Nicolet wrestling continues to build successful program
GLENDALE, Wis. — The Nicolet Wrestling team is led by coach Gus Kaufmann. When Gus moved back to the area from LaCrosse and started teaching at Glen Hills Middle School he knew he wanted to coach wrestling. With luck it turned out there was a head coach job open that same year at Nicolet High School. He became co-head coach in 2001-2002 and 21 seasons later he is proud to still be leading the team. Coach Kaufmann shares that when he went to school at Nicolet (鈥�96) they had a small team, but a talented and dedicated group.
Kaufmann says, 鈥淚 always felt Nicolet could be a 鈥渨restling school鈥� even though historically it hasn’t been one the school鈥檚 strongest programs.聽 With coaching role-models around me I tackled the task of creating a K-12 wrestling program.聽 After many years I was lucky enough to have the right coaches in the right place from the youth program, middle school program and high school team which led us to a conference title, 10 qualifiers for the WIAA Individual State Tournament, and the Team State Tournament in the 2021-2022 season.鈥�
Wrestling started at Nicolet in 1960 with hall of fame coach Rollie Strehlow. He coached the team through the聽 60鈥檚, and 70鈥檚. Rai Stelter was head coach through most of the 90鈥檚 then Coach Kaufmann took over for the 2001-2002 season.聽 Prior to 2001-2002 the last time the Nicolet Wrestling team won the conference championship was in 1969 and 1971 under Coach Strehlow led by Jeff Jorgenson (hall of fame wrestler for Nicolet).聽 Since 1961 Nicolet has had 58 individual state qualifiers and 3 state championships (Jim Wolff 1962, Parker Keckeisen 2018 and 2019)聽
Coach Kaufmann shares during his tenure he has been focused on trying to build the best community members we can. They focus on 3 main pillars of success:聽 Help Others, Believe in Yourself, No Quiting. The philosophy of the team that he has established is based on: hard work, commitment, and dedication will open the most important doors in life and your goals will become achievements. Currently the wrestling program has about 65 athletes in the K-8 program with about 20 athletes on the middle school team. This year’s team consisted of 28 athletes, 9 of which were seniors.聽 Of those seniors 6 of them started wrestling in the Jr. Knights Wrestling Youth Program and came up through the middle school program with two middle school conference championships.
The team accomplished and exceeded all the goals they set out to accomplish:
- Team Average GPA of 3.256. 13 athletes on honor roll and 4 on the high honor roll
- 10 individual State qualifiers
- Win the team sectional and go to Team State for the first time in school history.
- Win the conference dual title.
- Win the conference tournament.
- 2 wrestlers (Braeden Ott and Matthew Kuesel) eclipsed 100 career victories.
- Braeden Ott took 2nd at the WIAA individual state tournament.
Coach Kaufmann shares that the Nicolet athletes have the support of the strength and conditioning coach at Nicolet, Evan Rosa, who has done a tremendous job keeping athletes strong and healthy. The athletic trainer, Marissa Strehlow, has also done a fantastic job working with athletes and helping them stay healthy. The wrestling program includes a team of coaches that work together to develop the best athletes they can.聽
Jr. Knights Coach – Tim Panicucci
Middle School Coach – Brian Domski
High School Assistant Coaches:聽 Jeremie Ott, Cody Tesch, Rick Lagerman, Jim Shea, Troy Rysewyk, Gerrard Capello
Coach Kaufmann also notes the importance of the team being made up of multi-sport athletes. 聽 A high percentage of the team鈥檚 best student-athletes have also been playing football at Nicolet; many also play rugby, track and baseball as well.聽 A strong group of the team wrestlers also practice and compete at AWA (Askren Wrestling Academy) in Thiensville during the high school off season.聽 During this time they mainly focus on freestyle wrestling, whereas the high school season is folkstyle.
If you or your child is interested in wrestling, Coach Kaufmann encourages you to 鈥済et on the mat now and find joy in what you are doing.聽 Wins and Losses do not and will not ever matter.聽 Challenging yourself, being a great teammate, and embracing the process of getting better is what is important.聽 The last two weekends the junior knights had over 20 wrestlers compete at local youth tournaments and had a great time.鈥� The Jr. Knights season is underway, and it is not too late to join.They practice Tuesdays/Thursdays between 6:00-8:00 (depending on age) and you can sign up through the Nicolet Rec. Dept.聽 Any 6th, 7th, and 8th graders in the area can also join the middle school team that practices at Glen Hills Middle School from 4-5:30 Monday-Thursday.
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