OnFocus Season Preview
Coaching staff: Adam Davison, Kane Krummel, Joe Schwabe
Key returners: 4 returning State Qualifiers (Colin and Trenton Cournoyer, Kaleb Krummel, Carter Lueck 4th place medalist last year) 3 other returning Sectional Qualifiers (Lucas Forrest, Mathias Kaiser, and Jack Tubbs). Mathias is a kid who I think can take a big leap this year, he’s spent a lot of time in the gym and on the mat since last season.
Key newcomers: Incoming Freshmen Aaron Knetter has a lot of experience, multiple youth state trips, Senior Roman Schmidt started for us as a freshman but spent the last two years behind state qualifiers. Senior Noah Lucio wrestled as a freshman and is returning, he’s a kid from a great family. Very strong, powerful athlete. A few other weight classes are going to be heavily contested between some of our juniors and sophomores but whoever wins the wrestle- offs in those classes will be big contributors.
Conference outlook: The Marawood has gotten really competitive over the last few years. Marathon pushed us last year, we only beat them by 13 in the dual. They return a lot of talent this year and are really on an upward trajectory. Also really impressed by Auburndale’s growth. They’ve had high end state medalists the last few years and now they seem to have more numbers out so they aren’t to be taken lightly.
Keys to your success this season: Get better, one day at a time. Coming off a D6 football title we are a little behind to start the year as the majority of our athletes are football players as well. Have some kids who are coming off a long season so we will likely be a little slower starting (similar to last year) but the goal will be to just keep grinding every day. We return so many kids and a lot of them have put in a ton of work in the offseason, never easy replacing two state medalists who graduated and were leaders but this team has high goals.
Behind the scenes: Who are some of the people that help your program succeed? Our entire wrestling community, staff, and administration. Our AD (Craig Martens) is an organizational wizard and really goes above and beyond to help. I’m not sure there is another school in the state that has 3 coaches on staff who have all been head coaches at Team State for the same program. It’s great having so many people who can run practice, handle paperwork, scout, etc. Our wrestling club really has the team’s back as well, they help us cover a lot of expenses and the fact that our whole community works together is a big part of the culture.
Coach’s comments: anything else you’d like to share? Just so excited to get back into the season. Practices are going really well, lot of energy. It’s a long season and a lot can happen but if it all comes together I think we have a chance to have a great year.
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2023-24 Area Conference Schedules: Conference and Team Links
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
