Waukon wrestling team returns six letterwinners for 2016-2017

The 2016-2017 Waukon wrestling team will benefit from the return of six varsity letterwinners from a squad that finished with a 7-16 season record last winter. Half of those returning letterwinners will be from this year’s senior class, which features five seniors who return with this season’s most experience. This year’s senior group includes Nathan Benzing, Chance Cota, Andrew Dickson, Kyle Gordon and Blain Swenson.

“Another great group of senior leadership,” fourth-year Waukon head wrestling coach Matt Pladsen said of his five veteran upperclassmen. “They come to the wrestling room every day and work hard and encourage and push the underclassmen. This group of seniors, in my mind, will go on in their future endeavors to be great individuals.”

“We hope to see all wrestling fans, along with the student body, at the meets this year,” Coach Pladsen said. “Once again, I’m excited for the season to get underway. It’s always a privilege to coach these young individuals but also have the best seat in the gym - matside. I’m proud of each and every one of them. I hope to see everyone there.”

The Indians are scheduled to get their 2016 season underway with a very busy initial week of competition this week. The Tribe was scheduled to open its season Tuesday, November 29 at Postville against the host Pirates, Oelwein and Nashua-Plainfield before doing likewise at Riceville Thursday, December 1 against the host Wildcats, Clayton Ridge and South Winneshiek. The Indian matmen will then compete in the Wapsie Valley Tournament Saturday, December 3 before hosting another multi-team dual Thursday, December 8 with New Hampton and Oelwein, the mat Tribe’s first Northeast Iowa Conference action of this season.

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