Pair of ‘Jay wrestlers improving

The Athens High School wrestling program might only have two student athletes out for the sport this season, but head coach Jodi Gauerke said it’s not a big issue because wrestling is mainly an individual sport anyway. He said the two boys on the squad, senior Brooks Kraus and junior Connor Lewandowski, are working hard at improving their wrestling techniques which is all that matters right now.

Gauerke said in wrestling, it’s up to each individual to do their job in winning their match on the mat.

“Brooks and Connor are giving 110 percent,” he said. “Wrestling is considered an individual sport, so at that point everyone is watching what you can do by yourself and not so much what the team does. Everybody would like to see a full team but I know there are Division 1 and 2 schools that don’t have full teams, and they have classes as much as our entire high school enrollment; it’s a tough world out there today.”

The Athens wrestling team began the 2021-22 season on Dec. 2 with a home triangular against Chequamegon and Stanley-Boyd. Brooks Kraus pinned his Chequamegon opponent at 138 pounds and Connor Lewandowski also pinned his Chequamegon opponent at 145. Kraus also pinned his Stanley-Boyd opponent at 145 while Lewandowski was pinned at 138.

The pair of Bluejay grapplers competed on Dec. 4 in the Antigo scramble. Kraus took third place in the 138-pound weight class with a 3-2 record, while Lewandowski was fourth in the same weight class with a 2-3 record.

Athens traveled to Stratford on Dec. 9 for a triangular against Auburndale and Stratford. Kraus lost a 9-7 decision Auburndale senior Noah Altmann at 138 pounds, while Lewandowski was pinned by Stratford senior Logan Gliniecki at 138.

Jodi Gauerke’s wife, Danielle, and their daughter, Elle, take statistics during the Bluejays’ wrestling matches.