#75 - Fennimore Wrestling State Champion - Tristan Steldt

Tristan Steldt, State Champion and All-American wrestler, who joins us to share his journey in the world of wrestling. His tale starts in the heartland of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, and weaves through his childhood experiences filled with familial competitiveness and early wrestling tournaments, right up to his current ambitions. Tristan’s narrative is a testament to his passion for wrestling, his unwavering dedication, and the significant growth he’s experienced throughout his journey in the sport.

We touch on Tristan’s early years; playing every sport imaginable before discovering his love for wrestling, thanks to his father's influence. The competition within his family, his favorite wrestling shoes, and even his plans for the next duck hunt. As Tristan recounts his high school wrestling journey, you'll get insight into unique team-building experiences, and the mentality that drove his team to aim for multiple state championships.

The final leg of Tristan's journey offers a look into his wrestling season, his fourth-place finish at the Cheesehead tournament, and his college plans. Listen as he discusses his team's chances of moving up to Division 2 and his expectations for the upcoming year. As we walk away from this episode, we feel as though we've been given a front-row seat into Tristan's world. Join us as we look forward to catching up with him at the end of the season, in an episode filled with heart, determination, and invaluable wrestling insights.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:34

xylophone playing.

Speaker 2: 1:56

We have, we have, we have made it. We made it early this time. I want to make that clear. We, we're two minutes early, teague, so if you are on here watching, we're early. No, no, sweat off my shoulders and sac right there, that's for sure. So, hey, man, we are joined. We have a great guest. We I'm very excited to have you on. We have stay champ Bargual, american. Tristan stelt. Dude, how you doing man? How's found a more treating you this year?

Speaker 3: 2:23

Um, it's been good. Um, yeah, getting getting geared up. As always around this time of year, it's always fun. Um yeah yeah, the, the football players are getting in the wrestling mode and everyone's kind of getting in wrestling mode. So, yeah, again so, and a community like ours that's really small. It's like Everyone's all all ready to go and yeah.

Speaker 2: 2:43

That's awesome. Well, I I'm excited to watch you guys. I know you guys still have a pretty stacked lineup coming back and you guys even have some young guys that are. They're pretty good. We were kind of talking about some of that last night. Um, well, they, we're here to talk about you, right? We? We talked about Everything from the beginning to now. So we'll, let's let's kind of dig in a little bit. I know you guys I mean obviously some of you younger guys we're not going to have a two hour show unless you just have all these stories to pull out of your Pocket from everything and you tell all the stories you want about whoever you want. But I want to start where you started. Where were you born? In fenimore, is that your hometown? Were you born and raised? Where did you start?

Speaker 3: 3:21

Um, no, so, um, very um early in my life I was kind of we were my parents were trying to kind of figure out a place that were they were going to settle down and, um, I started coaching career and what not, and that place ended up actually being Ellsworth, wisconsin. Okay, so when I was very young I think Ever since kidding garden to probably I want to say that I left in second grade, I was there, um, I think we lived, lived there for seven years. So, okay, my child's up up to second grade and um, it was, it was awesome. I think that Ellsworth was, I mean, at the time was probably one of the best teams in the state, for sure, I think uh yeah my, my dad took it over.

Speaker 3: 4:07

And 2012, I think they won the state title pretty handily. And d2 yeah, um, before that, jack ratiball had a very good program up there. So, yeah, on a wrestling standpoint, um yeah, it was worth at the time was honestly the place to be, so it was. It was great for a kid.

Speaker 2: 4:23

So I heard, I heard rumors about Ellsworth. You know, because we took I remember we took Liam out to um A tournament out there. You turn him back when he was little and I heard all this, you know talk about Ellsworth and you walk in there because I didn't know. Like I mean, now it's not something you hear a lot about, but like then you go into the school and you see all the awards You're like oh, oh, okay, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, it is a real deal. So I mean, where, where were your beginnings? Did you start wrestling when you were in Ellsworth? Is that like, how did that all roll out for you? When did when did sports in general start for?

Speaker 3: 4:54

you, yeah. So when I was very young, my dad had me in probably every sport that you could imagine. Um, I was t-ball football, flake football. Yeah wrestling soccer I was, I was doing it all and um, that's awesome. I remember. I think I would wrestle like literally Maybe six matches all year when I was yeah, my dad would send me out there and, uh, shorts and a t-shirt Um, my t-shirt was all ripped up.

Speaker 3: 5:21

I just was out there having fun with my buddies and um, so really the only exposure I ever had to the sport when I was really young, Like around the four or five age, was just my dad bringing me into the wrestling room with the high school guys and just watching them and Um, kind of giving me that though, that that idol or that role model and sure wanted to do when I was older. So I think, um, with my wrestling and Ellsworth, it was all just um, kind of falling in love with the sport and um, and just being around great people.

