February 2020 ROAR

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The Rams wrestling team pose with their runner-up trophy in the Kent County Championships. ~ Contributed PhotoA NEW ERARam Wrestlers Reaching Their GoalsJEANNIE GREGORYROAR EditorThe 2019-20 Rams wrestling team set a goal of steppingup their game and gave it a name – “New Era.” They kicked offthis season with what head coach Brian Richardson called, “astough a schedule as you can put together.” The Rams wrestledeight ranked teams head-to-head and competed against 16incredible teams at the Detroit Catholic Central (DCC) Invitationaland the Kent County Championships. So far it looks likeRichardson’s faith in his wrestlers was well-placed. His Ramsare making their mark on the mat.“This group doesn’t in any way want to discount the contributionsof the guys that came before them, but they want tomake their own name for themselves.”The Rams are working hard to do exactly that.They started their tournament campaign with the Kent CityKick Off Classic in early December and claimed the title with10 Rams going undefeated on the day. Just four days later theRams competed in the Grandville Quad and came home withtwo more victories, dominating Grand Ledge and Niles. TheRams then claimed runner-up in the Kent County Championships.In the Grand Haven Quad, the Rams topped two OK Redopponents to move their season record to 10-1 and notch twovaluable conference wins.The first weekend in January found the Rams competingin the DCC Invitational in Novi. The tournament fielded thetoughest competition in its history, with five of the teams nationallyranked. Rockford was able to earn a sixth place out ofthe 21 teams in the highly competitive wrestling tournament.“This tournament was brutal,” shares Richardson. “Theyhad an incredible field and fortunately we took sixth place.We had a great day all the way around, and I couldn’t be moreimpressed with what our kids did in this competition.”The Rams topped Grand Haven and Caledonia in dualmeets and battled slippery roads, Saturday, Jan. 18, to competein the Lakeshore Super Duals. The team came away with a 4-0record on the day to claim the meet. With the victories, theRams’ record moved to 16-1 on the season.24 ROAR MAGAZINE FEBRUARY, 2020

“Last year we graduated a very talented senior class so Ithink a lot of people thought we would take a dip with thelosses,” shares Richardson.“But, since day one this team has wrestled hard. It has beenan absolute joy to coach this team, they showed up last summerwhen we started getting back together for the camps, andthey showed they were ready to make their own mark in theworld.”Richardson shares part of the reason his team is so successful.“This group has embraced the attitude of we aren’t taking astep backwards and it shows. I always try to adapt as a coach tothe team that I have, and this group is just a lot of fun. I’ve hadto adjust and tweak practices and tweak the line-up and theyare so open to new ideas and new things. They all get alongso well, and they have great vision. They understand that achange might be the best thing to do for the good of the team.They never hesitate to put the team before the individual andit has clearly paid off. You can’t ask for much more than thatas a coach.”Richardson looks forward to tackling the day, every day.“I’m having a ball with these guys. I walk into practice andI’m so happy to be there. I think, ‘this is going to be a greatday,’ and every day is. They are always prepared, and they showevery intention of maintaining the success we’ve had this season.These kids embrace the challenges. We make mistakes, forsure, but we are getting really good at not making the sameones.”Richardson points to the senior class as excellent role modelsfor the team.“They are a tight-knit group of friends. There are no big superstarsand they show it by valuing each other equally. Theyall get along so well and that sets the tone for how our team attacksevery day. It’s clear that it is our leaders who set the toneand are phenomenal young men.”Varsity A wrestling seniors Josh Hill, Ashton Halland, ReidNicholson, Andrew Bolen, Evan Kaser and Brocke Fisher haveadded positive points on the mat. Kaser, along with juniorTrenton Wachter, claimed their 100th high school career winat the Lakeshore Super Duals. Underclassmen Brysonn Aulbach,Cole Gleason, Hunter Chilcote, Moses Bosscher, and MasonJakiemiec have also added points to the Rams’ season.There are two freshmen who are also making a mark on thisseason’s team.“We are getting amazing contributions from Jak Keller andElijah Bunn. They are establishing themselves as the cream ofthe crop of the lightweights in the area. It’s been a lot of fun forthe team to see that happening. It’s been a while since the programhad wrestlers walk in and make such a big contribution,and it has been a big help that those two have blossomed earlyfor us. They’ve done a great job and have made the team better.The experience, attitude and toughness they’ve broughtis impressive. Both of them are fierce competitors and havealready matured with the high school competition. They’vetaken some losses, sure, but every week they have also takena giant step forward. I can’t wait to see what the ceiling can befor these two.”There is no doubt that Richardson and his group of hungrywrestlers are stepping up their game and furthering theprogram.Richardson concludes, “This year’s team is all about makingtheir own identity, about taking the excellent examplesthey have been given over the years to make this program betterthan they found it. I think that’s such an admirable goal.”Team captainOR weekend warriorYou were made to move.Athletes aren’t the only ones whoneed to move and feel better. At MetroHealth – University of Michigan Health, ourteam can help you overcome an injury, jointpain or whatever it is that’s holding you back.If you’re ready to move like yourself again,we’re here to help.616.252.7778metrohealth.net/sportsmedicineFEBRUARY, 2020 ROCKFORDROAR.COM 25