The Menominee Indian High School wrestling team is hungry to prove just how good it can be.
No Eagles wrestlers advanced out of last season’s WIAA Division 4 regional in Coleman, the first time in about 10 years, according to head coach Kirk Bahr.
A year after taking the regional title, the Eagles were moved the same bracket as Coleman, a perennial power in wrestling.
“They realized that we might never leave that regional, like Bonduel for the last however many years,” Bahr said. “And that they are just going to have to get better.”
Many of the juniors and seniors on the roster were a part of the regional championship-winning team.
The upperclassmen are extremely dedicated, said Bahr, who hopes they will help the newer wrestlers to catch on quickly to help get the program out of its rebuilding stage.
“We’ve just got to keep making them tougher,” Bahr said. “I think it’s going to take a little bit of success early in the year to keep it going throughout the year.”
Bahr, who has coached the Eagles since the inception of the program, is four wins away from reaching 100, a milestone the team is excited to reach this season.
The squad of 27 wrestlers, who Bahr said worked hard over the offseason by going to various camps, have found different ways to improve themselves.
“Like I tell these guys all year, all the tournaments we do, it’s just practice for the conference tournament and regionals,” Bahr said.
The Eagles, who did not have any seniors on last year’s roster, return three honorable mention all-conference award winners in Alenez Warrington, Vel Hawkins and Kyle Komanekin; each of them placed third at the Central Wisconsin Conference tournament.
With his squad’s dedication and experience in postseason competition, Bahr is ready for even more from his athletes this season.
“They know what it’s like; they’ve been a part of a regional title team,” Bahr said. “I think they did grow, and I think we are going to surprise some people this year.”
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