By TYLER DRUMMOND
of The Gazette
Without a complete roster, it's hard to be a competitive team.
That's the problem facing the Amherst High School Falcons wrestling program this year, as the team has wrestled to this point in the season with four open weight classes.
"We're not set up as a dual-meet team," said head coach Stan Shufelt. "It's difficult to win a meet when you consistently have to give up four weight classes."
The Falcons are trying to make the best of the situation, however, and hope that their younger wrestlers can gain valuable experience from this season.
"With our younger wrestlers, the more they wrestle the more experience they are going to get," said Shufelt.
The Falcons only have two seniors on their squad to go with three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
In the 112-pound weight class, the Falcons have junior Mo Malone, a fifth-place finisher at state last year.
At 119 is sophomore Brandon Sopa.
Freshman Nate Trzebiatowski is in the 130-pound class.
At 135 is sophomore Jim Blanke.
At 145 is junior Duane Martin.
At 152 is junior Bert Soyka.
Rounding out the squad are senior Joe Blanke at 160, sophomore Mike Stremkowski at 171, senior Pete Ostrowski at 189 and freshman Erik Nykl at 215.
Both Malone and Soyka are priming themselves for a berth in the state meet. "It would be nice to get a few guys down to the state tournament," said Shufelt.
To get to the state tournament, a wrestler needs to finish in one of the top three places at the sectional tournament. However, the sectional tournament for the Falcons is one of the toughest in the state and has produced a lot of champions for various weight classes in Division 3.
"It's not an easy sectional by any means," said Shufelt. "We're confident that these guys will get through and get to state, though."
As for Shufelt, this is his third year as the head coach at Amherst. He was the head coach at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption from 1972-78 and then took a hiatus from the sport. He came back three years ago to coach the Falcons and is happy with the move.
"I have a lot of admiration for these kids," said Shufelt. "They can't do a lot of stuff that normal kids can, especially around the holiday season with all the good food, because they have to make weight."
Shufelt also added that it takes a special kind of person to be a wrestler because of all the sacrifices that are required. "It's hard on a lot of these kids."
"It makes my job easier as a teacher because they know me from the mat already," said Shufelt. "It's nice to relate with these kids both in the classroom and on the mat. They're really great kids."