The Patriot wrestling team had its first practice on October. 30. in Gym B.

Coach Jim Lake mentioned what his goals were for this season.

“Get as many guys to state. Maybe 5 guys would be great,” he said.

Lake listed who the toughest teams were to beat so hopefully they could get ahead and beat them.

“The whole Northwest conference basically so Seckman, Lafayette, and Eureka,” he said.

Coach Lake mentioned who the top players were.

“ [junior] Garret Kloeppel, [junior] Ty Osby, and [sophomore] Max Rinklin,” he said.

Kloeppel mentioned some colleges that were looking at him, since he took second place in the 126 pound weight class at the State Championship last year. His freshman year Kloeppel also made it to the state tournament but didn’t place. As an eighth grader he won the Missouri USA State Wrestling Championship.

“West Point Academy and University of Michigan and a few other ones but I forgot,” he said.

Cutting weight is what a lot of wrestlers have to go through. Osby mentioned how he cuts his weight.

“I usually eat a lot less and work out really hard in practices and out too,” he said.

Lake said what the team can improve on so that they could improve in the upcoming season.

“Just experience. Wrestling isn’t a sport that you can instantly be good at overnight. Focus on individual improvement,” he said.

Like a lot of other sports kids start playing them young. So did Lake, Osby, and Kloeppel.  Lake said.

“ I wrestled in elementary school. I moved to Parkway in ‘85 and did it in eighth grade then went to high school and did it for four years,” Lake said.

Kloeppel mentions what his greatest accomplishment in wrestling,

“It would have to be playing at a national tournament,”

Many wrestlers have their favorite move Osby said what his was.

“My favorite move is the single leg,” Osby said. 

Osby mentioned why he likes wrestling.

“Something about winning. It’s not like winning in other sports it’s more exciting,” he said.

As many students know it’s very hard juggling school and sports a lot of students get most of their homework done in Ac. Lab. Osby mentioned how he juggles school and sports so well.

“I utilize Ac. Lab,” he said.