New coach leads OFAFC prep wrestling program

OSSEO - New head coach Dan Schulte takes charge of the Osseo-Fairchild/Augusta/Fall Creek prep wrestling program for the 2019-2020 season.

The Dragons begin their season this Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Mondovi Duals.

OFAFC features 12 of its 17 wrestlers as either freshmen or sophomores which Coach Schulte hopes will be a strong foundation for the program as he begins his first season. He was an assistant coach last season.

"We'd like to have more upperclassmen out of course but we have a good group of young wrestlers, some who have experience wrestling in middle school and others trying out the sport for the first time which is nice to see."

The Dragons also have veteran wrestlers back such as state qualifier, regional and Cloverbelt Conference champion senior Bret Kostka, sectional qualifier and junior Luke Fischer and sophomore Isaiah Waggoner who was a regional runner-up. Also back is junior Bo Prudlick.

Kostka will be out of the line-up while recovering from an injury.

The team's newcomers will be important to fill the line-up.

"We're at a point where we have wrestlers who can fill most of the lower and upper weights," Schulte said. "Where we will have a void is right in the middle weights."

Schulte's long-term goal is to get enough wrestlers from the different schools to not only create a bigger team but able to have matches at all three schools.

"That would be ideal to be able to have dual meets at all the schools to promote it and create a stronger program which covers the whole region."

The Dragons finished 6-10 overall in dual meets and fifth in the Cloverbelt Conference and regional meets last season.

"The kids know me well enough where we have a continuity in our routine and how we practice and train," Schulte said. "They know what's expected from them and that's allowed us to get to work right away and get ready for the season."