2008 Woodie Awards
Young grapplers look to bring excitement
Season starts with first-ever division win
Justin Wolter
Issue date: 11/21/02 Section: Sports
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When Pete Rogers was introduced as head coach of the Lakeland wrestling team he said upliftingly, "I don't like to lose. I'm willing to work hard and put in extra time to build a winning program, and I won't be happy until I do." During the off-season he put on his boots and hard hat and found nine new wrestlers, and possibly more now that the football season has just ended.
Lakeland brings back one lone returnee in Sheboygan native Nick Brock.
"We all have super, high goals," explained Rogers. We want to win a few dual meets and make a charge for the LMC conference title. These guys have been working real hard, doing everything I've asked of them," said Rogers.
Jake Eigenbrodt, a freshman from Fond du Lac, has excelled so far this season at 184 pounds. About two weeks ago at the 19-school Stevens Point Open, Eigenbrodt became the first Muskie wrestler to ever win his division. He defeated one independent wrestler from Lakeland, who wasn't wrestling for the team, and also a grappler from UW-Lacrosse, and finally beat Blake Hangland of Wartburg College in overtime for the championship.
"Jake has been wrestling real tough. I believe he's going to have a great year," said Rogers.
Other wrestlers in attendance for the Muskies included Tim Vallier, who took fifth place at 157 pounds by pinning Kenny Francois of UW-Platteville in 1:17; Matt Preimsberger, who went 1-2 at 141 pounds; and Patrick Redmond, who went 1-2 at 174 pounds.
Rogers has also put together a schedule rougher than the University of Notre Dame's football team. This coming weekend Lakeland will be away at the Concordia Open in Mequon starting at 9:30 a.m. Along with that, they face nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point on December 3. From there they will face WIAC contenders Oshkosh and Platteville and compete in the prestigious Wheaton Invite.
Rogers believes a tough schedule will help in the long run. "These guys may be young now, but when they become juniors and seniors they should be solid. With the work ethic they have, our program should be moving up in the years ahead."
STATS
At UW-Stevens Point
Jake Eigenbrodt 1st place at 184
Tim Vallier 5th place at 157
Matt Preimsberger went 1-2 at 141
Patrick Redmond went 1-2 at 174
Lakeland brings back one lone returnee in Sheboygan native Nick Brock.
"We all have super, high goals," explained Rogers. We want to win a few dual meets and make a charge for the LMC conference title. These guys have been working real hard, doing everything I've asked of them," said Rogers.
Jake Eigenbrodt, a freshman from Fond du Lac, has excelled so far this season at 184 pounds. About two weeks ago at the 19-school Stevens Point Open, Eigenbrodt became the first Muskie wrestler to ever win his division. He defeated one independent wrestler from Lakeland, who wasn't wrestling for the team, and also a grappler from UW-Lacrosse, and finally beat Blake Hangland of Wartburg College in overtime for the championship.
"Jake has been wrestling real tough. I believe he's going to have a great year," said Rogers.
Other wrestlers in attendance for the Muskies included Tim Vallier, who took fifth place at 157 pounds by pinning Kenny Francois of UW-Platteville in 1:17; Matt Preimsberger, who went 1-2 at 141 pounds; and Patrick Redmond, who went 1-2 at 174 pounds.
Rogers has also put together a schedule rougher than the University of Notre Dame's football team. This coming weekend Lakeland will be away at the Concordia Open in Mequon starting at 9:30 a.m. Along with that, they face nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point on December 3. From there they will face WIAC contenders Oshkosh and Platteville and compete in the prestigious Wheaton Invite.
Rogers believes a tough schedule will help in the long run. "These guys may be young now, but when they become juniors and seniors they should be solid. With the work ethic they have, our program should be moving up in the years ahead."
At UW-Stevens Point
Jake Eigenbrodt 1st place at 184
Tim Vallier 5th place at 157
Matt Preimsberger went 1-2 at 141
Patrick Redmond went 1-2 at 174