Rising to the top of your sport is often thought of as being the most difficult thing to achieve. However, for the team on top the difficult thing is to stay at the top of your sport.
The Patriot wrestling team has done that for almost a decade as they have won eight out of the last nine team state championships including the last five in a row.
“I think a lot of people come into this program and have a sense of what they want to accomplish,” head coach Nate Olson said. “There’s really no limit to how far we go so everyone wants to do their part to help us win another state championship.”
In order to keep their beyond impressive streak going, the team must continue to put in the work that got them to that point during the offseason.
“During the offseason I worked on becoming a lot more focused and disciplined,” junior Isaac Ekdahl said. “I brought my mentality to another level during the offseason which I think will help me keep that mentality during the season.”
“It’s our conditioning,” senior Miles Anderson said. “We run every day year round so we can make sure we are in shape for the season.”
The hard work and dedication is not just a part of the offseason as the team also has to put in the effort during the season during practice as well as staying level headed and taking nothing for granted.
“I think we need to stay humble this season,” Ekdahl said. “I think that will help us to continue what we accomplished last season so we can become a better team.”
“To be successful this season we need to work hard during practice,” Olson said. “We have the best coaches in the state that will get our guys ready to want to be there and work hard. Another key is that our lower level guys also have to be ready to step up if we need them in some big tournaments or in those last few weeks leading up to state.”
Many teams that have success fall into the trap of losing the mentality that got them to greatness in the first place but this team has maintained the winning mentality the entire duration of this championship run.
“The guys before us were really successful and most of us have had a really good experience,” Anderson said. “We’ve been wrestling for a long time so we know how to deal with a long season. We know how to recover really quickly and I feel that sets us apart from a lot of other teams.”
“I don’t think our mentality has really changed,” Olson said. “We’ve always been a team that rallies around each other in the good and the bad. We have that family mentality and I don’t think that has really changed this season. I think that adds to our success.”
In order to keep the championship run going, the team must find ways to keep down the pressure even after so many championships.
“I love the sport so I don’t really have to deal with the pressure,” Ekdahl said. “I love what I do so I’m going to go out there and do my best no matter whether I win or lose.”
“I think every year is different and every year we want to win the state championship so I don’t think there is really any added pressure to win another one,” Olson said. “I think our seniors have been there and done that and a lot of the other guys have also had success at the state tournament. They have to just go out there and take care of business and not let the lights get too bright at the state tournament. I think we’ll be fine if we just continue to think that.”
The most important thing still remains for the team and that is winning yet another state championship this season.
“This year, we want to dominate every match this season and win the state championship,” Ekdahl said.
“Obviously we want to win a state championship as a team and for me individually,” Anderson said. “At the end of the year, I think all of us want to be on that podium.”
The Patriots will look to secure another state championship at the state championship that takes place from Feb. 15-17, 2024.
