Trekking overseas for a rugby trip inspired Wes Pasholk to sprout a beard.

He was prohibited from growing one during St. Charles North’s wrestling season, and the whiskers seemed like something fit for football.

When Pasholk returned from the United Kingdom with a team of all-state Illinois rugby players, he recalls North defensive line coach Chip McPheeters joking about the wisdom of people with beards. While Pasholk doesn’t know about any of that yet, he’ll at least take the look as a window into the best part of his summer vacation.