After graduation, I will live wherever I can start my career and I am open to staying in California or moving back to Missouri.
Q: What advice would you give to future generations of student-athletes hoping to succeed in college while playing sports at this high of a level?
A: Some advice I would give to future generations of Cal Poly student-athletes would be to work as hard in school as you do on the field and to ask for help when you need it! We have so many options and opportunities for academic help that can be very useful for those tough classes.
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