Speaker 2: 6:01

I think so with your dad, though. I mean with him being coaching and obviously into athletics. Did you feel like you were at any point? Where was it like well, no, this is too much Like I don't want to wrestle. Did you think you didn't want to wrestle at any point?

Speaker 3: 6:19

No, I think that's awesome. I'll have to say when the wrestlers that my dad had up there when I was very young were very special. I'm in Jen's lawns, oh yeah, runs victory now. I think he was ranked third in the country. Yeah, and Ellsworth there's plenty of other guys low on camera Yep, tristan Mueller I can go on Like. There's just so many guys that were just really good, yeah, and it was just cool to see them always compete and wrestle and just in the practice room. Being a young kid, I think that's if you really want to love wrestling, I think that's honestly the best way.

Speaker 2: 7:03

You were surrounded definitely surrounded by some dudes that loved wrestling.

Speaker 3: 7:07

Yeah, that's for sure.

Speaker 2: 7:08

So, knowing that you came up in that, was it then hard for you to maybe want to do other sports? Because Liam got like we tried to get him in soccer baseball. He's like I'm missing wrestling practice so I don't even want to be here right now.

Speaker 3: 7:22

Yeah, for a number of years my dad was always questioning well, he would always tell me he said, tristan, just because I was a wrestler doesn't mean you have to be a wrestler. And so I played baseball. I played football. Up until just last year I was the quarterback on my varsity team, nice, and I did a bunch of sports. But I knew at the end of the day that I really wanted. I told my dad all the time I said I wanted to be a division one wrestler, and so at some point you kind of just devote yourself to that. So I think, with what I really wanted, I think other sports are fun, like I just thought that, well, baseball might be more enjoyable than wrestling at some points, but I think that it's a love for a sport that, at the end of the day, really really is what I want.

Speaker 2: 8:13

And wrestling takes you to some pretty special places, not only just where you go to, but I mean just the people that you're surrounded by, in the environment that you get to be around. When you're around a tight team, things like that. I find it as much as I sucked at it when I was in high school and so that's why soccer was my gig, but wrestling was different. Like, even though I was only on that team, I was that high school guy. I was dedicated to soccer but I was in wrestling during the season but it was a tight team and so, knowing that, you kind of came up in that environment.

Speaker 2: 8:46

Where were your parents? We already know your parents were supportive. We know that the support group was there, so we know there wasn't any real weirdness. I guess, as far as I would be concerned as a parent, your dad knew what he was doing. He was a coach. So you grew up with some great guys around. Did you feel pressure when you were younger? I mean, right now it's a little different. Obviously your dad's in the background helping a little bit, but kind of keeping the distance. We were doing the same thing, but just as you're little, were there any kind of instances or no?

Speaker 3: 9:19

There was never any pressure to achieve anything in the sort of wrestling or even really to go out for wrestling. I think my dad really left it up for me and what I wanted to do and what I loved. And I mean probably there's probably something to say with my dad being a Division 1 wrestler at Wisconsin and then a coach. I mean it's probably bound to happen that the sun's going to fall in love with the same sport that he did.

Speaker 2: 9:46

You hope, you hope, yep.

Speaker 3: 9:47

But yeah, I know I might be something in our blood or something I don't know, I just think it is.

Speaker 2: 9:52

I think it is because, well, let's look at your uncle, yeah, let's talk about that. Well, that's a little bit of a Greco dude, but so, with that being said, so we've created that. We know the foundation you have. As you were growing up in wrestling, as you started to, let's say, getting into grade school, what were some of the more notable moments for you as just a type, a little guy that you can remember, whether it was winning one big match or a tournament, what was something that really stuck out in your mind from being little?

Speaker 3: 10:27

Well, ever since I was young, I've always been competitive in everything I've ever did. I've always been that one guy that takes gym class maybe a little bit too seriously. I may be the one kid that says something that they might regret later, but it's just in the heat of the moment. They're just being competitive. I think out of any sport I think wrestling, and even at a young age wrestling there's nothing more competitive than wrestling, than trying to take another guy down the same way as you. It's like a meaning of cardio and strength. It's really, I think, the most competitive sport out there when it comes to your individual self. So I mean, I think that's honestly probably one of the biggest reasons why I chose wrestling is just because I was just so competitive. I just loved competing and I also love the art of wrestling. I think it's always fun to go roll around and work Hands down.

Speaker 2: 11:23

In art, that's for sure Hands down. So what was the biggest moment from when you were a?

