The Grapplin' Ghost

Mat Check Vol.2 Issue 2

It was great to see so many fans at last night's five team team scrimmage at Wrightstown. We had a tremendous parent following, but not just of current KHS wrestlers, but also alumni and youth parents as well. Might as well play on the Christmas theme and say we had the Grapplin' Ghost parents of past, present, and future in attendance. We even had alumni managers coming out to check up on their team while home from college for Thanksgiving break. Nice seeing ya' Sam 'n Sam!

As usual we got a lot of quality mat time in a few hours at this scrimmage. Check out the pictures on this site. By the looks of it we will be ready for our opening meet on Thursday and Saturday's tournaments. We do have to fix a few things over the next three days, but it will be nice to open up on the home mats and do what we do best...compete. We are anticipating a large and vocal crowd. Although we love to win and we hate to lose, please remember the "SPIRIT" of the Grapplin'Ghost:

Sportsmanship..Pride..Involved..Respect..Integrity..Trust

We have a reputation as being very gracious hosts and we want to maintain it. Thursday will be Parents' night. All parents should be at the match by 7 pm. We will be introducing parents and sons/daughters between the JV and varsity match.

Poster Update: The goal is to have it out and about town on December 7 before Sponsor Night, but for that to happen, all potential sponsors would have to contact me by this Thursday, Nov 30 to meet this deadline. If you have a lead on a sponsor(s), follow up with them immediately to contact me by Thursday.      766-6113 ext.5133 or matczakj@kaukauna.k12.wi.us

Mat Check Vol.2 Issue 1

Mat Check

Vol.18

Welcome to another season of wrestling! One week of practice is in and the first competition is right around the corner. Next Saturday night we will participate in our annual scrimmage between Wrightstown, Pulaski, and Green Bay West/Southwest. This will take place at Wrightstown High School at 6 pm. Parents and fans are welcome to attend to see how the team is shaping up.

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Our first competition will be the following Thursday, November 30 against Oshkosh West at Kaukauna. This will be Parents' Night and all parents will be recognized between the JV and Varsity match at approximately 7:15. Passes will be given to team members next week for their parents' free admission into the match.

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Letters were also sent home last week from Carol Couillard. Carol has organized our parents’ concessions group for a number of years and she has once again volunteered to get this huge operation rolling. It’s a hundreds-of-hours undertaking for Carol each season and she needs your support. Please contact her at 766-4113.

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Poster/Schedule

 

On Tuesday we are taking are poster/schedule photos after practice at 6:00 in the wrestling room. It should be out in a few weeks. We are seeking business sponsors so please pass on the form below to anyone you have in mind. Note that the deadline for contacting me is next Thursday, November 30 for those who want to be on the poster.

 

Download microsoft_word_poster_sponsor_letter_with_ghost_headingb_2006.pdf

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 17

Wausau West Duals A Success

Nineteen KHS wrestlers traveled to Wausau West last Friday night and successfully competed in three dual meets. The team defeated Mosinee and Wausau West in the first two duals before losing to Wrightstown by two points in a hard fought match in the final.

Wrestling for Kaukauna were: Josiah Bobier, Stevie Van Wychen; Matt Kilgas; Dan Strassburg; Micah Behnke, Glen Meyerhofer; Mitch Uitenbroek; Alex Zuberbier; Tony Quimby; Dillon Bera, Eric Vanevenhoven; Adam Klueskens; Noah Budi; Travis Krol; Kevin Geitner; Joseph Budi; Peter Strassburg; Alex Kazik and Tony VanDeLoo.

Intensive Campers Begin Final Week

Noah Budi, Joseph Budi, Dillon Bera, and Eric Vanevenhoven are in their final week of the J. Robinson 28 Day Intensive Wrestling Camp at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 16

Ninth Annual Friends of Kaukauna Wrestling Golf  Outiing and Cookout

Scramble format Event prizes on every hole. Choose 9-holes or 18-holes or you may attend the cookout only. RSVP

Come and visit with fellow alumni, friends, and coaching staff.

To register please call Ann Mc Daniel 920-766-7235

Kaukauna Wrestlers Finish Second at Dubuque Duals

A group of Kaukauna wrestlers and coaches attended the Dubuque, Iowa Team Duals Camp from June 28-July 1. The team took second overall in the competition.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 15

Kaukauna Wrestling Anglers Association: Second Annual Great Lakes Tournament

The High School team will spend the afternoon wrestling fish on Lake Michigan.

Cost will be a valid Great Lakes Salmon & Trout stamp, the price is listed below:

15 years old & under – no license needed

16/17 yr old – license $7 + stamp $10=$17

18 & older – license $17 + stamp $10=$27 (An option is a 2 day permit for $14 total)

Our plan will be to meet at the High School around 3 PM and then travel to Manitowoc, returning after dark, about 11 PM.

