by Rebekah Roth, GHS Blue Ink
This Saturday, December 3, Garretson’s wrestling team will go into in full swing with tournaments and meets. There are 20 members on the team—two more than last year—and several new faces.
“We have quite a few new members to the team,” said head wrestling coach Brady Schleuter. “We have three 7th graders: Talon Miller, Max Dickey, and Gavin Denherder. Three new girls have joined: Autumn Gaspar, Danika Juul, and Adair Hanisch.”
“Jayden Davis and David Santa Cruz are also newcomers to the team. We as coaches are excited about all these newcomers and to watch them progress throughout the season.”
Girls wrestling in particular has grown in interest over the past couple of years. Autumn Gaspar, a senior who is new to wrestling this season, explained her recently discovered enthusiasm for the sport.
“A lot of my friends are in wrestling, and I think it's cool to try new sports,” Gaspar stated. “I’m excited but a little nervous about wrestling in front of everyone!”
There are a few changes and difficulties that have arisen this season. Firstly, Garretson’s wrestling program no longer has sideline cheerleaders to increase the determination of the wrestlers and engage the crowd in support. Last spring, it was decided by the head cheer coach Elizabeth Etrheim that basketball cheer would be offered instead, since there was a higher interest among Garretson students by means of a survey.
Additionally, there are currently some weight classes that are not filled. “We will have to do some maneuvering this year trying to fill all the weight classes. Right now, I believe we will have about 3 or 4 weight classes open—most of them being lighter weights,” Schleuter said.
Still, the Blue Dragons are ready to get the season rolling. Coach Schleuter is especially eager to see what the team has to offer.
“I am excited about the group of boys and girls we have this year coming off a good season last year. I feel like these boys and girls are hungry to compete and progress this year. From what I've seen through the first few practices I think our team will be able to go out and compete with other teams and hopefully make some noise later in the year!”
Another inconvenience for the wrestling team is that the school’s winter formal, the Jingle Ball 2022, will be on the same day as the team’s first tournament. The same situation happened last year, and those affiliated with wrestling expressed stress in attending both functions, since tournaments tend to last for most of a day.
Gaspar also mentioned, “If I stay in my weight class I’ll have to wrestle Hanna Horvath, so that will be interesting.”
Horvath, a Hungarian foreign exchange student who was a part of Garretson’s wrestling team last year, displayed rising skills throughout the season and even made it to the state tournament.
Still, the Blue Dragons are ready to get the season rolling. Coach Schleuter is especially eager to see what the team has to offer.
“I am excited about the group of boys and girls we have this year coming off a good season last year. I feel like these boys and girls are hungry to compete and progress this year. From what I've seen through the first few practices I think our team will be able to go out and compete with other teams and hopefully make some noise later in the year!”