Speaker 3: 11:30

kid. Honestly, there's not really a specific moment that I was like yeah, this is it. I think it's more just to build up over time. I, I remember, um, when I was young, I I Think I was in like first or second grade yeah, you're still out on YouTube I was wrestling at my first freestyle and Greco tournament ever okay, I. Never done any Greco practice. I never done it really, any freestyle practice. My dad just signed me up, yeah, and I I remember I hit this like this insane head throw.

Speaker 3: 12:09

Yeah points and I remember I was like and I ended up actually losing the match like 18 to 17. Yeah, it was a wild match.

Speaker 2: 12:18

Oh man yeah.

Speaker 3: 12:20

I remember after that, um, I Think picking up and slamming, like the kid was like I think that was a moment and, yeah, I was like, okay, yeah, that's, that's something I want to do.

Speaker 2: 12:32

When you break someone's will there's.

Speaker 2: 12:33

It's interesting because I mean, I don't think I I'm, I beat it, I broke his asthma attack, I made him have an asthma attack but I didn't break anybody's will really.

Speaker 2: 12:42

So watching it as as you're coaching, and watching you guys, especially you know, now that we've seen so many of you guys grow at least I have from little to now and Watching you guys progress and then watching some of these guys that you beat and just watching them after the match, like in I can remember when you guys were like you were saying like you know, there's not a lot that sticks out, but there are wins and losses and, like now, you guys Dominate so much against some of these guys. It's it's great to see that, that impact that you guys have had in the sport but also that it's had on you, you know, and just to watch the growth. So as you started to get you know you're getting through grade school, you're coming up in the middle school is middle school and you notice you're getting you know a little more advanced than the average Joe, right, like you kind of felt like you had something going on.

Speaker 2: 13:29

So tell us a little bit about that. Where were you? Where are you going? What kind of tournaments for you yet?

Speaker 3: 13:33

Yeah, for sure. Um. So in the the Performing middle school I was never that good. I was like I was.

Speaker 3: 13:41

I was kind of better than, like, the local kids. I was like the local tournament, yeah, I would never. I would never do anything. I would always go to like, dominate the Delos and get beat out. I would always go to other planes, get beat out.

Speaker 3: 13:53

So, um, I think it was my I want to say this my seventh grade year. I, sixth grade year I was, I was kind of turned it on, I was kind of coming into my own a little bit. But, yeah, seventh grade year my dad would take me up to high school practices. Okay, yeah, I'd wrestle like two middle school practices down with the middle school team, I'd wrestle with the high school kids, sure, and so I did that for the whole entire season until actually middle school season was done. That I just wrestled full-time high school. So I was okay.

Speaker 3: 14:21

I was pretty much, uh, wrestling a lot with the high school team, wow, nice. And I Think when I started doing that I started realizing how good I could be, because I this the Intensity that the high school goes through, and going through that as a seventh grader You're gonna see a lot of gains. So, um, I Think my seventh grade year that's when I started placing at the more national tournaments. I think I got second at dominate the Delos. Yeah, I Got second at preseason nationals and so things kind of started really turning on for me.

Speaker 2: 14:57

And then my eighth grade years is really when I started kind of doing some bigger stuff with sure Rankings and then just Just the bigger national tournaments so it's it's interesting because, obviously, your dad you know he was a wrestler and knowing that he came from you know Such a wrestling program as Wisconsin and having to be able to make it there, you know, and be able to be on the team and maintain so it's it's interesting.

Speaker 2: 15:25

You see, a lot of the higher Level guys that have kids that you know they they competed at a higher level. Like he wasn't saying you got to go here, we got to go here, we got to get you here, we got. He obviously understood the pace of practice, right, that, how, how much that matters, did you? Did you find that, as far as A kid where you saw all your friends kind of going to these tournaments possibly, and you're like, oh, I want to go to that tournament, was he like, all right, we'll send you with those guys who's like, no, just kind of hold on, you're fine, we're doing what we're doing here, kind of thing.

Speaker 3: 15:56

Yeah, so, um, usually when I was young before middle school, he was a lot like very like more practice than okay right now. Yeah, I Think, when you're, I don't like I he's always had a very bad Taste in his mouth when he sees like really young kids like competing like 50 to 60 matches and like Span of like four to five months, right, it's like it burns the kid out. Yeah, I think, uh, how, when my dad raised me and how we, we kind of progressed, it's like now like honestly, as a junior in high school, this is when I'm starting to like get like 100 150 matches in a year and.

Speaker 3: 16:36

Like really starting to pound the competition and yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:40

Yeah, test yourself. Yeah, yeah, so.