Call Steve Mc Daniel at 766-7235 for more details and to reserve a spot on a boat.

KRD Mini Clinics

KHS Wrestling Room

These mini clinics are replacing former "open mat" times. There is no charge. Take advantage of this opportunity to work with Kaukauna coaches and special guests as they demonstrate techniques, live wrestling, and strength training.

Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 PM

Kaukauna Wrestling Room

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 14 (5/1/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 14)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

Budi   Wins State Freestyle; Krol and Vandeloo Take Second

Ten Kaukauna   area wrestlers entered the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation State Freestyle Tournament   on Saturday, April 22 at Wisconsin Rapids. Kaukauna sophomore Joe Budi added   to his off-season accolades by winning the cadet 189-pound championship with   five dominating wins.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 13 (4/06/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 13)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

Awards   Banquet

On Sunday,   March 26 we put closure on the 2005-06 season at our annual awards banquet at   High Cliff Restaurant. It was a bittersweet evening because we were able to   look back on a record-setting season and feel good about our accomplishments   lead by a strong senior class, but yet the realization that this was the curtain   call for those ten remarkable seniors made the night an emotional one.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 12 (3/20/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 12)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

Strong   Finish
  The   2005-06 season ended on a high note at the Kohl Center for the Individual State   Championships. The tough competition we have faced throughout the season set   our qualifiers up in good position to have success. The three finalists, Adam   VanSchyndel, Nate VanSchyndel, and Mike Gocker set a new standard, along with   Travis Krols’ fifth place we set a school record for team points at State.   We were fourth overall in points amongst all 384 schools in the three divisions,   but when comparing apples to apples, we were second amongst the 128 Division   1 schools we actually competed against.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 11 (2/20/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 11)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

Emotional   Rollercoaster

The weeks   of regionals and sectionals are always tough on the nerves, but these past few   weeks really tested our resiliency. As we did a year ago at the Kimberly Regional,   we came through the deepest regional in the state at DePere and qualified 12   individuals for sectionals and won the team title in convincing fashion. I say   deepest because these regionals included more state ranked teams at the end   of the year than any of the other 15 Division I regionals across the state.   Our guys competed harder as the day wore on as evident by winning 13 out of   14 in the semi-final round and going six-for-six in the wrestleback round. After   four tough losses in the first round, we rebounded to go 28-6 the rest of the   day as the competition started heating up. All 14 wrestlers we entered into   the tournament and their practice partners contributed to our point total!

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 10 (1/30/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 10)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

9-0!

We took   a big step toward winning the FVA championship the past two weeks by beating   previously undefeated (7-0) Appleton West 53-11, and shutting out Appleton East   74-0 to close out the conference dual season with a 9-0 record. Heading into   this Saturday’s tournament at Kimberly, we have a 1½ point lead   over West. Since the tournament is worth 1 point per placement (1st=10, 2nd=9…),   we would have to slip to third in the tournament and West would have to win it for us to lose the conference championship. Our seniors are well aware of   what happened two years ago when we failed to show up for the conference tournament   at Fond du Lac, and then last year we slipped up during a conference dual. This   year we a great opportunity to complete the job. We are not looking to share   the spotlight with anyone. We want the undisputed FVA championship to come home,   and we want the traveling trophy that we bring to the tournament from winning   it last year to be back on our bus when we leave.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 9 (1/16/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 9)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak
 

FVA   Double Duals

Last Thursday’s   first ever FVA Double Dual has received excellent reviews so far. We were a   little concerned about the timing of setting up five mats and being done with   10 duals at a reasonable hour, but all matches were done by 9:30. Our team,   parents, and fans did a great job of cleaning up in record time. It was nice   for fans to see other teams compete and everyone got to see some exciting duals.   Our next opponent, Appleton West was in a couple of barnburners, and by pulling   through in both set up a big conference showdown this week at our place. Both   teams 7-0, it should be a dandy.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 8 (1/9/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 8)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

Say   Cheeeeeessse…head Champions!

