Wrestling meant everything to the boys at Yutan High School, they all had the same goal in mind, to get to the state tournament. The boys’ wrestling team ended their season with four state qualifiers and two state medalists. 

“I feel the boys did great this year. Getting two medalists is awesome, especially since there are some years where we don’t have any medalists,” head wrestling coach Dan Krajicek said.

One of these medalists was senior Max Egr, who wrestled in the 157-pound weight class this year.

“Winning the medal at state was the first time I’ve ever finished a sport and felt satisfied with what I’ve done,” Egr said. “You know, I tied my brother. He got fifth his senior year, and I always kind of just told myself, ‘You’re getting a medal.’ I had no doubt in my mind that not getting that was an option.”

This accomplishment meant more knowing he had to work his way through the consolation bracket.

“I lost in my second round of state and just clicked like, all right, it’s go time. So I had to wrestle back. Once I had finished that, I got my medal. It just felt like this season I achieved what I wanted,” Egr said.

Joining Egr on the podium was 120-pounds wrestler sophomore Eli Kult, who has medaled two years in a row.

“Winning is obviously the goal, but when I medaled, it felt like I accomplished something,” Kult said.

Although they didn’t finish the medals, the other state qualifiers had moments to celebrate as well. For junior Jaxon Wood, coming back from a potentially season-ending injury and qualifying for state was an accomplishment of its own.

“Getting to state felt very good because my odds in the middle of the season, after tearing my second knee, were very low. I didn’t think I was gonna wrestle districts at all, really. So once I made it, I just felt like I proved everyone wrong,” Wood said.

At state, both first-time state qualifiers Wood and fellow junior Tyler Keiser were able to end their seasons at the state tournament.

“I knew I was the five seed, so I knew it was gonna be tough matches to go to state, and so I just knew how to be locked in and perform,” junior Tyler Keiser said.

Another qualifier, sophomore Otto Henkel, is using his state performance as motivation for next season.

“I might do some wrestling over the summer, like little things here and there, over the weekend with my brother or something, and then just work hard next year when wrestling starts,” Henkel said.

After seeing what they could do this year, many of them have high hopes for the upcoming years.

“I know that I can wrestle better and so I hope to keep improving and you know, hopefully, get first place in state next year,” Kult said.

Overall, many of the boys loved wrestling, the team and the self-accountability.

“My favorite part about wrestling was not only the team but seeing yourself improve every day because of how individual this sport is,” Egr said.