Speaker 3: 16:42

I think, uh, and even building up the middle school I obviously did more tournaments, but I don't think it was ever more so like competition over practice. I think it was practice over competition, okay, okay, and tell about high school and then, once you hit about 16 years old, then it's, then it's like okay, now we have to, we have to turn it up a bit.

Speaker 2: 17:00

Yeah, it makes sense, I mean, obviously, and it pays dividends when you kind of take your time, like I remember we made them. It was mainly because of covet, but we made them not that we started hitting tournaments. I mean, I made the mistake of starting to take them to a bunch because they're like what are they going to be back? We don't know.

Speaker 2: 17:14

Yeah we're gonna have tournaments again, you know. But, um, I think a lot of what we you know, what we did was it was just to go out and get the competition. It wasn't. It wasn't. We always heard, because we surrounded ourselves with some pretty decent people in wrestling and obviously you guys were as well. It's it's quality over quantity, right? I mean you're, you're looking for the competition to push you.

Speaker 2: 17:33

So as you got to those competitions, did you? Did you find that that you're like, oh yeah, this practice pays off. And then you wind up taking it to the room and I mean, look at Fennimore itself. You guys. I mean You're, you're doing all right. So there's definitely nothing to like shrug about with what you guys are going on. Do you see that kind of echoed in the room too, as you guys practice from year to year and everybody kind of understands that, you know, obviously, state matters. That's the part that matters, right? The rest of them, the duals to me anyways, that's the practice part. For the end, coaches care about the duals, don't get me wrong, but Ultimately you're going through those rankings and all those duals to get to the end, right? Um, was there, was there every time, a time when you guys were, uh, you know, as a, as a family, like kind of thinking. Maybe you know your dad didn't want to kind of Push you too much, like, hey, if you don't want to do something like this, like you had, you had some injuries, correct?

Speaker 3: 18:30

Yeah, you're actually torn my ACL, so I was yes, that's right, that's right.

Speaker 2: 18:33

So what was that like?

Speaker 3: 18:36

The injury.

Speaker 2: 18:36

Yes, I mean what happened absolute nightmare.

Speaker 3: 18:39

I think it's well. I mean like, but the surgery and the recovery and everything was perfect. I think just mentally, it just wears on you when, um, you're, you're Biting at the bit to get back on the mat and you're like, you're telling you, like six months, and like, oh my gosh, that's yeah, here, and you got high school coming up, it's like, yeah.

Speaker 3: 19:01

So I, my dad, had to tell me multiple times like, take it slow and do it, yeah, and um, I think I ended up coming back, actually a little bit early, from the ninth nine month mark, I think, because I came back for, uh, two weeks before regionals, I think okay. So, um, I, uh, I kind of I did really good with my recovery and was able to fully come back around that time and then, um, I was good to go for regionals. Obviously I didn't feel like I was really, um, I don't think I was where I needed to be in order to maybe run with, like Gavin Drexler or something like that, or right, compete for that number one spot in the state. Um, yeah, but uh, I don't think. I think going through that and the adversity that had to come with having an injury like that and then coming back, and it really helped me mentally, mentally strengthened me and um, you know, I think, looking back and I wouldn't change anything.

Speaker 2: 20:05

So yeah, well, and then on top of that again, your dad having the knowledge that he has and, yeah, just the background that he has is enormous. So it's, it goes hand in hand, I guess, with the, with the success you wound up having, I mean, obviously, your sophomore year, hello, winning the state championship. So, yeah, I think you know, and I think a lot of people think, had freshman you're not been dealing with. You know, coming back from an injury. You probably would have to. You know, like that's to me, though, the type of wrestler that you are, and watching some of the matches that you've had, I can't see. I mean, obviously there's tough guys. He had some tough guys in the weight bracket, there's Leans looking at the same thing, you know, sir, but I think you would have been a very, very close contender. So, did you have you had what was your freshman year? You still had Zane. You, what weight did you wrestle at your freshman year?

Speaker 3: 20:51

So I went down to 138, my fresh that's right, yeah, yeah. Um, I lost. I lost to Taryn Riley in the semis. Um, yeah, I take my butt. That night had a bad night. It was like 13 to one or something. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 21:06

I've wrestled him like three times my freshman year and all three of them were regional sectionals are no sorry, conference are sectionals then state, and he beat me every time. I remember the first time I wrestled in the conference was like six zero. Then he beat me all the time and then I kind of fell apart at state.

Speaker 2: 21:24

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 21:24

I think the the atmosphere of um of it all kind of got to me a little bit. That's how much.

Speaker 2: 21:30

So let's talk about that for a minute, because you know Liam last year having his first year, and you know there's the pressures of here. I mean, you guys have been to national tournaments, you know You've you've been in the big arenas but it leaves like it's way different, like yeah.

