Grizzly matmen return 10 starters

The WEM-JWP Grizzly wrestling team returns 10 starters from last season. Additions include four new varsity wrestlers and a new co-head coach, Skylar Petry.

Adam Roesler, in his 15th season as head coach, returns as co-head coach. Assisting are Mike Richards  Shaun Murphy, Rich Davis, Brady Ayers and Colin Ayers.

2021-22 season

The Grizzlies came out of the gate last season with plenty of wins. But as a team, WEM-JWP had a few struggles midseason. 

Two wrestlers stood out: Keegan Kuball and Carson Petry. 

Kuball was the Section 2A winner, beating NRHEG’s Makota Misgen (who took second in the state tournament) for the title. Petry placed sixth in the state tournament.

Key returnees

Roesler claimed that Kuball’s 2-2 finish in the state tournament last season “left a sour taste in his mouth and a desire to improve.” Roesler is confident Petry will build upon his sixth-place finish.

Senior Jack Cahill, junior Gavin Krause, and sophomore Lucas Morsching were three other returnees noted by Roesler. “They had great seasons a year ago and have crossed the threshold of becoming consistent winners in the lineup,” he says.

Another wrestler to watch is freshman Brady Murphy, who went 13-12 as an underdog in many matches. “Brady was an undersized 106-pounder who challenged even some of the top contenders in his weight class,” Roesler said. “Anyone who watches him knows there is a lot of potential that we are looking forward to unleashing once again as he is now a freshman and a full 106 pounds.”

Key losses

Ezekiel Peterson and Jon Daschner graduated. Peterson’s season was cut short due to medical issues and he finished 7-11. Roesler explained that despite his inability to wrestle throughout the season, he was still a constant supporter and leader during matches.

Daschner spent most of his year within the WEM-JWP wrestling program on the JV. However, he eventually did make the varsity near the end of the season, something that Roesler noted was a goal of his. Daschner earned one victory.

Expectations

Two main points of focus for this year’s wrestlers are individual gains and personal growth.

In 2021-22, Roesler saw a shift in the way the team competed. “When we were outmatched the guys continued to fight for other teammates,” he says.

A culture shift is taking place within the wrestling team, with the student-athletes uplifting each other and holding themselves accountable. “This is evident in the morning workouts,” Roesler said. “Everyone knows the way to make our team better is to improve each individual. We have the right people in place to help the group control more of the controllable parts of athletics.”

Roesler expects this group to be a factor in both the Gopher Conference and Section 2A final standings.

The mantra of this WEM-JWP wrestling team is, “Winning is a byproduct of the things we can control.”

 

2022-23 WEM-JWP Wrestling

Dec. 1 Quad at Medford 5/7:30

Dec. 3 at BEA Invitational 10 am

Dec. 8 at Triton 7:00

Dec. 10 at Byron Invitational 10 am

Dec. 13 Triangular in Waterville 5:00

Dec. 16 at Glencoe-SL Inv. 5:00

Dec. 22 Triangular at Springfield 5:00

Jan. 7 at Norwood-YA Inv. 9 am

Jan. 12 St. Clair/Loyola 5:00

Jan. 13 Westfield 5:00

Jan. 14 at St. Croix Luth. Inv. 9:30 a.m.

Jan. 19 Triangular at Kenyon-W 5:00

Jan. 26 Maple River/USC 7:00

Jan. 28 at Sibley East Inv. 10 am

Feb 2 at Medford 7:00

Feb. 4 WEM-JWP Invitational 10 am

Feb. 9 Quad in Waterville 5:00

Feb. 16 Section TBA

Feb. 18 Section TBA

Feb. 25 Section TBA

Feb. 18 Conference championship, West Division at East Division champion

Feb. 23 at Waseca 7:30