By: Kevin Fick
To all the coaches, statisticians,
managers and most importantly the wrestlers themselves…thank you from your
families and communities. The season
provided plenty of reason to be proud of hard work, effort and sacrifice. The hours put into the program do not go
unrecognized and no matter the outcome of an individual’s season hold your head
up with pride. You were part of
something much larger than yourself…that was both a team and the brotherhood of
wrestlers. If a current grappler were to
talk to an alumni of the sport about ‘was it worth it’, I have my doubts that a
no it wasn’t would ever be given. This
is a group of people that prides itself on virtues such as character, courage
and honor. When each of you report for
practice, to train, or for a match remember…you wrestle for those before you,
those after you and for those that never will or had the chance. Some of you wrestle for a family legacy, some
of you are building your own. Some
wrestle for the extreme competition of one on one while others wrestle for
gold. Whatever your reason for being on
the mat we as your families wish you to remember the most important reason of
all…you wrestle for you. Enjoy your time
as it is short, the lessons you learn will serve you well.
Monday, April 21st found
the WCAAE wrestling program in its final official night of business for the
2013-14 season. The athletes and
families shared a meal and met in the Barrett auditorium to listen to KKOK
radio personality Ron Erickson share some thoughts about the sport and how it
has impacted his life.
Coaches Brandon Gruchow and Troy Lohse led the
elementary program which consisted of 70+ wrestlers. Little Knight awards were as follows…’Most
Wins’-Colbe Tappe,’ Most Pins’-Colbe Tappe, ‘Dominant Wrestler’-Jon Dingwall.
Coach Chad Lorenson
discussed the junior varsity season and handed out the JV awards which were as
follows…’Most Improved’-Alex Butcher, ‘Hardest Worker’-Hunter Mickelsen, ‘Most
Valuable Wrestler’-Chris Onstad.
At the beginning of the season the
team decided to take part in a service project called ‘Takedown Cancer’. The team sought pledges for each takedown in
a match throughout the year. Coach
Gruchow and the team presented Evansville’s Jordan Nohre, sister to wrestler
Jake Nohre, a check for $3,388. Well
done wrestlers and sponsers!
The team had 24 members receive the
‘Spotlight on Scholarship’ award for gpas at or above a 3.0, this set up the
team receiving the Minnesota Coaches Association Gold Academic Award with the
wrestlers averaging a 3.49 in the classroom.
Perfect attendance throughout the
year was given to Jake Larkin, Royal Crow, Kyle Mickelsen, Levi Larkin and
Chris Onstad.
The team wrestled 518 matches winning
306 of them which gave them a record of 17-5.
They were Park Region Conference runner-ups and went to the semi-finals
for section 6A as a team. Coach Gruchow
received conference and section ‘Coach of the Year’ honors.
Varsity wrestling awards went as
follows….’Statistician Award’-Taylor Weiss, ’Rookie Wrestler of the Year’-Drake
Swanson, ‘Team Spirit Award’-Buzz Miller,’ Hardest Worker’-Hunter Fick, ‘Most
Improved’-Sid Kamrath, ‘Most Valuable Wrestler’-Royal Crow.
The following is a list of all varsity wrestlers including grade and win loss record. Jake Nohre (9) 36-8 state participant, Hunter Fick (11) 36-9 state participant 5th place, Royal Crow (11) 35-7 state participant, Levi Larkin (8) 29-15 state participant, Anthony “Buzz” Miller (10) 28-12, Keaton Long (9) 24-16, Jake Larkin (10) 22-11 state participant, Kyle Mickelsen (11) 19-17, Braedon Long (12) 16-10, Tyler Onstad (10) 15-18, T.J. Waskosky (10) 12-16, Sid Kamrath (10) 12-16, Koel Seifort (11) 6-17, Drake Swanson (9) 6-4, Blake Amundson (10) 3-11, Aiden Winter (8) 2-3, Zack Salo (10) 1-2, Kode Seifort (9) 1-0, Alex Butcher (7) 0-2, Wyatt Olson (7) 0-4.
Top five statistical finishers…
Wins-Hunter Fick (36), Jake Nohre (36),
Royal Crow (35), Levi Larkin (29), Buzz Miller (28)
Team Points-Hunter Fick (178), Royal
Crow (173), Jake Nohre (172), Buzz Miller( 142), Keaton Long (135)
Pins-Hunter Fick (17), Buzz Miller
(16), Royal Crow (12), Jake Nohre (12), Keaton Long (12), Jake Larkin (12)
Takedowns-Jake Nohre (96), Royal Crow
(77), Hunter Fick (51), Keaton Long (46), Braedon Long (43)
Escapes-Royal Crow (35), Keaton Long
(25), Kyle Mickelsen (22), Hunter Fick (20), Jake Nohre (20)
Reversals-Jake Nohre (17), Levi
Larkin (15), Keaton Long (11), Kyle Mickelsen (11)Koel Seifort (8)
Near Fall Points-Jake Nohre (76),
Kyle Mickelsen (52), Levi Larkin (46), Buzz Miller (44), Tyler Onstad (42)
