High School News

Core Values and Community

Terry Gorecki and Royalton-Upsala Wrestling

Since Terry Gorecki returned as head coach in 2016, the Royalton-Upsala Royals' wrestling program has been to four straight section finals and the last two state tournaments. To do that, the most important thing is to have the horses on the mat, but the rise of the Royals' program is based on two things – core values and community. Change either one of those foundations, and those four section finals don't happen.

Gorecki knew about the community aspect of wrestling early in his life.

"I started wrestling in Foley," Gorecki said. "I wrestled until tenth grade and decided to hang it up. Everyone wrestled in Foley, so I just did what everyone else did."

An old nemesis paved Gorecki's path back into wrestling.

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Breckenridge-Wahpeton wrestling heads toward co-op next season

The Breckenridge School Board voted unanimously to co-op their wrestling program next season with Wahpeton at a Wednesday, June 16 school board meeting.

The decision has been discussed for multiple weeks and was recommended by the School Board Activities Committee. The possibility of co-oping with another Minnesota school was also discussed. Due to travel for practices and games, a Wahpeton-Breckenridge co-op was determined to be the best option.

“It’s a little frustrating for me to hear either yay or nay,” school board member Ty Mikkelson said during the meeting.

After talks between Breckenridge Activities Director Chad Fredericksen and Wahpeton Activities Director Mike McCall, the two sides agreed that this was what’s best for both programs. Continue reading at wahpetondailynews.com →

A Community Program, A Community Championship

Kimball Area Wrestling

By Brian Jerzak

When Kimball Area Cubs' wrestling coach David Joseph was a senior wrestling for the Cubs, he helped the team get a section title. It was the program's first section title in years and started a string of some of the best years in Cubs' wrestling history. The future head coach had no idea how his time as a wrestler in the program would affect a second run of success – and the school's first state title ten years later.

"I got involved in wrestling at an early age," Joseph said. "My dad was a wrestler and wrestling kind of runs in the blood. My first practice was a Hi-Flyers practice – it was trial by fire. I was about five years old at the time. I think Brandon Paulson was running the practice, and I don't think I had run so many sprints in my life. I have been addicted ever since."

Joseph was a three-sport athlete for the Cubs, but wrestling had a certain appeal.

"You get to control a lot of the variables," Joseph explained. "I played football and baseball, and there is a lot more chance in other sports. In wrestling, you get out of it what you put into it. The harder I worked, the more success I had; I think that connected me to the sport."

Joseph was a one-time state entrant – taking fifth as a senior.

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