It was one heck of a last hurrah

After this weekend I can now check one more state tournament off my list. I’ve covered the state track and field tournament and state cross-country state meet multiple times during my time here. Ditto with state title games for football.

I found myself in Madison, my old college stomping grounds, from Thursday to Saturday, watching kids throw each other around on flimsy mats in the Kohl Center. After a year away, it was nice to see the state wrestling tournament return to its home.

I had the pleasure of watching multiple kids from our area win state titles. One student-athlete made a memory for a lifetime when he won a state title and then committed to wrestle for the Wisconsin Badgers immediately after.

The crowd gave a great roar of approval at this, and it sent chills down my spine. I saw kids overcome great odds to reach victory, and saw young men inconsolable with grief at the end of high school wrestling careers.

Each wrestler that arrived for the tournament came with their own story and journey on how they got there. Certain stories share certain themes - for the student-athletes over the weekend it took a great deal of blood, sweat and tears to reach those mats, and even those who lost in the preliminary matches had every right to hold their head up high.

I was especially happy to see Carter Grewe among those wrestlers who earned a spot on the podium. Of course, for anyone who knows Carter, they know he’s not happy with anything but victory. He works hard to achieve great things, and so he has.

He wanted to win that title, wanted to be crowned champion. But so did every other wrestler there. Carter came in a little banged up, but the young man has a heart of a lion and the mind of a champion, and for three grueling days he put mind over matter to do battle with other talented wrestlers.

I’ve mentioned this before, but Carter is one of my favorites. I often say I try to avoid that, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. You see the work Carter puts in, work that others often don’t see. You see the heart and love he has for the sport, and how can you not root for a kid like that?

I’m going to miss watching Carter wrestle next year. He brought something special to each match. You just knew he was going to do something crazy and impressive, and each time he was on the mat I held my breath, knowing that moment would come.

Sometimes I would even forget to take a picture of it. But I got plenty of good pics this time. It was great to see Carter finish his career at the highest stage, and it’s even better knowing he’s going to wrestle in college.

His journey is an inspiration so many others. Carter was not born a champion, he molded himself into one. The best part about Carter’s story is it’s a blueprint for others to follow.

M USINGS AND G RUMBLINGS

ROSS PATTERMANN R EPORTER