The Dragon wrestling team boasts 12 competitors, most in their first year. The full squad for the 2014-15 season includes Tim Zamora, Joe Zamora, Steven Walker, Jeffrey Breaker, Dakota Steinke, Tommy Fischer, Trevor Fischer; (back) Zach Zamora, Kyle Gjerseth, Dayne Myers, Brad Ritger, Andrew Fenner, coaches Donnie Kuehn, Jim Henke.

Dragons work hard despite gaps

Wrestling co-op heads into season with big shoes to fill
“We definitely have some open spots, so hopefully we can continue to work. We’ll see what happens, but we’re going to go out and compete and work hard.” - Dragons Head Coach Don Kuehn

by Bridget Cooke

Losing three formidable athletes is a hard task for anyone to endure the following season, but in the sport of wrestling it can be even more difficult if there are not enough competitors to fill spots, leaving the team vulnerable to lower place finishes.

The co-op team between Osseo-Fairchild, Augusta and Fall Creek is dealing with just that in their 2014-15 season after having three tough wrestlers from their team graduate and go on to compete at the college level. Tyler Henke, who exceeded 40 wins and was able to compete at the state tournament, pulled the dragons to their highest level of competition in the past two decades. He has now gone on to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire alongside his Augusta teammate Alex Knutson, who also bolstered the team with more than 30 wins. Jeremy Peterson went on to Platteville after making his own mark with over 30 wins himself.

Head Coach Don Kuehn said he is happy to see them continue their careers in the sport after leaving high school.

“They’re going to continue their education and wrestling, so that’s pretty neat,” he said, noting the importance of continuing on despite their absence. “We definitely have some open spots, so hopefully we can continue to work. We’ll see what happens, but we’re going to go out and compete and work hard.”

Specifically, he said health is another factor. Because of their numbers and giving up weight classes during duels, if someone falls ill it can become an even more noticeable problem. Given the smaller size of their wrestlers this season with less of the upper weight classes being filled, the team is hoping to make their mark in as many slots as they can.

However, the coach is looking forward to seeing younger competitors step up not only physically, but mentally as well.

“This is a good group of kids,” Kuehn said. “They’re willing to go out and be a wrestler. Some guys aren’t mentally tough [enough] to do that, and these guys do. I’m looking forward to see how they progress through the season.”

Notable leaders for this year are senior Brad Ritger, junior Dakota Steinke and sophomore JJ Breaker. Kuehn said he looks to the returning junior to be a force to count on after his last year finish as a regional champion, and is a hopeful to continue into sectionals this season. Breaker is another wrestler to look to as a young competitor who may have gone further if he had not been cut short in his season with an arm injury during regionals. Ritger, a senior with 20 wins last season, is also a leader the team looks to for results.

“They hold each other accountable,” Kuehn said. “They know what I expect and when they come down here, they work hard. I’m happy with where they are now, but we’ve got work to do.”

The more veteran wrestlers noticed the potential of the team, despite an obstacle of a building year with a young team, and not even a full team with six open spots during duels with no one to fill.

“We’re a young team, but I can see the improvement already,” Breaker said.

Teammate Ritger added that the next few years will bring about a strong team, but for now they have to deal with the smaller numbers. So far, the team has had the chance to see action at the mat, most recently at the North High School Husky Invite on Saturday, Dec. 13 to take on 20 different teams. With half of the squad filled in with the junior varsity and the other on the varsity team, Kuehn said it was a good learning tournament for his team, especially as a gauge for his wrestlers to make note of where they are and what they need to work on to meet their goals.

A main and healthy goal Kuehn mentioned was being able to return to the state tournament. 

“Once you get there, that’s always your goal, whether you’re a wrestler or a coach,” he said. “Because of, not only what it takes to get there, but once you’re there, just that environment and to know you achieved that. [The team] saw through him what it takes to get there.”

The three share individual goals of achieving 30 wins, or possibly over 35, make it to the state tournament and becoming conference champions. Steinke noted his biggest obstacle is following through with more takedowns. 

“As leaders, I think our first time in leadership, taking that on and help in being able to bring up the underclassmen and enjoy wrestling,” Ritger said of the challenges ahead.

Teamwork can sometimes clash with working on individual goals, Breaker observed, though all three agreed the team is a close collaboration. The leaders, one of the three each representing a different school from the makeup of their cooperative squad, highlighted their connection as teammates.

“Even though we’re from different schools, we’re pretty close,” Steinke said. “We’re like a family.”

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In September 2013, Cooke was hired as the editor of both the Augusta Area Times and the Tri-County News. She can be reached via ateditor@media-md.net or (715) 597-3313. Follow us on Twitter or check out our Facebook page for more updates!

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