HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Elkader Central's comeback kid

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By Jake Hauber, Elkader Central seniorELKADER - Marcus Siegwarth took it upon himself to fight through injuries, team displacement and everything that would make most wrestlers leave the sport.A senior at Elkader Central, Siegwarth hadn't gone out for wrestling in two years and it had been nearly four years since he on a Central team. Central had just enough wrestlers to have a team this year. And because of the  small number of wrestlers at Central, it was hard for Siegwarth to work out with competitors at his own weight. His father, Gary Siegwarth, took it in his own hands to help train his son."It was intense and rigorous,” Macus said.Being a wrestler his whole life, no one was surprised  Siegwarth and his brother, Jed, joined the Central. In Siegwarth's first year, he was a member of the MFL MarMac-Central team because Central didn't have enough wrestlers for a full team.  He qualified for state that year, along with his brother Jed, Nick Winter (Central) and an MFL MarMac wrestler.During his sophomore year - and  still on the MFL MarMac team - Siegwarth suffered a knee injury during practice, ending his season. The injury required many trips to a physical therapist and there was even talk of having  surgery.Central ended its merger with MFL MarMac in Siegwarth's junior year. Since Central still didn't have enough wrestlers for its own team, and with the injury still linger, Siegwarth skipped the season.This season, with Central fielding a team, Siegwarth returned to the state tournament in Des Moines. He was 16-4 during the regular season with several pins.Two practices before state, he injured his knee again, putting his appearance in jeopardy. He had his knee drained and took some cortisone shots so  he would be able to wrestle.He won his first match, 5-3, then lost in the next round. He lost again in the consolation round, missing a chance to place at state.Despite the many obstacles throughout the last four years, Siegwarth stuck with the sport.