Wrestlers have great expectations

There is a new leader inside Sauk Prairie’s wrestling program for the second year in a row. But it is a familiar face in former Sauk Prairie assistant coach Matt Gaffney, who has waited 11 years for his dream job. “My goal was always to be the head coach of a high school wrestling team, but to do it in Sauk Prairie, I’m pretty blessed,” said Gaffney, a former WIAA Division 1 state champion at 130 pounds for Sauk Prairie in 2008. “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing.” Gaffney, who has served as an assistant coach for the past 11 years — seven at Portage and the last four at Sauk Prairie — said he is ready for the challenge of running his own program. “There’s always going to be nerves,” said Gaffney, whose Eagles open the season with a Badger North Conference dual at Reedsburg on Friday at 7 p.m. “But I feel like I’ve learned from some of the best coaches out there and had some of the best coaches here.” That includes former Sauk Prairie head coach Scott Smith, Gaffney’s mentor, who moved into an assistant’s role following the 2017-18 season to be able to have the flexibility to watch his sons, Eddie and Zeke, compete in college. Smith returns as an assistant coach along with Justin Schroeder and Darin Pape. Former Sauk Prairie state placewinner Austin Fjoser also joins the staff. Gaffney, who also gets his competitive streak satisfied as a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, succeeded Adam Brager, who served as head coach last season but stepped down at the end of the year. Despite the change at the top, Gaffney said some things will always remain the same. “We’re still going to be competitive,” he said. “We may not always have the super strong, athletic kid. But we’re just tough, and work hard. That’s the way coach (Smith) did things, and the way I’ll do things. We find kids who like to battle.” The Eagles, who had their string of eight consecutive Badger North Conference titles snapped a year ago, return eight letterwinners including seniors Marcus Hankins and Dawson Enge, who were state qualifiers a year ago. Hankins said that experience will have a positive impact on the Eagles’ program. “Me and Dawson know what it takes to get it done, to win, to make it to the big stage,” Hankins said. “We’re going to be great role models, and we’re going to help the underclassmen figure it out. We have a big freshman class, and we need to get them going a little bit.” Hankins (28-4) qualified for state at 195 pounds and lost in a preliminary round match, which left him wanting for more. “It was a great experience, getting to wrestle on the Kohl Center floor,” said Hankins, one of the Eagles’ co-captains a year ago. “That will motivate me to work even harder to get back there this year.” Hankins, who has a career mark of 70-27, followed up a runner-up finish at the Badger Conference meet with a regional title and a runner-up finish at sectionals last season. Following a breakout football season where he earned Badger North Conference second-team honors at both center on offense and as a down lineman on defense, Hankins is ready to go out with a bang on the mat this winter. “Football has kept me lifting,” he said. “It’s kept me strong and in shape. It’s kept me disciplined. I will carry all of that over to the wrestling season. All I need to do is work on my cardio and get that back up, and I will be ready to rock.” Gaffney expects Hankins to pick up where he left a year ago and take his performance to another level. “He’s got big goals to accomplish this year, and I’m excited for him,” Gaffney said. “He’s all in. He’s great in the classroom, he’s great on the field. He’s great on the mat. He’s our go-to guy.” Enge (36-13) finished third in the Badger Conference meet and second at both regionals and sectionals to earn his first state berth where he fell to the eventual third- and fifth-place finishers at 113 pounds. “Dawson will start at 120 and hopefully be down to 113 at tournament time,” Gaffney said. “We expect a lot out of him.” Other returning letterwinners include: sophomore Colton Uselman (106 pounds), junior Luis Elizondo (138), junior Carson Saladis (145), senior Simon Patterson (182/195), senior Austin Rider (220) and junior Connor Warren (285). Uselman (17-22) will compete at either 106 or 113 pounds with freshman Charlie Homp also in the mix at 106. “Colton definitely held his own as a freshman,” Gaffney said. “He was a little lighter at that weight class and took his lumps. But he won some conference matches for us.” Elizondo (27-13) was a sectional qualifier in is first varsity season and could compete at 132 or 138. “If he stays healthy, he’s got a shot at the state tournament,” Gaffney said of Elizondo. “He’s a tough kid, a tough worker. I like working with him.” Gaffney said Saladis (22-14) was 30 seconds away from qualifying for the state tournament, finishing fourth at sectionals last year. “Luis and Carson are drill partners, so they work well together,” Gaffney said. “They push each other every day.” Patterson (22-5) could compete at 182 or 195, while Rider (17-20), who placed fourth at sectionals, will also compete at the upper weights. Warren (25-10) returns at heavyweight after winning a Badger Conference title and narrowly missing a state berth with a third-place finish at sectionals. Freshman Nolan Vils is also expected to make an impact at the upper weights. “Nolan played varsity football as a freshman, and I’m looking forward to him being in the room,” Gaffney said. “He’ll be a training partner for Marcus (Hankins) and is stronger than an ox. Once we get Nolan technique-savvy, he will be pretty good.” Gaffney said sophomore Blake Bermudez, freshman Roman Warren and sophomore Dylan Breunig are also expected to battle for spots in the starting lineup. “Blake Bermudez may fill that 182 gap for us,” Gaffney said. “He’s put in a lot of time in the offseason. Roman Warren, Connor’s little brother, is a solid kid. Either he or freshman Grant Sorg will be our 126 pounder. “Dylan Breunig will step up and be a varsity guy this year, possibly at 132. He had a dominant JV season last year. He should be able to fill in quite handily.” Gaffney is also hoping the return of senior Sam Vils to the room will energize the Eagles. “Sam Vils at 160, maybe 152, is an interesting story for us,” Gaffney said. “He went out as a freshman and had some concussion issues and now is back for his senior year. “It’s pretty cool to have your friends notice you lifting a lot of weights and wanting you to give wrestling another try. They recruited him, so he’s been fun to work with in the room.” Replacing graduated seniors and state qualifiers Bryant Schaaf, the Division 1 state runner-up at 160, and Jesse Huerth will be tough. But so far, Gaffney said it has been business as usual. “In Sauk Prairie, we’ve always made our money on tough farm kids who listen and work hard and will go to battle for you,” Gaffney said. “If you take them out in the back alley, they’re going to scrap and fight for you, for their team, for their city and for their community. “They’re Eagles. Once you wear the red and black, everything will take care of itself.”