Bonduel High School wrestler Jacob Wudtke had a tough match his freshman year against Shiocton’s Zech Riehl.
“I wrestled him like nine times in my life and I’d never beaten him,” Wudtke said. “My freshman year, I finally pulled it out and beat him. That’s one match that I’ll never forget.”
Four years and about a hundred wins later, Wudtke, now a senior preparing for the Central Wisconsin Conference tournament Saturday in Wittenberg — and ultimately a return to state — is a completely different wrestler.
“I’ve changed my wrestling style. I’ve gained almost 40 pounds of wrestling weight,” said Wudtke, who wrestles at 170 pounds. “It’s a lot of adapting and learning new styles. If you would have seen me four years before and see me now, completely different wrestler, completely different person.”
It is one of the more dramatic transformations that coach Chris Rank has seen.
“He was your average, short, little pudgier guy coming in as a freshman,” Rank said. “Probably not the most athletic individual coming in as a freshman, but he has worked tremendously these last four years, more than any of the boys in this school.
“He has dedicated himself these last four years to be the best athlete and the best leader for Bonduel. I couldn’t be more proud of him. Everything he’s earned, he’s worked for. For him to accomplish 100 wins for us as a wrestler is pretty amazing.”
“It does feel good. Getting 100 wins is something that every wrestler strives for,” said Wudtke, who is 112-39 over his career, including 28-4 this season.
Wudtke is the captain and one of the team’s most vocal leaders, a trait he picked up from 2012 BHS graduate Drew Wudtke.
“Drew Wudtke, my cousin, he was always a vocal leader and I looked up to him a lot,” He said. “That really rubbed off on me. … It’s awesome in my eyes because I’m getting myself pumped up, and at the same time everybody around me is getting into the zone to get ready for their match.”
After the conference tournament, Wudtke will turn his focus to the WIAA tourney series. He was a state qualifier a year ago, but missed the podium, losing 5-4 to Clear Lake senior Garrett Paulson, who got an escape in the final 22 seconds to get the win.
“My goal for myself is that I want to make the podium at state this year,” Wudtke said. “Last year, I made it, and this year, I want to take it one step higher. I want to place there.”
If he makes it to state, Wudtke said he will be better prepared than he was last year.
“The thing is, last year I got to learn a lot,” he said. “I got to state and experienced it and kind of got the bugs out of the system. Now if I make it this year, I don’t have to be nervous about any of that stuff. I know what to expect. I can just go and wrestle.”
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