Speaker 3: 21:43

Oh yeah, for sure so much louder.

Speaker 2: 21:45

Down there he goes and you know the people are watching your match because you can tell who they're talking. You know you can tell the Yona, but also just the enormity of it all. Right, like it's, it's a huge coliseum. So, with with the type of pressure that comes with that, were you ever in a moment, like you said, you kind of broke down or you know as far as that match goes, but where did you? Was it something that only hit you in that match? Or were you also kind of jittering these other matches too, and you just kind of you got it done no matter what, but you always have those everybody's got you know Some type of butterflies before they start a match. But man, that's a big place, yeah I.

Speaker 3: 22:20

I think honestly that my freshman year I kind of did it myself. I psyched myself out, sure, sure, just with. As a young kid you're always Thinking of well, I want to be in the state finals and I wanted to be in March, and, um, when you're 14, 15 years old, you're I mean, it's like, you're like, okay, this is my time, this is it. Yeah, it really it's kind of you're thinking about it in the wrong way. Rather than Trying to do things within the match, you're thinking about the crowd and, yeah, how loud it is. And, right, I had warming up too much.

Speaker 3: 22:55

I had slow feet Um. My feet were stuck in the mud. My dad, my dad always told me so yeah. Um, yeah, just a bad night. But um, I'm glad that I was, that I was put in that position as a freshman, because it just made it that much more comfortable when I was a sophomore.

Speaker 2: 23:10

So Totally, I totally get it. So let's, let's get off the map for a minute. Do you hunt? Are you a hunter?

Speaker 3: 23:17

Yes, big time.

Speaker 2: 23:18

So I can. I ask that because I know. But as far as, as far as with what you hunt, are you strictly deer hunting? Is that all you hunt?

Speaker 3: 23:27

Oh no, we do a lot of bow hunting and then, um, okay, we're really, me and my dad are really big duck hunters.

Speaker 2: 23:33

So oh, Was there some kind of a comment that uh lucas made about the decoy decoys?

Speaker 3: 23:42

Yeah, he calls me. He thinks I shoot all of his decoys. I think I think he might be losing a lot of times. I think he might, he might be the one shooting them.

Speaker 2: 23:51

So let's, let's talk about that guy for a second. Having that for an uncle around, that's that, um, that, obviously we have him on here and he likes to harass Kids that wrestle in high school, when they're slowly trying to wrestle greco. So what has he ever tried in this lucas I hope you're paying attention this has he ever tried to pressure you over to the dark side of of greco, like, come over here, it's fun over here. No, no.

Speaker 3: 24:13

I think he's uh, he's definitely identified what my goal is within the sport and um, I think With this past discussions that mean are my dad and him have had, I think they have a pretty good understanding for what each other, what each person's, try to accomplish. Yeah, so it's almost just like he's kind of doing his thing, we're kind of doing our thing, you know, and we don't we don't step on each other's toes about anything and um, what what he's doing is, um, he just really loves greco. That's he does, and it's always said about lucas. He just loves picking and picking up guys and to slam them down. They're on him. No, that's his love.

Speaker 2: 24:49

So that's right.

Speaker 3: 24:51

So that's he loves doing and that's what he, he, uh, he, he specializes in, and we specialize in shooting, shooting out legs.

Speaker 2: 24:59

So let's let these guys in on some trade secrets to you. What? What's your favorite food right now? What do you got going on? That's your favorite, especially when you're coming into the season. What's your favorite thing to eat?

Speaker 3: 25:09

Like uh, are you talking like post way in or like um?

Speaker 2: 25:13

you any post and and pre? What are you just doing? Are you just drinking water and like an energy bar?

Speaker 3: 25:20

Um, I'll have to say if I'm on a diet, like if I'm getting down to some weight. Yeah definitely smoked salmon. You can't beat it. I think I went down to 157 for uh, super 32, which was a pretty good cup for me. Yeah, yeah, I think I think for like five to six days straight, all three meals, I just had broccoli and smoked salmon. Yeah it's crazy. I was. Like running to the store constantly and just getting smoked salmon mountain dew.

Speaker 2: 25:48

That is trade up mountain dew.

Speaker 3: 25:50

That's not a fan of mountain dew, that's awesome. That's you. He would not be happy with me if he saw me drink a mountain dew.

Speaker 2: 25:58

Not so much. So I know that there are some wrestlers I won't name names, so I'll make a big generalization that they sometimes carry like some guys like Liam's got a debit card, right. Some of you guys are we're trying to help you with finances, so you guys have debit cards. There are some kids who don't use a debit card. They use cash To buy food at the gas station. So parents don't know, and I know you're not gonna say, but it's gotta be pretty common, right. Some guys like I'll be a candy bar.

