Waukon grapplers finish with 9-7 mark, will be experienced squad next winter

Success came on both the team and individual level as the Tribe posted a 9-7 dual record overall and advanced a pair of grapplers to the state tournament.

Coach Greg Adams is glad to see his charges moving ahead. “I’m very proud of the guys and what they have accomplished. There’s a lot of excitement within our program right now. There’s a lot of anticipation for a great season next year,” he said.

A quick look back at the recent season shows why the Indians are confident in a good showing next winter.

The Indians will return all 14 members of the varsity lineup as well as three state qualifiers and four athletes with district tournament experience.

As a squad, the Indians swept the Sumner Invitational field for championship honors. Waukon also posted a pivotal Northeast Iowa Conference win over Charles City to move up to fifth in the dual standings.

Despite having no seniors in the lineup, Adams is not worried about filling leadership roles. The junior class has already taken over the reigns in the wrestling room. “I’m very proud of the way the junior class assumed leadership roles,” the coach mentioned. “I’m equally proud of how the freshmen and sophomores followed that lead. These guys accepted ownership for their own success and the success of the team.

“This junior class has taken a lot of knocks as freshmen and they quickly decided to commit to improving. They understand and participate in the offseason work,” Adams added.

Statistically, each category was paced by the efforts of a junior wrestler.

Junior Andrew Schulte recorded the Indians’ only 30-win season. A state qualifier at 119 pounds, Schulte also led Waukon with 135 team points and 16 two-point nearfalls and tied the school record with three wins by technical fall. He was second on the squad with 63 takedowns, 10 wins by decision, six major decisions, 32 escapes, and 17 three-point nearfalls.

Schulte claimed individual championship rights at the South Winn, Starmont, and Sumner tournaments.

Waukon’s lone state placewinner, junior Stephen Swart was another statistical leader. Not only did Swart lead with a fifth place medal at 189 pounds, he paced his squad with 64 takedowns, 12 decisions, and 43 escapes. He recorded 25 wins in the season despite missing several matches due to illness. He still managed tournament wins at the Dan Gable Invitational and districts.

Since Schulte and Swart were the only Indians to advance to state this winter, it would be easy to focus on the pair’s individual accomplishments. Adams says, however, that those two had help getting to Des Moines. “It was very exciting to see both Andrew and Stephen wrestle at state and they did a nice job. But, they were representing our program, not just themselves. They represented everybody in our wrestling room. Practice partners, coaches, parents, everybody shares in their achievements.”

Fellow juniors Mason Berns, Nathan Jones, and Derek Wicks also experienced 20-win seasons while earning their third varsity letter with the Tribe. Junior Kale McCormick also passed the 20-win mark to earn his second letter.

Berns recorded 26 victories this winter and led Waukon with 18 reversals and a school record nine major decisions. He was second on the team with wins, 14 falls, 14 two-point nearfalls, and 132 team points. A state qualifier a year earlier, Berns gives the Tribe a third wrestler with mat experience in Des Moines. He won the 145-pound division at the Starmont and Sumner tournaments.

Wicks, individual champion at 152 pounds at the Sumner Invitational, was fourth on the team with 23 wins. He led the team with 19 three-point nearfalls and was fourth with 122 team points.

Jones missed part of the season with an injury, but showed great improvement to finish the season with 20 wins. He was an individual champion at Sumner.

The 215-pound division was quite competitive not only in the NEIC, but in the entire corner of the state, but that didn’t stop McCormick from posting 21 wins. He advanced to the district tournament and paced the Indians with 17 pins. He was third on the squad with 123 team points.

Junior Ryan Berns joined the Indians in January after transferring into the district. He earned 12 of his 13 wins by pinning his opponent and will likely post some solid numbers when he competes for an entire season.

As a class, the juniors are moving high into the career ranks. Schulte is sixth with 87 career wins and and 10th with a winning percentage of 78. Mason Berns is eighth all-time with 81 wins while Swart and Wicks are tied for 17th with 62 wins each.

A trio of sophomores earned letters this winter, too, as Adams added that the class as a whole showed great improvement. Luke Jones grabbed his second award while Sean Rea and Matt Tobin earned their first varsity letter.

Rea finished with 19 wins and Jones and Tobin showed continued improvement throughout the season.

Earning varsity spots during their freshman season were Joe Hilleshiem, Nick Howe, and Matt McMillan.

“Varsity can be a hard place to compete as a freshman,” the coach stated. “But these guys never complained. The wins and losses will take care of themselves in the end.”

Adams knows many people contributed to the success of the Indians this winter. He pointed out that wrestling club members Ken and Shirley O’Hara, Deb McGeough, Scott and Karen Ness, Chad and Diana Ness, Greg Berns, Keith and Margaret Burrett, and members of the wrestling staff are vital parts of the season. He also thanks parents for their commitment to the program and instilling that commitment into their kids.

Adams also mentioned the efforts of all the coaches within the program. Youth coaches were Chad Ness, Scott Ness, Joe Welsh, Jack Regan, Brad Decker, Greg Berns, Dave Dougherty, and Keith Burrett. Junior high coaches are Don Thies and Tim Bulman. Varsity assistant coaches were Leon Mindham, Travis Donahue, and Corey Connor.

He also appreciates the help of the cheerleaders, and managers Nicole Denk, Tara Meyer, Leah Schellhammer, and Kayla Frye.

“I want to say thank you to the managers for the years they’ve given to the program. Their work often goes unnoticed, but it is very much appreciated,” the coach added.

In order for the Tribe to expand their success next year, Adams knows his team will have to be willing to put in offseason work. “To take our program to the next level, we must put ourselves in position to do well,” he explained. “We have to hit the weights four times a week and wrestle freestyle during the spring.”

Adams added that the freestyle season goes through April and Waukon wrestlers can compete with the Norse Freestyle Club from Luther College or the Mississippi Valley Freestyle Club based in Monona.

“Freestyle wrestling improves your ability to score takedowns and become more explosive. You also learn different moves and ways to score from different positions and situations,” Adams mentioned.

“It’s obvious that anybody who plans on wrestling at the state tournament must be willing to commit the time to getting better. The wrestlers that area taking the time to make themselves better in the offseason are wrestling at state. You need to earn the right to be a champion,” the coach added.

Other offseason opportunities include a team camp this summer as well as open wrestling room in June and Wednesday morning sessions once school starts next fall.