Eagles face tough schedule

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm High Eagles will begin the 2001-02 season with questions. But perhaps the most difficult schedule in program history will provide the answers.

The first answers will come today at the Monticello Duals. Five state-ranked teams are expected to participate.

The Eagles' two wrestlers with state tournament experience -- senior co-captains Andy Bernard and Nate Gieseke -- will lead the young Eagles.

"The competition will get us off to a good start," New Ulm High coach Dar Arndt said. "Obviously, we're going to see our state-tournament experienced guys show the most experience up there. Bernard and Gieseke, I wouldn't think would have too much trouble along with (Matt) Wenninger at 152 pounds. But for the rest of them, they're going to be cutting their teeth on some pretty tough competition."

Cambridge-Isanti, St. Francis, Little Falls, Hutchinson, Dassel-Cokato are among the teams that will be at the Monticello Duals. While Gieseke and Bernard, who are each ranked fourth in the state at their respective weight classes, won't see anything they haven't seen before, the level of competition for many of the younger wrestlers will give them a baptism of fire.

That's all part of the plan, according to Arndt. A tough start and a tough schedule is hoped to toughen the Eagles for the latter stages of the season.

And while the Eagles aren't expected by many to be much more than the .500 team they were last season, the Eagles aren't counting themselves out. They're not cocky, just realistic about what the rigors of a tough schedule might bring.

"People aren't probably expecting us to do real well," Bernard said. "They're going to be real surprised when they see what we can do on the mat. ... It's going to take some developing, but we'll get there."

Bernard, 30-7 last season at 189 pounds, will return at that weight this season. Bernard has 84 career wins heading into the Monticello Duals and barring injury should easily reach the 100-victory plateau.

Gieseke will provide points down low for the Eagles. After winning a trip to the state tournament last season at 119 pounds when he recorded a 28-8 record, Gieseke will move up to 130 pounds this season. Gieseke has 71 career wins heading to Monticello.

Another key wrestler will be Wenninger at either 145 or 152 pounds. It's expected that Wenninger (21-12 last season) will start 2001-02 at 152 pounds and then move down to 145, where Arndt believes the junior could earn a state ranking.

"I would say that we're a team that's going to determine its own destiny by how much we improve in the wrestling room," Arndt said. "Right now, a lot of the teams probably aren't too worried about New Ulm, but they probably shouldn't look too far past us. We have some real spots where we can develop and our style of wrestling gives people fits because a lot of the time we can make up for not having not as tough of an athlete with good skills."

Bernard, Gieseke and Wenninger are the trio the Eagles hope to build around.

"There's always a little bit of pressure, especially being a captain, but it's really a team effort," Gieseke said.

At Monticello, Neil Wenninger -- Matt's younger brother -- will wrestle at 103 pounds. Neil Wenninger will likely be one of the smaller 103-pounders, Arndt said, but added the seventh-grader is one of 10 Eagles wrestlers who attended the Jeff Jordan wrestling camp in Ohio during the summer, and has extensive Freestyle experience.

Chris Koob, an eighth-grader, was 22-13 last season, finishing fifth at the Section 2-3A tournament at 103 pounds. He's expected to wrestle at either 112 or 119 pounds.

Jeff Gieseke, an eighth-grader, is probable at 112 if Koob goes 119.

Adam Bartels is a senior 125-pounder who was 4-7 last season. Ali Bernard will start the season at 140 pounds; Bernard placed third in the nation last season at a women's tournament in Detroit.

Mitch Palmer could also wrestle 140 pounds, but will likely start the season at 145. Charles Johnson will begin the campaign at 160 pounds and Gary Jamison is expected to wrestle at 171.

The heavyweight will be sophomore Travis Aufderheide. Aufderheide wrestled at 171 last season but has gained more than 50 pounds and is expected to wrestle at 220-225 pounds.

"Aufderheide was also at that camp this summer," Arndt said. "His skills have really improved. In fact, Andy Bernard has his hands pretty much full with the kid right now.

"This kid could be one of the dark horses around here that's going to surprise a few people."

Surprise and improvement are words that will be associated with New Ulm High this season. One of the reasons for the optimism is those 10 wrestlers who attended the Jeff Jordan camp in Ohio this summer.

"It's a tough camp," Matt Wenninger said. "Two-hour sessions, three times a day. ... They work you hard and they drill moves on you. You do the same moves over and over until you know them. You probably do certain moves 1,000 times during the week.

"I'm excited for this year. We're going to be better than last year. I'm looking forward to it."