Speaker 3: 26:24

I'll be. There's been times where I've took in transactions out at quick trip. My mom's been like what are you spending 12 dollars on at quick trip?

Speaker 2: 26:32

Like, don't worry about it breadsticks and all kinds of candy. So with uh, with that, with the season coming up in and, like I said, usually these you and I are not gonna be talking for an hour and a half because you're a junior in high school, right? You only, you only have so much. But at the same time, though, too, I also want to know what are your favorite type of wrestling shoes.

Speaker 3: 26:55

Oh, um Dang well, I've always really wanted a pair of Roulons. I think those are really cool.

Speaker 2: 27:04

They are pretty sick.

Speaker 3: 27:06

My dad used to have a pair of aggressor wands and I think those are pretty awesome, but as shoes that I have, I probably have to go with the N-flix right now. I just really like the feel of them.

Speaker 2: 27:17

They look pretty smooth. You know they're pretty nice. So where are your plans to go for the next duck hunt? Did you duck hunt this year?

Speaker 3: 27:27

Yeah, I've been, yeah, basically any free time on the weekend we go, so we hunt a lot over by the Mississippi River. Yeah, lucky, yeah, it's awesome. It's like 45 minutes away. We have a cabin along the river. Yeah, we spend a lot of time at, so it's kind of our outlet so to speak.

Speaker 2: 27:47

I wish I was by the Mississippi. I mean, we have Lake Michigan over here, but we never really invested much. So we would go to the Horakon Marsh area, I mean, but it would get so flooded Like. I got to the point where I literally needed to find private land because I got so annoyed with how many guys are out because they're just Go season's insane, it's crazy, you know. And now, with all the birds everywhere, there are plenty of birds flying around, plenty of deer. So here's another question I have for you Is when you guys go to state and you guys are together, you know as a team, do you guys have any special things you do to kind of get each other ready for the upcoming duals, things like that team statewide, what kind of team things you guys do?

Speaker 3: 28:30

So while we always do lights out probably around 10, I'll get good night's sleep, but we're always keeping it light. It's really it's like probably until like two hours before the dual. It's kind of we're all screwing around just kind of having fun, right.

Speaker 2: 28:50

Yeah, lighting it up yeah.

Speaker 3: 28:51

Yeah, I think that's really important, because you're not thinking about the dual, you're not getting psyched out. For sure, for some of those freshmen, they kind of they've never experienced something like the barn before. I think the barn is, when it comes to atmosphere for wrestling, I think it's the best.

Speaker 2: 29:07

It's pretty special.

Speaker 3: 29:08

Yeah, it's pretty special. You don't really experience something like the barn. So we do that and we do. My dad will take us to a park.

Speaker 2: 29:20

Yeah, really.

Speaker 3: 29:22

Yeah, so Nice. Actually, when we're done with the first dual, we'll go to a park, we'll eat Jimmy John's, we'll go on a grass just getting away from the barn and everybody.

Speaker 2: 29:35

Yeah, wow. Well, that's a unique. I mean obviously again, because your dad is from that he understands where a lot of that is, where the pressures lie and how to kind of get rid of the pressures when you're with the team. These guys, you guys have, I don't know you're all types of message boards, things like that, and crazy commenting, and I know Liam tells me some funny stuff that goes on. What are some of the, I guess, team building things that you guys do together? Like what do you? You guys? Obviously there's a group of guys that may hang out, but do you guys get each other going? Do you guys have your own type of not message board, but just way to get each other going for the season and dual after dual, because I mean, it's what? 16, 17 events that you guys are going to together.

Speaker 3: 30:21

So yeah, no, I think when it comes to the state run, I think everybody, just our mentality is just, come hell or high water, we're in a win state, like it's just it's gonna happen. I think that's our mentality every year, regardless if we have the worst team in the state, regardless if we have the best team. To stay at our mentality every single year, we're gonna go dominate. And I think when it comes to that, I think everybody, you know, we do some stuff within like the group chat or whatever that's like, and in the wrestling room, really hard in the wrestling room during that time of year. I think I don't think there's really any high school that's going as hard as us during that time of year. I might be a little bit of bias, but we go pretty hard.

Speaker 3: 31:05

And I think by that time everybody's just so ready to go and mentally tuned and physically tuned that our mentality is just not what it can beat us, and I think-.

Speaker 2: 31:16

So watching you guys last year cause obviously you guys are over on one side, we're over on another side but just watching, like the enormity of the crowd that you guys have, like we still had a good crowd and don't get around to kind of a good crowd but like when you see that big sea of like yellow on the side and everybody's got that yellow on it, it was pretty exciting and added to the entire you know kind of ambiance of the room, you know and just.

