Get to know the Grafton wrestling team
GRAFTON, Wis. — Wrestling has been a long-standing athletic offering for students at Grafton High School. In recent years, however, the program has seen a number of different coaches. Since Mike Dodge left the program in 2021 after 22 years as head coach, leadership has been inconsistent.
This season, Brant Murray stepped in as head coach, bringing 16 years of coaching experience and a lifetime spent wrestling. He says, 鈥淚 have been in wrestling since I was 4 years old. I love it. When work wouldn鈥檛 allow me to coach, I would officiate and volunteer to stay involved. I was always involved in some way.鈥�
As is true in every sport鈥揺specially at youth and high school levels鈥搃t鈥檚 not just about the wrestling. It鈥檚 about the relationships built and life lessons learned along the way. Coach Murray understands this, and his passion for the sport is clear.
For this season鈥檚 GHS wrestling team, Coach Murray has set an expectation of growth and hard work. Because team members鈥� motivation to work hard comes from their dedication to one another, he is optimistic about the 2022-2023 season. Muirray explains, 鈥淭his team is already dedicated to one another, so I am excited to see where we are at the end of the year.鈥�
When it comes to achieving greatness, Coach Murray identifies two main characteristics of a successful team. First, he explains, 鈥淭hey are always working on fundamentals. That鈥檚 the key to any good wrestler in my opinion. And second, we are always having fun. That鈥檚 my number one rule regardless of the age I am coaching. You must make sports fun. It鈥檚 a game, games should be fun.鈥�
This outlook also informs the way in which he teaches his athletes to deal with losses. He helps them realize that wrestling is 鈥渏ust a game.鈥� He adds, 鈥淵ou have to shake it off and move forward and focus on the next match. I try to teach an O.L.D. philosophy. Own what happened, Learn from the mistake, Don鈥檛 let it happen again.鈥�
One of Coach Murray鈥檚 proudest coaching moments at Grafton involves the Grafton High School鈥檚 involvement with the youth wrestling club. 鈥淚 invited the Middle School to come in and work for an hour after our [practice],鈥� he says. 鈥淗ardly any of my wrestlers left. They stayed and helped out. That made me proud. It’s not about the wins and losses. It鈥檚 about making sure those younger athletes know they are cared about and have people to look up to and cheer for.鈥�
As he looks ahead to his legacy as a coach, Murray explains, 鈥淚 just hope my athletes look at me like I look at some of my old coaches, Mr. Green and Coach Bowman. They were more than coaches to me. Those two men taught me more than I think they will ever know.鈥�
A Conversation with GHS Wrestling Seniors Nate Krause, Alex Vincent and Ben Birch
Please share some team history:聽
Team: 3 Head Coaches in the past three years, only 2 state champs ever, have not won Regionals or Conference in 25+ years.
What are the team鈥檚 goals for the current season?
Team: Win Regionals, Conference, and Qualify for Team State. Also have at least three wrestlers at the state tournament.
Who are the team’s captains or leaders? What makes them a vital part of the team’s success?
Team: Nathan Krause, Ben Birch, Louis Berns, and Ellie Federl. They are the hardest workers in the room. Anyone can go to them with questions or concerns.
How does the team welcome new members?聽
Team: We tend to just warm them up to us with dodgeball games and joking around. It鈥檚 always fun in the wrestling room.
How does the team celebrate?
Team: After tournaments we all go to Culvers. It doesn鈥檛 matter how we did.
What has motivated the team to reach their goals this season?
Team: The fact that we have a lot of new faces, and we want to show them the way to do things.
Is there anything else you would like to add?聽
Team: Shooters Win!
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