It took a little convincing before Bennett Gunderson decided to try wrestling in first grade.
Gunderson said a little push from his mother and his best friend, Garrett Siolka, convinced him to give the sport a try.
It turned out to be a good choice.
Gunderson, now a senior at Bonduel High School, last week surpassed the 100-win mark for his career — the 24th wrestler to achieve that milestone in the school’s illustrious wrestling history. The group also includes Siolka, who passed the mark last season.
Gunderson said it took time for him to develop wrestling skills.
“I wasn’t very fundamental growing up,” he said. “Around eighth grade is when I actually started doing moves instead of just trying to throw kids around.”
Gunderson said when he started high school, he set two goals on the first day of practice: reach 100 wins and make a state appearance.
The first mark fell Saturday as he accumulated five wins, and raised his season record to 28-6, at a Central Wisconsin Conference multi-meet in Shiocton.
“Now, he can look forward to moving on and hopefully meeting his other goal of making it to state this year,” Bonduel coach Chris Rank said. “It’s a nice thing for him.”
Gunderson will get his shot again at his second goal when the WIAA tournament series begins next month.
“I’ve just been trying to spread the message that if you work really hard at something, you’ll eventually reach your goals, as I did,” Gunderson said.
Rank has watched Gunderson blossom into a strong leader on the mat, a huge change from the freshman that walked into wrestling practice four seasons ago lacking confidence, technique and strength.
Rank has seen Gunderson’s confidence grow as he has matured over the seasons. Now, there aren’t many heavyweight wrestlers that can defeat him.
“I know every day he is going to give me his best,” Rank said. “He’s going to give me his best in every practice, and he’s going to give me his best in every match. That’s all I can ask.”
Gunderson’s success comes from hard work. Whether it’s mat time, lifting or doing anything else for the team, he gives 100 percent, Rank said.
“It was finally nice to develop a couple of moves so I could face some of the better technical wrestlers in the area and beat them,” Gunderson said.
There is still one goal left for the senior, though. He has yet to advance past the sectional tourney. Siolka, meanwhile, has been to state in each of the past three seasons.
The two bonded over a shared interest in WWE as youngsters, which Siolka said helped convince Gunderson to get on the mat.
“It ends up he (wrestled) and started getting pretty good,” Siolka said. “Now he’s in high school, and he’s really become a really good athlete because of it.”
Gunderson is still making a decision about what to do after high school, debating whether to play football at the collegiate level. He was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Bears, who advanced to the WIAA Level 2 playoffs last season in Division 5.
“Wherever he goes in life, I know he’s going to be a good leader,” Rank said. “He’s a very well-mannered young man. He’s disciplined, determined. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to be successful in life.”
Categories