Speaker 2: 31:40

But it was crazy Cause, like you said, you can't match that environment, you can't, there's nothing. So I remember as a kid I'm pretty sure I think it was they had, it was a state that they used to have in there. This is way back though we're talking. This is I think it was before I even knew how to wrestle, but it was even then like seeing and hearing about some of the stories from those like it was just as loud. So where were some of the more memorable moments of your last year? Besides, we're going to talk about the finals in a second but what were some of the more memorable moments for you last year, kind of leading up to your, you know, your state run?

Speaker 3: 32:15

You're saying so.

Speaker 2: 32:16

Any of the matches, anything that were you felt was like this is going to be a great year kind of thing. Obviously you feel that way in the beginning, but just little matches, little things here and there that did anything kind of. So you're like, yep, this is my year.

Speaker 3: 32:29

So you're talking on an individual level? Yep, Okay, I don't. I think I started. I mean, when I started out the year, I started out pretty strong. I had a bad match in the cliff keen. The final was actually against. He actually ended up winning Iowa State that year, but I beat a kid in the semis. That was pretty strong. They're pretty tough, he was also a state finalist in Iowa and I think being up, I went from 138 to 160, and I think being up was that three way classes or whatever.

Speaker 3: 33:06

Yeah yeah, I think I kind of grew into my own there and I felt really confident, that's good so yeah, going into into cheesehead, ended up fourth there and I beat some pretty good kids. I beat Willowey actually, very, very good Elusive and yeah yeah. So it was kind of it was, I was, we were just and as for the rest of the team, we were saw wrestling really good and we were doing well and everything was kind of falling into place for the season to be really special. I think it was.

Speaker 2: 33:40

So we'll, we'll touch. We'll touch here on your on your finals match. I did watch it and it was a. It was a really good match. I mean, I don't by no means do I think Hargrove right I believe it was Hargrove and Russell I not for a minute do I think he was a slouch, but it seemed like you kind of had the composure for the most of the match to just not necessarily I wouldn't say dominate, but beat him Like you were. Even when he was, even when he was putting offense on it. It looked like you still had you know your stuff together, which you did, and obviously you pulled you know the win out. So when you're, when you're wrestling in a match like that we talked about the environment and you hadn't been there the year before all these other matches culminating into this one match Tell us how that feels going up and just stepping on the line just before they blow the whistle.

Speaker 3: 34:27

Yeah, what do you feel and what are you thinking? It's? It's a thousand different emotions, but I think there's something, there's something to say. At that time, when I stepped on the mat, it was just, I forgot about it. I honestly blacked out. I don't remember anything. I don't remember. I don't remember shooting, I don't remember scoring, all I. I just blacked out. I was just, I think at the time I was just really focused on scoring and winning the match. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 34:53

I do remember the, the break we had in the middle of the match. No-transcript. His leg hurt, his knee or whatever. Yeah and then my, my dad was During that time. My dad was like all right now. Now you're gonna have to turn it off now. Yep.

Speaker 3: 35:10

He's gonna come back. You're, you better be right, right, right, um, I think that. And then, uh, just all the work that was put into it, right, and then, um, it all kind of pays off and I think, uh, for the type of season we go through, and kind of, um, not to say that fenimore is Different than anybody else, but kind of we have that target on our back and you do, kind of being on top, it just feels really good to win. I think, um, it it was not personal, but it was I took it personal.

Speaker 2: 35:46

So you know there's, there's a good handful of teams that are in the state that have that. It's not I wouldn't say it's just one from each division. There's probably a good, you know two or three teams, possibly per division, and obviously you guys are one of them. You know, you have, you have us, you have you guys. You have luxembourg cascos, another one, you have holmans, another one. That's always got, you know, a target on their back because they consistently come through every year.

Speaker 2: 36:08

Um, with, with the consistency that you guys have had, are and I don't think the pressure is necessarily it is on you guys. Obviously I mean you as a team, you guys want to win things like that. But as far as, as far as any expectations, you guys have a great crowd assembly. I mean those guys, like I said at state, was just they were rocking it. So, with that being said, the, the support system in the community is great. Has there ever been a time where, um, you kind of sit back and think of man, I don't know, I'm maybe want to stay in wisconsin like, are you starting to hear from um colleges, things like that? Like?

Speaker 3: 36:44

are you, uh, like a like, sort of like where I want to go to college?

Speaker 2: 36:49

Yeah, no, you don't have to name colleges, but are you starting to kind of you getting getting some notices?

Speaker 3: 36:54

Um, yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:55

I think uh.

Speaker 3: 36:56

I'm very open. That's why I've kind of told every coach that I've talked to. So yeah.

