As Head Coach Dave Lehr goes into his eighth year of coaching, he is trying to repeat the success of his past, with wrestlers going as far as the state tournament.

Each season, Lehr starts with basic training for the new and returning wrestlers because he wants to build a foundation.

It’s with this foundation that the wrestlers become ready for the mat.

“Wrestling is one of the toughest sports out there…and the best sport. it doesn’t matter what you’re training for, there is always something that comes out of wrestling. As we saw on the field, football players were starting linemen that came from wrestling,” Lehr expressed.

Wrestling comes with many life skills, along with being physically tough.

These individual wrestlers learn discipline and can stay consistent with reaching goals of certain weight classes, showing up to practice, and working hard to be the best.

“I have high hopes for 2 seniors and a junior, Dylan McGrew, Jaxxon Long, and Mason Wood. These [wrestlers] have been putting in the work over the offseason, being the best they can, and that shows in practice by them standing out and being leaders to the newcomers,” Lehr stated.

McGrew and Long have been wrestling for all four years now and have built a very strong bond with Coach Lehr. These wrestlers lead warmups and take part in decision-making.

Lehr notices that the new wrestlers tend to look up to them.

“After Evan Wilcox went to state last year, the wrestling team is trying to repeat the same success with as many players as possible. This success comes from ‘building a culture of hard work, and if they put in the hard work, and buy into the process, they are going to have the same success,’” Lehr said.

Coach Lehr’s coaching style has not changed in his eight years.

He has always wanted to take the role of leader and for his wrestlers to trust him and build a bond so both of the existing and new wrestlers can become the best they can.

To bring all players together each year, Coach Lehr and the wrestling team have regular traditions.

They start with team dinners to build a bond, and then they have a lock-in without any food to make the weight cut. After the evening is over, they catch an early bus ride for the next day’s match.

The wrestlers will take the mat for the first time this season on Saturday, November 30th, at 8:30 am at  Antioch High School.