Senior Garrett Siolka is looking to finish his wrestling career in a way no other from Bonduel High School ever has.
The three-time state qualifier could become the first BHS grappler to make the state tournament in each of his four seasons.
“So he obviously would love to go out on top, but first things first. We’ve got to keep him healthy and keep him improving as well,” Bears head coach Chris Rank said. “Get him at the state tournament, and then if that happens, obviously, get on that podium and work your way as far up as you can.”
Appearances at the biggest meet of the year have helped Siolka realize the effort it takes to compete with the best wrestlers in Division 3.
“It teaches you how much improvement you really need,” Siolka said. “You can go from the top to the bottom in one year, and it’s what you do in that year that really signifies how the end of your year is going to go.”
Sophomore Jordan Boldt, a state qualifier from a season ago in the 106-pound weight division, also returns for the Bears, along with Jacob Banker and Bennett Gunderson, who were close to breaking through.
The Bears will need to make up for a talented graduating senior class, which included three state qualifiers in 2015: Travis Wollenberg, Dan Tauchen and Mitch Sokolski.
“Those are very difficult weight classes that we have to fill. It’s going to be a learning curve for a lot of these guys,” Rank said. “We’re happy we’ve got a full team, but they were a good group of guys that we lost through graduation last year.”
Rank, who had expected to forfeit a few weight classes in any given dual because of low numbers, was pleased to find an unexpected number of new wrestlers coming to practice this season.
“It’s nice to see all the young guys coming out,” Gunderson said. “It’s a rebuilding sort of year and hopefully give these guys more experience, so next year, they can sort of come and be their own.”
Now, Rank will be challenged with bringing them up to speed in a competitive Central Wisconsin Conference-8 and tourney bracket, with the powerhouses such as Stratford and Coleman awaiting the Bears in postseason competition.
“From Day 1 to Day 6, they are looking so much better,” Rank said about the new wrestlers. “I said, ‘Right now, we have to build off of that and see where we can be in Week 6.’ That’s where we want to keep learning and improving, and we’ll be fine.”
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