Rising Star: Cav Calgren leading Concordia basketball to unbeaten start

CONCORDIA, Kan. (KWCH) - Concordia basketball is off to an undefeated start at 5-0 on the season and ranked in the top 10 in the state in class 4A. The Panthers are led by one of the most efficient scorers in the state through the first month of the season in senior Cav Carlgren.

“I’m just having the mentality that I’m going to work harder than everyone else,” Carlgren said. “I’m not obviously the biggest guy so the least I can do is work harder than them to make me seem bigger.”

Through the first five games, Carlgren is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds a game.

“Cav is a great leader for us in every area, he never takes a possession off, and he plays so hard,” Concordia Head Coach Derek Holmes said. “I have coached a lot of kids in 20 years, and he plays as hard as anyone I have ever coached. He plays way bigger than 6′2 and he does everything for us. He makes free throws, rebounds, guards the other team’s best player most of the time and obviously scores.”

Carlgren is on pace to break the program’s free throw percentage, shooting 85% from the charity stripe, one of two goals he set for himself at the beginning of the season.

“Before the season started, I told myself I would work harder than every opponent I faced and I am trying to set the school record for free throw percentage,” he said.

His ultimate goal is to help lead the Panthers to its first state championship.

“It would mean a lot to know I was the person that led the group to the first state title in school history,” Carlgren said.  “That would mean a lot to me.”

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