Athlete Profile: Chad Moegenburg

Witt-Birn senior back from injury and hungry for success

WITTENBERG — Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School wrestler Chad Moegenburg is enjoying a strong senior season. But just a year ago, it wasn’t a given that he would even be on the wrestling mat.

Moegenburg suffered an injury on Dec. 29, 2018, tearing the ligaments in his left elbow. It forced him to miss the rest of his junior season and put the rest of his wrestling career in jeopardy.

The Witt-Birn wrestler was able to overcome the injury and is now among the top wrestlers in the 126-pound weight class.

In the Jan. 21 edition of the wiwrestling.com individual rankings, Moegenburg was fourth at 126 pounds in Division 2. He’s hoping to make a return to state after doing so as a sophomore, when he placed second in the Division 3 113 weight class.

“Chad is not just a great wrestler but a great team leader,” said Witt-Birn coach Troy Ostrowski. “He has persevered through a tough season-ending injury while being ranked No. 1 in the state at the time. All of his accolades are well deserved with all the hard work he has put into wrestling. Every coach would love to have a Chad Moegenburg on their team.”

Q: You dealt with an injury for a good portion of your junior season. What was the recovery process like?

A: I spent three months in an elbow brace to reattach the stuff in my arm naturally. If it wouldn’t have healed properly, I would’ve needed Tommy John surgery, which would’ve ended my wrestling career. After the brace, I spent another two months going to physical therapy three days a week.

Q: How difficult was it to have to miss the postseason last year?

A: After the season I had as a sophomore and then being ranked No. 1 at 120 at the time of my injury, it was extremely hard to know that I couldn’t do anything about it and to have to sit the rest of the season.

Q: Back from that injury and enjoying a strong senior season, is there anything you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year?

A: My main goal has and always will be to win that state title. Each tournament leading up to the postseason, I want to keep improving.

Q: One of the top-ranked wrestlers in your weight class, that gives opponents plenty of reason to give it their all to try and defeat you. How do you prepare yourself to take on that challenge each time you step on the mat?

A: Each week is the same in the practice room, and our coaches do a great job getting us prepared for every single match. Every time I step out there, my goal is to always score constantly and to not give up a single point.

Q: The team is in a good position to win a conference title and make some noise in the postseason. As a team leader, how will you keep the team on track the rest of the season?

A: We all know we have an important role on the team, and we all put in our best day in and day out. As a leader, I want to see us push ourselves every single day and be the best we can.

Q: What does wrestling mean to you?

A: Wrestling has been my life throughout school for the last 13 years and then some. If it weren’t for wrestling, I never would’ve met all of my best friends from Wittenberg and other schools across the state.

Q: When you step on the mat, what do you try and accomplish?

A: Score first and don’t give up any points at all. If I do, I want them to be earned and not given. I want to stay active and be relentless with my scoring.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Wittenberg-Birnamwood wrestling team?

A: My favorite memory was the 2018 state tournament and being with everyone throughout that weekend.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are not in school or competing in a high school sport?

A: My favorite thing to do is spend time traveling in the summer.

Q: Favorite TV show, movie and musical artist?

A: TV show — “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” Movie — “Step Brothers.” Musical artist — Trippie Redd.

Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know?

A: I have a dog with three legs named Rico.

Q: What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been told?

A: To embrace the toughest parts of something and take it head on.

AT A GLANCE

Athlete: Chad Moegenburg

Sport: Wrestling

School: Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School

Year: Senior

Weight class: 126 pounds