Kansas State University Athletics
SE: He’s Back - Lewis Returns to K-State with Something to Prove in Second Senior Season
Jul 06, 2020 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
At the base of the statue in front of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, there's a quote you might have heard a time or two:
"We came to Kansas State University because of the people, we stayed here because of the people and we came back because of the people."
Coach Snyder spent 27 seasons in Manhattan. Cameron Lewis has spent two.
But when Lewis made his decision to return to the Wildcats, the K-State track and field athlete had a perspective to match the man with his name on the football stadium.
"For me, it was about the family aspect," Lewis said. "Coming out of junior college, you have this notoriety as if you're some kind of hired gun. Both [Cliff Rovelto and Karol Rovelto] were so welcoming and kind. I didn't experience that on any of my other visits."
When Lewis arrived in Manhattan after an All-American career at Mesa Community College, the Arizona native wasted no time making his mark in the throwing events.
His junior season was an impressive debut, as Lewis grabbed a top five finish at the Big 12 Championships in the weight throw and discus.
Heading into his senior outdoor season, Lewis had turned the shot put into a real weapon, with wins at the Iowa State Classic, KU-KSU-WSU Triangular and a top five finish at Big 12s in 2020.
As he looked ahead to the outdoor events, Lewis had every reason to expect big things.
"Your marks are never quite as good indoor as they are outdoor," Lewis said. "By the time you get to the outdoor season, you've had more practice and more time to prepare. Maybe it's just a mental thing for me, but it always seems easier to throw a metal shot than an indoor shot."
That's when things got complicated. After Lewis completed his indoor season in March, COVID-19 wiped out the rest of the track calendar, leaving the senior with an unexpected year of eligibility.
For the second time in two years, Lewis had a decision to make about his future at K-State.
And once again, it turned out to be an easy one.
"I love my throw squad and the whole track team, but there are also all the other athletes that you see in the lunch room," Lewis said. "I loved what I had going for me at Kansas State and with the opportunity to come back for another year, I didn't really see myself anywhere else."
While track & field is a highly individualized sport, Lewis said some of his favorite memories as a Wildcat have come without a shot or discus in his hands.
At the 2020 Big 12 Indoor Championships, Lewis didn't perform "as well as I wanted to" but still remembers the support from his teammates and the atmosphere that afternoon in Ames.
"All of my teammates were there cheering me on, and I was there for everyone else," Lewis said. "All of the throwers are super great teammates, but outside of throwing, I love watching all of the [multi-event athletes] compete. Every once in a while, we get to train together throwing shot or discus. So, there's always a bit of a special connection with the multis."
Lewis said he is also excited for the opportunity to see what he can do in 2021 when he is completely healthy.
His college career was interrupted by ankle surgery that slowed him down despite an impressive start to his throwing career at Mesa.
"I always felt like I was flying with a broken wing," Lewis said. "That was really slowing me down, so now I have something to prove because my body actually works the way I want it to."
Approaching what he thought would be his final outdoor season at K-State earlier this year, Lewis figured he was on the outside looking in with NCAAs and the Olympics Trials months away.
Now, Lewis will have nearly a whole year to prepare for his outdoor season, and the extra practice has only raised his expectations in the shot put, discus and hammer throw.
"I really have the time and resources since I'll be back at Kansas State," he said. "That really helped me with my decision and allowed me to put a new focus on my goals."
In the classroom, those goals include pursuing an MBA and Lewis said he hopes to focus on either management or marketing in the program.
As he continues to practice back home in Arizona, Lewis is training with a focus a senior season that will be more than a year in the making when he finally steps back into the circle.
Fortunately, there are some advantages to training for a sport that requires throwing heavy things farther than most people could ever imagine.
"If you can find an open field, you can practice," Lewis said. "I definitely think I have the technique, the power and strength to keep excelling."
At the base of the statue in front of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, there's a quote you might have heard a time or two:
"We came to Kansas State University because of the people, we stayed here because of the people and we came back because of the people."
Coach Snyder spent 27 seasons in Manhattan. Cameron Lewis has spent two.
But when Lewis made his decision to return to the Wildcats, the K-State track and field athlete had a perspective to match the man with his name on the football stadium.
"For me, it was about the family aspect," Lewis said. "Coming out of junior college, you have this notoriety as if you're some kind of hired gun. Both [Cliff Rovelto and Karol Rovelto] were so welcoming and kind. I didn't experience that on any of my other visits."
When Lewis arrived in Manhattan after an All-American career at Mesa Community College, the Arizona native wasted no time making his mark in the throwing events.
His junior season was an impressive debut, as Lewis grabbed a top five finish at the Big 12 Championships in the weight throw and discus.
Heading into his senior outdoor season, Lewis had turned the shot put into a real weapon, with wins at the Iowa State Classic, KU-KSU-WSU Triangular and a top five finish at Big 12s in 2020.
As he looked ahead to the outdoor events, Lewis had every reason to expect big things.
"Your marks are never quite as good indoor as they are outdoor," Lewis said. "By the time you get to the outdoor season, you've had more practice and more time to prepare. Maybe it's just a mental thing for me, but it always seems easier to throw a metal shot than an indoor shot."
That's when things got complicated. After Lewis completed his indoor season in March, COVID-19 wiped out the rest of the track calendar, leaving the senior with an unexpected year of eligibility.
For the second time in two years, Lewis had a decision to make about his future at K-State.
And once again, it turned out to be an easy one.
"I love my throw squad and the whole track team, but there are also all the other athletes that you see in the lunch room," Lewis said. "I loved what I had going for me at Kansas State and with the opportunity to come back for another year, I didn't really see myself anywhere else."
While track & field is a highly individualized sport, Lewis said some of his favorite memories as a Wildcat have come without a shot or discus in his hands.
At the 2020 Big 12 Indoor Championships, Lewis didn't perform "as well as I wanted to" but still remembers the support from his teammates and the atmosphere that afternoon in Ames.
"All of my teammates were there cheering me on, and I was there for everyone else," Lewis said. "All of the throwers are super great teammates, but outside of throwing, I love watching all of the [multi-event athletes] compete. Every once in a while, we get to train together throwing shot or discus. So, there's always a bit of a special connection with the multis."
Lewis said he is also excited for the opportunity to see what he can do in 2021 when he is completely healthy.
His college career was interrupted by ankle surgery that slowed him down despite an impressive start to his throwing career at Mesa.
"I always felt like I was flying with a broken wing," Lewis said. "That was really slowing me down, so now I have something to prove because my body actually works the way I want it to."
Approaching what he thought would be his final outdoor season at K-State earlier this year, Lewis figured he was on the outside looking in with NCAAs and the Olympics Trials months away.
Now, Lewis will have nearly a whole year to prepare for his outdoor season, and the extra practice has only raised his expectations in the shot put, discus and hammer throw.
"I really have the time and resources since I'll be back at Kansas State," he said. "That really helped me with my decision and allowed me to put a new focus on my goals."
In the classroom, those goals include pursuing an MBA and Lewis said he hopes to focus on either management or marketing in the program.
As he continues to practice back home in Arizona, Lewis is training with a focus a senior season that will be more than a year in the making when he finally steps back into the circle.
Fortunately, there are some advantages to training for a sport that requires throwing heavy things farther than most people could ever imagine.
"If you can find an open field, you can practice," Lewis said. "I definitely think I have the technique, the power and strength to keep excelling."
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