With a strong group of seniors leaving, the program has shifted toward the younger side. One of these young faces is freshman Chase Kacher. Kacher hasn’t wrestled a single high school match, but Brad Anderson knows he will be counted on to be a big part of this year’s youth movement.

“Chase is no doubt going to make an immediate impact,” Anderson said. “He is looking to start at 120 pounds and is going to be key for our lower-weight division.”

Chase is no stranger to wrestling, as he has wrestled for over five years and is ready to have a good start to his high school career.

“I hope I can start strong this year,” Kacher said. “Hopefully, I can win at least one match and keep it going from there.”

With the youth movement on the rise, the difference between middle school wrestling and high school is a lot more significant than most people think. Kacher has felt the shift.

“In middle school, it was a lot more laid back; we played fun games a lot of the time,” Kacher said. “At high school, though, it’s a lot more work to be ready for anything.”

Kacher is only a small part of the youth movement for the wrestling team. Anderson also speaks about the other freshman guys and the middle class stepping up.

“We have a good group of freshman guys coming up from the middle school,” Anderson said. “In the middle, we have a lot of experience from our juniors and sophomores that’ll help make an impact.”

The team also has a front of returning wrestlers, which are Josh Elzinga, Isaac Spratke, Greyson Ripmaster, Michael Frazer, Alex Korf, and Ashley Schenck. Not only are those seniors going to contribute, but Anderson believes that the Huang brothers will be stepping up this year.

“Nick and Tz-en Haung will see significant time in the lineup,” Anderson said. “I believe that they are going to be a major contributor to this year’s success.”

Wrestling is exhausting and tough for any athlete. Anderson and his coaching staff are preparing the wrestlers for the season to help them reach their full potential. 

“If you ask any of my wrestlers, they will say it’s a grind, grueling,” Anderson said. “We are constantly moving, working on hand-to-hand combat, learning a bunch of new tactics that’ll hopefully get them prepared.”

As with any team, identity and mentality are extremely important, and this year’s wrestling team is no exception. Anderson knows precisely what his guys should be known for.

“We want to be known as the people in better shape,” Anderson said. “If we are still standing on that mat when that third period comes around, we want to be standing there ready to battle.”

Last year’s season was a success. The team stood at a 12-10 record and won the district title. Many of the wrestlers have expectations for how well they will do this year, and one of these wrestlers is senior Alex Korff, who hopes the team will win districts this year. 

“Our main goal is to win the district title,” Korff said. “I hope this year we will win it and make it further than we did last year.”

Winning districts again is only one goal. Korff wants the team to beat its rivals this year and make them one of the top-standing teams in the conference.

“Our rivals from last year were Northern and Lowell,” Korff said. “I think we will be able to beat them this year.”