Speaker 3: 37:00

Yeah for sure, keep my options open until, um, honestly, my senior year. Until, because I feel like I have a lot more girls. I think this year I have a lot to prove. Still, sure, um, within rustling, yeah, so, um, I sold Every coach I've talked to. I'm like I don't want to make a decision until I'm ready and I totally. I've been fortunate enough that the ones I have talked to so far very understanding of that, and I've been I'm completely on board, so um, yeah it's awesome.

Speaker 2: 37:28

Well, and again, again. Your dad's been in the position before right like he kind of. He can be that little guy on your shoulder like hey, zippity-doo die. You don't do anything right now.

Speaker 3: 37:39

Yeah, it's. It's honestly it's been a. It's been unreal for my dad to be here to like go through this. Like we went on my first division one Um visit this this past september Okay, yes and uh, then my parents being there and then um getting to meet with the coaches and kind of experience, um, like, in a way, hard work paying off.

Speaker 2: 38:04

Yeah, uh was very, very special, it was well deserved yeah yeah, so and that's I mean I we talk about a lot on here. You guys are making a big decision, so I mean knowing that you have the wherewithal to be like you know I got time, you got a minute to Really kind of figure out, because it's the next four or five years that was your sophomore years when you actually have to declare as an athlete, kind of thing.

Speaker 3: 38:24

So I mean, yeah, you have to set up your eligibility, or yeah.

Speaker 2: 38:28

Yeah, so I mean, you got a minute to really kind of figure it out, but it's a big decision, right. So it's a again really, really helpful to have someone as your. You know your dad and your parents both I would imagine your mother's just as supportive as your dad is and uh and has some you know Voice and what you have going on. But knowing that you had that type of support system and watching your, you know your role last year, it's going to be exciting to watch you. So we're watching fenna more in general. So don't uh, you folks don't think that we're not watching the whole team because we are, um, but uh, what? What are some of the goals that you do? You have any kind of uh, a goal that you're setting for yourself this year other than a state championship? I mean, that's obvious. What?

Speaker 2: 39:07

kind of goals you're setting for yourself this year.

Speaker 3: 39:09

Yeah, I think I I've it's well, um, it's more like uh, kind of like a tournament I really want to win. She said this year, okay, yeah.

Speaker 2: 39:20

I, I think.

Speaker 3: 39:20

I'm in a good position to to win. Yeah, I think I have enough tools and oh yeah. So um all right. That's a good one. Yeah, it's definitely a tournament on my mind. We're actually going down to the Kansas stampede.

Speaker 2: 39:32

They heard yeah.

Speaker 3: 39:33

Yeah so, um, that's another great, really tough tournament that I love to win. So, oh yeah, very well at those. And um then slingshotting into freestyle greco season, where um Try to earn all american status for sure, and freestyle.

Speaker 2: 39:49

That would be that I mean, hey, let's, let's do it. I think, uh, I think you guys have a great run. I think fenimore is going to be, you know, I think they're going to be a team to beat again by you guys. Hey, quick question, because I I don't pay attention very well, do you? Are you guys moving up a division, um, or not, till next year, what you know anything?

Speaker 3: 40:07

about that this year, I know, I think it's if we win it again this year. Okay, okay, you're bumping up to d2. I don't know if we're, if it's set in stone yet with yeah, yeah, right, right I think we have to win again this year in order to move up division.

Speaker 2: 40:19

I think there's a point system or whatever it is. Yeah, advance up, yeah, okay, okay, well, I, I don't have any doubts that you guys are gonna do it, but I, you know to be fun watching you guys go through. I mean, you got having on the team and you got a whole dude. You got guy. You're not guy, you got uh, oh, trying to think of another one, but you guys have a whole slew of guys coming up. I mean you got a whole roster of guys we just talked about the other night and obviously my excel spreadsheet and my brain just shut down. So you guys are gonna kill it.

Speaker 2: 40:46

Um, I appreciate you being on, but we are going to get out of your hair because you, you probably have some stuff to get going on for the weekend because, uh, it's still saturday, right, and I don't want to take up your whole weekend. So, with that being said, we are gonna roll out everybody. Uh, we appreciate you watching. I probably, you probably brought all these people, man, I appreciate it. So, appreciate you being on. If you have any other time you want to come on, we might have you back on the end of the season, see how things are going. And, uh, probably, I'm I'm assuming and I'm gonna say that we're gonna talk to you after a state championship. For sure, for sure, right Well?

Speaker 3: 41:23

make a plan for it.

Speaker 2: 41:25

Appreciate it. I'm gonna talk to you for a minute yet. Once we're done, um, we'll go from there. But hey guys, everybody, uh, peace out, we're done.