Blair Wrestling Club (BWC) coach Jesse Loges has a few important rules for practices involving youngsters no older than kindergarten students.
“When I'm talking, you can't talk,” he said Thursday night at Blair High School. “That's the most important part.”
About 70 wrestlers in preschool, kindergarten and grades 1-2 take part during the club's 45-minute, twice-a-week practice blocks. That's before many more grapplers in grades 3-8 show up for their 75-minute sessions, too.
“You've got to be stern, but you've got to have fun with them,” Loges said of his practices. “If they're messing around, you go over, mess around with them for a little bit — play with them — but, then, you've got to tell them, 'Hey, we've got to get to work.'”
The 2023 BHS graduate, a Class B state finalist, said the main things he wants to teach the youngest kids are the rules of the mat and double-leg takedowns.
“All the basics of wrestling,” Loges said, clarifying another key ingredient. “I just want them to have fun.”
A majority of BWC wrestlers did Dec. 15 during the King & Queen of the MAC and the Rookies of the MAC tournaments in Council Bluffs, Iowa. As the young Bears wrestled alongside Pioneer Wrestling Club kids from Fort Calhoun and many others, Loges saw a lot of what he was hoping to see.
“They were working on their double legs,” he said, listing another detail. “I liked how they were trying to get off of the bottom the best they could.”
Loges coaches the club wrestlers with BWC President John Roan, James Kruse and several others — Loges' older brother, Duncan, among them. He said it's an enjoyable moment on the mat since his last BHS match nearly two years ago.
“It's fun just to teach the new generation how to wrestle, what wrestling is about — the rules,” the former Bear said.
BWC was scheduled to compete during the Westside Wrestling Club Tournament on Sunday and next wrestles Jan. 5 at the Bryan Wrestling Tournament, according to the club's website calendar. Its home tourney is Feb. 2.
YOUTH WRESTLING RESULTS
Dec. 15 at Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs
KING & QUEEN OF THE MAC
Top-6 Finishers
Blair Wrestling Club: 2, Josephine Wallis, age 14, 200 pounds. 3, Easton Kruse, age 14, 165. 4, Jackson Davis, age 10, 115. 4, Owen Shotwell, age 10, heavyweight. 4, Jayda Campbell, age 14, 115.
Pioneer Wrestling Club: 2, Baeli Gossman, age 11, 70 pounds. 4, Olivia Nikolike, age 8, 52. 4, Dakota Cheloha, age 14, 135. 5, Bennett Gossman, age 10, 80.
Pins
Blair Wrestling Club: Jackson Davis, 2, Parker Madden 2, Easton Kruse 1, Parker Johnson 1, Summit Scott 1, Jayda Campbell 1.
Pioneer Wrestling Club: Baeli Gossman 1, Bennett Gossman 1.
Technical Falls
Pioneer Wrestling Club: Liam Combs 1.
ROOKIES OF THE MAC
Top-6 Finishers
Blair Wrestling Club: 1, Rory Clough, age 6, 51 pounds. 1, Jackson Whitwer, age 6, 54 pounds. 2, Knox Whyrick, age 6, 53. 2, Oliver Clough, age 10, 76. 2, Asher Madden, age 12, 85. 3, Lincoln Ridder, age 6, 48. 3, Olivia Whitwer, age 10, 67. 3, Karmon Standley, age 12, 157. 4, Gus Nielsen, age 6, 40. 4, Jack Nay, age 8, 62. 4, Sawyer, Clough, age 10, 59.
Pioneer Wrestling Club: 2, Ryker Wieczorek, age 8, 66 pounds. 2, Rowan Combs, age 8, 65. 2, Declan Wieczorek, age 8, 83.
Pins
Blair Wrestling Club: Jackson Whitwer 1, Oliver Clough 1, Rory Clough 1, Lincoln Ridder 1, Knox Whyrick 1, Asher Madden 1.
Pioneer Wrestling Club: Declan Wiezorek 2, Rowan Combs 1, Ryker Wieczorek 1.
Technical Falls
Blair Wrestling Club: Olivia Whitwer 1, Jackson Whitwer 1.
