Wrestling State tournament preview: Individuals

Individual wrestling sections took place Friday, Feb. 19.  The wrestlers that medaled include: Mitch Bevins (5th Place), R.J. Chakolis (4th Place), Ian Smith (3rd place) and Willie Rohweder (6th place).

Unfortunately, only the top two places from each weight category at Individual sections advance to state. The Royals that are advancing to state are Nate Johnson (1st place), Jesse Sattler (2nd place), and Trevon Pettigrew (2nd place) for their respective weight classes.

One of the hardest challenges the wrestlers are going to face this week for state is maintaining their weight.

“For preparation this week, it’s all about making weight. I have to weigh in at 123lbs on Thursday and on a normal day I weigh around 130lbs. That means extra morning workouts plus harder practices,” said Jesse Sattler, homeschooled.

Sattler has had an incredible season including taking on the role of becoming one of the team captains and reaching the 100th career win milestone at the Hopkins Paul Bengston tournament. This season, he also accomplished the best season record of his career of 31-6.

Another challenge that the wrestlers are going to face is maintaining their focus.  

“They can’t make it out to be bigger than life. They have to approach it like any other match and not got caught up in the enormousness of the situation. It can seem huge if you let it or it can come down to it’s me, the opponent and the referee on the same size mat we wrestle on everyday,” said Coach Alan Price.

Sattler also included: “The key to success this weekend is definitely focus. It’s easy to get distracted at the Excel, and my first year attending state I wasn’t focused on my matches. This year I need to be focused and ready.”

Price’s team has taken it light at practice this week to make sure they’re fully energized for this weekend. They work on small things such as adjustments in techniques and the mental aspect when competing.

“The guys are more concentrated on small techniques but also concentrating on other things like the mental part when they’re not on the mat. Watching tv and enjoying tv without trying to worry. There’s a time to focus on that, but not too much. We try to work on the mental part and little techniques that we can adjust,” Price said.

Nate Johnson, junior, is hoping to make a statement at state. Johnson finished 35-3 during the regular season and finished first in the Individual sections tournament for his weight category.

“I have to not overlook anyone, and when I am wrestling I have to be focused and not allowing them to take advantage,” Johnson said.

Trevon Pettigrew, senior, is looking to make an upset while at state. Pettigrew is facing the #1 ranked wrestler the 220 category in the first round of state.  Overall, Pettigrew has had a great season with a record of 27-8.

Pettigrew has a huge challenge to take on but he believes that he needs to stick to himself and the way he’s been wrestling all year.

“It’s not too different it just means that  you gotta be a little more cautious. The matches now are gonna be a lot harder than the guys we wrestle most of the year from the regular season. We just practice the things we know now more and more,” Pettigrew said. “Just wrestling smart, wrestle how I wrestle and don’t make too many mistakes because he could capitalize on every one and it could be the end of the match.”

Johnson, Pettigrew, and Sattler will go with coach Price to weigh in Thursday, Feb. 25 and then the wrestling tournament will kick off Friday, Feb. 26 at the Xcel Energy Center.