Gillett/Suring wrestling head coach Mitch Szwet is focused on changing one aspect of his team this year — its mentality.
With four returning WIAA Division 3 sectional qualifiers, including state-qualifier senior Alex Zeitler, the Tigers are ready to compete with Coleman for the Marinette & Oconto Conference title, a season after taking second place.
“Instead of being OK with hanging in there with the big schools, go out there and expect to win,” Szwet said. “If you’re going to expect to win, you expect to work hard in practice. I think that’s the big thing that we’re really stressing this year because we need to change the mentality.”
The other returning sectional qualifiers are seniors Tanner Rehn and Garret Kohls and junior Donte Carlson, giving Gillett/Suring multiple upperclassmen with the experience and skill to compete at a high level.
“We’ve had guys see sectionals, we’ve had guys see state. So expectations are really bumped up this year,” Szwet said. “We’d really like to qualify quite a few more people and bring the program to the next level.”
“There are a lot of seniors on this team, and we all just lead by example,” Zeitler said.
The expectations will begin with Zeitler, who went 30-11 last year and lost his first-round match at the state tournament.
“Alex (Zeitler) has been one of those kids who has been the hardest working kid in the room. I think it’s helpful for the other guys to see that hard work does pay off,” Szwet said.
Gillett/Suring will return 11 wrestlers, including four sophomores and two juniors, with varsity experience from the 14 weight classes.
However, with only 19 wrestlers coming out for practice, Szwet said the Tigers will have to forfeit one or two weight classes in any given meet.
“For a while, Gillett/Suring has not been competitive, but we’re getting back to a place where we can compete with some really tough teams,” Szwet said, “and getting the boys to believe that they are good enough to be there and good enough to succeed.”
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