After a successful season for both team and individual, the St. Clair Wrestling team capped off a 10-15 season with three of its students competing at the State tournament held at the Xcel Energy Center.
Before the wrestling team ventured to the cities for the tournament, St. Clair held a brief pep rally in support of the athletes. Head Coach Gio Alvarado spoke highly of the state competitors and how they had an “opportunity to etch their name in St. Clair history.” Alvardo also reflected on the season as a whole and applauded Sheppard’s performance all season and that the “youngbloods” or freshmen and sophomores were a “big part of this team’s development.” The wrestling team finished the season 10-15.
Of course, with two seniors departing after the tournament, Alvarado expressed that he would “miss having Schimek and Kruse” on the team. Activities Director Brad O’Donnell spoke briefly and handed out t-shirts and commemorative certificates to the wrestlers, student managers, representatives, and coaches.
Seniors Eli Kruse and Jacob Schimek returned to state competition as a final hurrah, while a new face in Blake Sheppard competed in his first state tournament. Sheppard (107) lost his opening match in a closely contested match by a 7-6 decision. Kruse (145) lost his opening match by a 5-0 decision; neither wrestler qualified for a consolation match.
Schimek (215) had been a juggernaut all season with a 44-1 record and steamrolled through the section tournament, so his determination to claim a State title was highlighted throughout the year. Schimek performed well in his opening matches with convincing pinfall victories in the first and second match. His semi-final match proved to be a battle of wills as he narrowly defeated his opponent on a 5-3 decision to reach his second straight championship match. However, his final match ended with a questionably called “stalling” which awarded the deciding point to his opponent as Schimek lost the bout by a 4-3 decision.
Despite a disappointing defeat in the match’s final seconds, the achievement of reaching the peak of your sport two years in a row is worthy of praise. I only watched Schimek wrestle a few times and his strength overwhelmed many of his opponents throughout the season as he cruised to an astounding 44-1 record. It takes a strong commitment to training and technique to reach that level of power.
It was an incredible season for these three State wrestlers, with Kruse and Schimek leaving it all on the mat for their final matches. It may not have turned out as planned for these mighty Cyclones, but with Sheppard proving his mettle as a freshman, the future of St. Clair wrestling appears to be only getting better as time goes on.
