Wrestlers look for perfect blend of experience, youth in forging State return

Will anyone pin down Wildcats hungry for a State return? After winning regionals and sending four athletes to State last year, the team is looking to run it back. Senior Ryland Schneider, who worked tirelessly throughout the offseason, wants to make his senior year special and accomplish some big wins not only for himself, but as a team.

“My hopes for the season is that we can use the tough team we have to win most of our duels, and get some of us down to Madison for State,” he said.

None of this will be easy as the competition grows, especially with the impending match against Kaukauna, which has been highlighted as the main competitor by senior Eddy Schroeder.

“We are working harder in the room, which means getting better partners to practice with to push each other, and trying to find any little way to overcome Kaukauna,” he said. 

Competition, of course, can lead to confidence, something even noted by high level wrestlers like Schneider.

“Some challenges I’ve had are with confidence and truly believing in myself,” he said. “I’ve been using visualization to help me overcome this.”

Joining Schneider and Schroeder in his final year with the team, Coach Keith Frey is also in his last year with the team.

“I feel sad that this is my last year, and I am going to miss everything about the coaching experience. I am going to enjoy it as much as possible,” he said. “I want to have a great time at every practice and competition, create bonds with those in the struggle, win as much as possible, and make as many memories as I can.”

Head coach Matthew Cuadra feels driven to evolve, and that means a focus on teaching everyone how to be successful.

“One area of focus this year is making sure that everyone on the team is on the same page when it comes to understanding the technique we are showing,” he said. “This year we have a great problem of having a lot of different people on our team. 50 boys and eight girls.” 

Many wrestlers, such as Schroeder, greatly appreciate Cuadra’s efforts.

“Coach Cuadra understands what my goals are for the season and is helpful in pushing me to work harder. When he sees my struggles he helps me overcome them,” he said. 

For Cuadra, it is important to reflect on the highs and lows of seasons prior.

“Last year we were able to come together as a team and everyone helped accomplish our goals of getting four wrestlers to state, three boys and one girl,” he said. “I talk about it all the time in the room but we wouldn't have been able to do that if everyone wasn’t pushing everyone, and as a coach, that is great to see.”

This intense sport seems to pull more and more new recruits each year and Cuadra is always planning for the future.

“We have an experienced varsity team, but we have to continue to help new wrestlers get to a higher level,” he said. “Some of these wrestlers are new to the sport, and I don’t want them feeling left behind if they aren't understanding something.”

Wrestlers new to the high school level sports, including freshman Preston Schneider, are excited to continue their learning under the varsity athletes.

“I look up to Ryland and Eddy because they are hard workers in a difficult sport,” he said. “They are very entertaining to watch and I practice hard to be as good as them one day.”

by Sophia Rigoni

Published December 2nd, 2024

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue III