O ne thing is always true about wrestling season — it’s a grind. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Everything. It will challenge stu- dent-athletes like few things can, and those individuals who can push through the tough times will ultimately find the most success. Gilbert head boys wrestling coach Scott Auderer has been around the sport for a long time. He’s seen every type of adver- sity imaginable. He’s seen stu- dent-athletes persevere. He knows what it takes. But the first step is admitting the truth — it will be a grind. “We talk about the grind a lot and we talk about mental tough- ness a lot,” Auderer, who has a group of 28 wrestlers for the 2024-25 season, said. “When you step through the doors to this (practice) room, your mind- set has to change to be focused on your goals. But we’re also trying to do some things differ- ent this year ... we’re trying to have a little more fun with team
returning letter winners — Mason Wibholm, John Artz, Braeden Nees, Cody Puck, Philip Chitty, Holden Boshart, Easton Crawford, and Mason Griffin — to serve as leaders for the squad. All found measures of success a season ago and have even loftier goals this winter. “As far as the team goes this year, we have a good mix of guys with experience and good, young, enthusiastic talent,” Au- derer said. “The upperclassmen are doing a good job right now of leading. They’re working hard and they have good attitudes.” Artz and Nees are two of the team’s three seniors. Both are multiple-year varsity starters and they combined to pile up 48 victories a season ago. Artz (21-23 in 2023-24), who was a conference bronze med- alist as a junior, could get down to 126 pounds at some point in the season. Nees (27-16 in 2023-24), fifth at the RRC tour- nament a season ago, will be at either 144 or 150.
activities, team bonding, and things like that.” Finding that perfect blend of work and play would aid the Tigers throughout the three- month season. With a number of returning pieces in the lineup and a strong blend of young wrestlers, there is potential for improvement across the board.
Gilbert’s difficult schedule led to a 5-24 dual-meet record a sea- son ago and that should im- prove this winter. But what will still be difficult is the slate of Raccoon River Conference teams it will face, both in duals and at the league tournament. More on that later. Auderer will look to his seven
16 GAME ON | WINTER 2024-25
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting