Central/Ed-Co Boys Wrestling Preview: Co-op continues to forge friendships, elevate team
The Central/Ed-Co wrestling team includes (front, left to right) George Reimer, Kinnick Robbins, Isaiah Burns, Eli Bailey, Kayden Williams, Colton Hoisington, Braxton Bormann, Eddie DeShaw; (back) Cooper Brown, Parker Funke, Ben Pierschbacher, Landon Glawe, Tallen Mormann, Zane Embretson, Nolan Gaul and Jamison Feickert. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Now in the second year of a boys wrestling co-op between Central and Edgewood-Colesburg, the partnership between the schools has “worked out better than anyone anticipated,” said head coach Joe Koehn.
The co-op has forged friendships between wrestlers and elevated practices.
“We have more of a variety for practice partners. Instead of having maybe six or five kids, we have more,” shared Parker Funke, a sophomore at Central. “It really helps team dynamics. I hope we can do well this year with the group we’ve got out.”
“It gives us a lot more opportunities to get better from each practice partner and more partners to pick from. You’re not just working with the same people every day,” added Ed-Co junior Cooper Brown, “but getting a different environment to practice in as well.”
Wrestlers hope this will translate to more dual success for the team.
Said Central senior Braxton Bormann, “It helps filling all those weights and just being able to get more people out there to perform.”
“You’re able to compete with other schools. It’s more fun to not get beat down,” noted Ed-Co junior Nolan Gaul.
Outside the lowest weights, Koehn anticipates Central/Ed-Co will fill nearly all the classes this season. Bormann, the team’s lone senior and a three-time state qualifier, will lead the effort. He lost in the blood round at state a season ago, and is eager to medal this time around.
“My goal is to try and place at state—hopefully pretty high, if I can.” To do so, Bormann said, “You have to work through everything and just put your head down and go. Take the little details and fine tune everything.”
Koehn is excited to see what Bormann can accomplish.
“He’s getting in the right spot mentally and staying tough mentally. That’s the biggest thing,” the coach said.
Other notable returners are juniors Gaul, Brown, Jamison Feickert, Mack Perrinjaquet and Isaiah Burns, along with sophomores Funke, Kinnick Robbins, Zane Embretson and Colton Hoisington.
“A lot of younger guys coming back that had experience as freshmen and sophomores. Now they’re sophomores and juniors,” Koehn said. “I’m really excited to see those guys kind of take the next step.”
The team also welcomes multiple newcomers in sophomores Kayden Williams and Eli Bailey and juniors Tallen Mormann and Ben Pierschbacher.
“Pierschbacher will be at heavyweight,” according to Koehn. “He was all-district in football for Ed-Co this year, so excited to have him.”
Three freshmen join the squad in Eddie DeShaw and George Reimer, both of whom had successful junior high careers, as well as Landon Glawe, who will compete at the heavier weights.
“I’m really excited to see them come up and see how they fare in the varsity ranks,” said Koehn.
The coach listed the increase in practice partners among Central/Ed-Co’s strengths. The co-op also has good team chemistry.
“They all work together really well. They’re all more than willing to get down and dirty and get to work, and they’re willing to push each other. They also help pick each other up, staying positive and getting each other in the right state of mind every time they wrestle,” he shared.
One of Koehn’s goals this season is to qualify for regional duals—then perhaps state duals. With some schools moving from 1A to 2A, he said it opens opportunities for Central/Ed-Co. So does the improved competition of the expanded Upper Iowa Conference.
“We’re going to be seeing tougher teams. Cresco, New Hampton/Turkey Valley, they are perennial powerhouses, and Waukon is starting to get a good program going. So it’s just going to make our conference even better. They’re going to be tough. Don’t get me wrong,” Koehn said, “but I’m excited to see it.”
To reach the regional dual, Koehn said Central/Ed-Co must perform well against opponents like these as well as fellow UIC schools South Winneshiek and North Fayette Valley. His wrestlers will also see Sumner-Fredericksburg, Central Springs and Clear Lake, all of whom are good wrestling programs.
“If we can get a few upsets, that could really help us get on that track to get there,” he said.
Central/Edgewood-Colesburg began its season Dec. 2, at Clayton Ridge. The team will also wrestle at Postville on Dec. 4.