What a   weekend it was! It all started with a solid 50-12 win over defending FVA champion   Appleton North on Thursday night. It did not take much to motivate the team   for that one, since it had been circled on our calendar from day one. Nate Van   Schyndel really got the night off to a good start. Any concerns about being   sluggish after the Clash were dispelled right away. He looked good against a   top-shelf wrestler and the team as a whole followed his lead.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 7 (1/3/06)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 7)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak

 

The   Clash

For our   first year in the Clash National Duals, I would say we measured up quite well   to the competition at this event. The entire experience was exactly what we   expected, and now we can leave it as a memory, or use it as a learning tool   to take us to a higher level. The individual talent always stands out at large   tournaments involving goods programs, but the amazing thing that stood out for   me at this event is the number of high caliber athletes assembled on each team.   I think the placing of teams from 1st to 32nd is really insignificant in this   event. It is too difficult to accurately seed the teams in the first round brackets,   which ultimately determines which way you are going to go. Knowing this, our   goal was to take each match as they came, compete hard, compete to win, and   finally to have fun and feel good about doing it. If we could accomplish these   goals as a team, wherever we place was immaterial.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 6 (12/18/05)

Mat Check
  vol. 6
 

The Clash
  The seeds for the Clash are out, check out the brackets   here: http://www.clashmn.org/ClashIV-Seeds.htm

We will be wrestling in the afternoon session on Friday,   December 30. Our first dual will be against Ponca City, Oklahoma at 4 PM. Regardless   of the outcome of that dual, we will wrestle duals at 6 PM and 8 PM. The result   of the first dual will determine which session we compete in the next day. The   16 teams who lose the first dual will compete in Saturday’s morning session   beginning at 9 AM, and the 16 first round winners will have the afternoon Saturday   session beginning again at 4 PM. Tickets and directions can all be found at   www.clashmn.com

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 5 (12/12/05)

Mat Check
  vol. 5
 

Great   Weekend!

This past   weekend we took a team of 17 kids as a reserve squad to compete in the New Berlin   West Viking Duals. The team went 5-0 on the day and won the championship of   the 10 team event. After winning the first match against Burlington Catholic   Central 60-21, we were place in the “gold” pool with the four other   first round winning teams. In order we defeated Mishicot 42-23, Whitnall 39-27,   Milwaukee Custer 44-30, and Oconomowoc 41-39. All of these duals were very exciting,   especially the final three against large schools with full rosters. We did not   have anyone on the team weigh in at 160, and with 140 being three weight classes   down with two kids, it was never really advantageous as a team to do a bump   up to fill 160, so we had to overcome a 6 point deficit from the shoots all   day.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 4 (12/5/05)

Mat Check
  vol. 4
 

Competition is Here!

It’s been almost nine months to the day that we wrestled our final match   of last season, and it feels good to be doing what we love to do most…competing.   There are significant times each season where I get excited and our kids do   as well: the first practice, the first competition, and the late events of February   and March. Our competitive season is off to a good start with last Thursday’s   win over Fond du Lac and a solid performance by everyone over the weekend at   our duals and the Appleton East Scramble.

 

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 3 (11/28/05)

Mat   Check
  (vol. 3)
 

Challenge   Matches
  Last Wednesday we ran our first series of intra-squad varsity challenge matches.   As coaches we know this is a very important time for the kids who have great   aspirations to be a starter in the varsity line-up. We admire the intensity   and the desire the kids demonstrate for these matches. It is the one time during   the season when we can honestly say we get to watch our kids wrestle a match   without stress. Seeing disappointment on the defeated wrestlers face is not   a bad thing, we want it to be that important. If it is important, it will cause   some pain inside. It is this frustration and/or anger that if used correctly   can take a person to a higher level as a competitor. That is how a winner reacts.   A loser can blame someone, make excuses, and/or possibly go to the lowest level   an athlete can and altogether quit. The greatest thing about this year’s   challenges is that the kids who came up short on the scoreboard were back in   practice grinding the next day. That is what winners do.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 2 (11/21/2005)

MAT   CHECK (vol. 2)
  News from coach Jeff Matczak
 

  The Team
  After only a week of practice under our belts it is too early to predict where   this season will take us, but I can promise you that the kids are working hard   and they are off to a good start. The program will take on a different look   this season, as just 33 dedicated young men stepped up to the line, but we feel   we have the 33 best kids suited to accomplish our mission ahead. With a smaller   number of athletes the coaches will be afforded greater opportunity to individualize   instruction. I have already noticed in one week of practice that we were able   to cover more material, and comprehension and retention of skills will be greater   than past years.

Mat Check Vol.1 Issue 1

Kaukauna     Wrestlers Complete Record Setting Season 

 

The 2004-05   wrestling season is officially in the books, and although it was a season where   one streak came to an end, it was a breakthrough year laden with new standards   of high achievement.

The season   began with great promise as the area took notice of lopsided dual meet wins   over conference rivals Fond du Lac and state ranked Neenah. Just prior to the   holiday break, the Ghosts made waves on the state radar by dominating a field   of 16 teams at the historic Richland Center Invitational, topping state ranked   Holmen by 36 points and the defending D II state champion Lodi by 97 points.