Most coaches shudder at the thought of preseason hype.
Not Grand Island wrestling coach Mike Schadwinkel.
Schadwinkel's purple people look like a group worthy of the buildup, with 10 returning state medalists, five finalists and three champions. The lineup is much the same as the one that broke records a season ago, and it has some wondering if the Islanders could be the best team ever in Nebraska.
“With all arrogance aside, we have talked about it,” Schadwinkel said. “I guess I frame it in the mind-set that we have the opportunity to be there.”
Grand Island opens the season ranked 20th nationally by WIN magazine and is a clear-cut No. 1 in Class A. The Islanders return sophomore state champions Andrew Riedy (103) and Blake Fruchtl (112) and senior Nate Westerby (215). Also returning are sophomore Carlos Rodriguez and senior Alan Taylor, both finalists last year.
A lineup now a year older is developing a hunger for more.
“We have to do the best we can,” Schadwinkel said. “And that's not just winning the state title. There's more to it. We have to live up to what we're capable of.”
That's a scary proposition for those on the Islanders' schedule, which opened Thursday with a dual against Columbus.
“There's definitely a target on our back compared to last year where it was kind of an emerging target,” Schadwinkel said. “ We've talked a lot about what it means to be the favorite, and I think the kids have accepted the challenge. They're where they want to be.”
They'll measure themselves nationally in January at The Clash, a duals tournament in Rochester, Minn., and the Top of the Rockies tournament in Lafayette, Colo.
Last season the Islanders featured a loaded freshman class that lived up to the hype. Riedy was 44-0 and one of the most impressive wrestlers at the state tournament. Fruchtl wasn't far behind, finishing 43-1 and avenging his only loss of the season in the finals. Rodriguez was a runner-up and Coleman Westerby finished sixth at 171.
Now, Schadwinkel said, “they're all veteran kids.” And actually, they were last season.
“These kids have been wrestling for a long time,” he said. “To jump in the lineup and do the things they did, while it seems amazing, when you put it in perspective they met their own expectations.”
Anchoring the Islanders is a senior class that includes Nate Westerby, Taylor, Matt Rice (two-time medalist, third at 135 pounds last year), Beau Jepsen (fifth at 160) and Cory Frankenberg (fifth at heavyweight).
Add another talented freshman — six-time Huskerland champion Trey Trujillo — and you have a recipe for historical dominance.
“I don't really think about it that way,” said Nate Westerby, who is receiving some Division I interest. “We're still working harder than we ever have. We just go out and do our jobs.”
It wasn't a perfect offseason for the Islanders. They will be without Alec Chanthapatheth, who won the 135-pound crown last season. Chanthapatheth was sentenced to probation on felony drug possession last month.
The loss of Chanthapatheth opened a spot for wrestlers at lower weights to move up. Schadwinkel expects freshman Trujillo to take over the 103-pound slot.
“We want to push the envelope to see how far we can go,” the coach said. “We talk a lot about how do we continue this? How do we continue to develop these young kids year after year? We definitely want to try to keep our program at the level it is now.”
Contact the writer:
850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com
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