Golden Eagles take flight

DUBUQUE - The Wahlert wrestling team finished the regular season as the most successful team in school history.

'We hit a few bumps and bruises along the way, but that is expected with any team,” Golden Eagles Coach Joel Allen said of his team's 21-5 dual record. 'Some guys haven't wrestled to their full potential in some matches. We left a couple out there, but we're pretty satisfied at where we are at.”

Despite this being Allen's second year coaching the team, there is no doubt that he is turning the program in the right direction.

'Mr. Allen is a champ,” senior Riley Hasken said. 'He has taken this team to a whole new level. We would not be where we are now if it weren't for (him).”

Wahlert may normally be seen as a 'basketball school,” but Allen is working toward improving the wrestling culture.

'It all comes down to making it fun,” Allen said. 'We're trying to do a lot with promoting the team and also building up the Little Eagles' program. It all begins with a larger number of kids willing to go out.”

In his first year as coach, Allen decided Wahlert needed to renovate the wrestling room.

'I'm very proud of the wrestling room now,” Allen said. 'It was a community effort and took a lot of work to accomplish, but it's something we can be proud of.”

Sophomore Alex Fischer also believes Allen has been a major factor in the team's success.

'Mr. Allen has brought the team closer together by making wrestling more enjoyable,” he said. 'We always mix it up and do something different from other teams. This is where we find our success.”

Hasken and seniors Tristan Birt and Andrew Turner reached the milestone of 100 wins in their career, becoming just the 20th, 21st and 22nd wrestlers in Dubuque and sixth, seventh and eighth in Wahlert history to reach the mark.

'I think that says a lot about their effort,” Allen said. 'They not only worked hard this year, but have consistently worked hard all four years and it has paid off.”

Hasken and Birt, however, are not completely satisfied.

'My goal is the state championship, and I will do everything I can to make that possible,” Hasken said.

Hasken placed fifth at state last year and Birt is focused on repeating his state title.

'I don't really think about it,” Birt said. 'I just continue to work hard and take it one match at a time.”

The team had a great showing at the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament where Hasken placed first and Birt and Turner were second.

The younger wrestlers definitely are taking note of the upperclassmen's success.

'The veterans on the team are very helpful when you need a question answered,” Fischer said. 'They are always willing to help. The veterans keep team morale high, especially senior Myles Wernimont.”

'This season has flown by, but it has been a lot of fun,” Allen said. 'The highlight of the season is probably our win against Linn-Mar with freshman Blake Bradley pinning a senior in his first varsity match to win the dual.”

That seemed like a turning point for the wrestling team in its quest for state.

With a regional dual on Tuesday, followed by districts and then state, the Golden Eagles are keeping their eyes on the prize. Wahlert finished second in the sectional tournament.

The potential is there for more success this week and, then, 'watch out for Wahlert at state,” Lenz said.