Stepping up

Departed

seniors leave

many holes

By PAUL DUNLAP

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- New Ulm High wrestling coach Dar Arndt put it as simply as he could.

"Kids are going to have to step up for us this year."

The Eagles have lost what was, by all accounts, the best senior class in school history -- six wrestlers who combined for over 600 career wins. Now it's someone else's turn.

"These kids have been waiting behind all the big names from last year," Arndt said. "They developed good skills by competing against those kids. ... I mean, five of those kids are now wrestling at the college level. Our expectations are high this year, because these kids have been exposed to that caliber of wrestling.

"We've got all the tools. It's just a matter now that it's curtain time for these kids, and they have to answer the call."

Two wrestlers who will lead the charge are juniors -- 125-pound Nate Gieseke and 189-pound co-captain Andy Bernard -- who were integral parts of 1999's team that ended with a 21-2 dual meet record. Gieseke is currently ranked fourth and Bernard is ranked ninth in the state, according to The Guillotine magazine.

"Nate had a great year last year, and we expect the same things from him this year," Arndt said. "And Bernard ... he should be either the section champ or runner-up this year. He's that good."

This squad also has some seniors seeing their first extended time on the varsity -- 112-pound Jon Jamison, 130-pound co-captain Sky Royston, and 145-pound Justin Windschitl. Other seniors who have varsity experience include 160-pound Tony Ruch and heavyweight Andy Howk.

"This group of seniors has been waiting in the wings the past couple of years," Arndt said. "You can see that we've got some age and experience here, and now it's time to get it done."

Dotted amongst the experience is some youth as well. Seventh-grader Chris Koob will begin the season at 103 pounds, freshman Travis Aufderheide will wrestle at 171, sophomores Matt Wenninger (135 pounds) and Paul Ruch (140), along with juniors Adam Bartels (119) and Greg Jamison (152), round out the varsity squad.

"Kids like Jon Jamison, Royston, Windschitl, Tony Ruch and Howk will need to step up," Arndt said. "We know Gieseke and Bernard will be solid, and both Wenninger and Paul (Ruch) are looking solid in those spots as well. We need big things out of Adam Bartels too."

The Eagles are also hoping to defend their conference crown against the likes of St. James and Blue Earth Area.

"We don't want to give up that conference tournament title too easily," Arndt said. "We've held it for the last two years in a row. Right now it looks like St. James is the team to beat in our conference, but I'd say it's pretty dead even the rest of the way. I wouldn't count us out, because if these kids develop they way they should we'll be competitive."

Arndt also has the luxury of numbers as 60 kids came out for the team this season. That allows a full junior varsity squad as well -- Jeff Gieseke (7) at 103, Lee Windschitl (8) at 112, Alex Downs (11) at 119, Dan Mielke (9) at 125, Matt Schneider (9) at 130, Ali Bernard (9) at 135, Mitch Palmer (10) at 140, Dylan Blickem (8) at 145, Dylan Kapolczynski (12) at 152, Charles Johnson (9) at 160, Spencer Dickinson (10) at 171, Gabe Ness (11) at 189, and Trent Zabel (9) at heavyweight.

The Eagles open the 2000 campaign Tuesday at Madelia-Truman.

"(Madelia-Truman) is a decent team, but I'd say they're down a little bit from what they usually are," Arndt said. "It should be a real dogfight."