HOLMEN — There is no question that the Holmen High School boys wrestling team would like to make a special occasion of the WIAA team state tournament in March.
With the event moving to from the University of Wisconsin Field House to the La Crosse Center, the Vikings would like nothing more than make sure there is a local Division 1 presence as the season comes to a conclusion.
And while there is a lot of wrestling to do and a series of physical dual meets and tournaments between now and then, the Vikings have reason for that to be a realistic goal.
Holmen has made 13 team state appearances since 1995 — 12 have come since 2004 — and twice finished as runner-up, but a loaded dual lineup that will be unveiled in a 6:30 p.m. home dual against Waverly-Shell Rock (Iowa) on Thursday should certainly contend to increase that number.
“These guys are capable of great things and possibly bring a state title to the area, which hasn’t been done on this side of the state.” Holmen coach Justin Lancaster said on the first day of practice. “We have a bunch of kids who committed themselves in the offseason and worked really hard.”
The Vikings are second to nine-time champion Kaukauna in the Wisconsin Grappler’s preseason rankings, and Waverly-Shell Rock was a semifinalist in Iowa’s Class 3A state dual bracket last year, so it sets up a good challenge to kick off the season.
Holmen has a couple of returning state qualifiers in sophomore Rex Lancaster and sophomore Nathan Henderson — Lancaster placed sixth at 106 and Henderson fifth at 120 — and four entries among the top three at their respective weight in Division 1 by Wisconsin Grappler this year.
Nathan Henderson is first 1t 138 pounds, and freshman Brendan Henderson is second at 113. Lancaster is third at 120 and junior Brock Needham third at 132.
Senior Noah Henderson is also sixth at 138, junior Colin Griffin 10th at 175, senior Jagger Jepson 11th at 285 and senior AJ Alesch 13th at 157.
“There’s some pressure to win (this season), but we also hold ourselves to high expectations,” said Needham, a state qualifier at 106 two years ago. “As a program, we are always looking to get better, and we always have our eyes on that next target.
“Coming in with this level of intensity and expectation of ourselves help us reach that next level.”
The Vikings follow up this dual by wrestling in a couple of invitationals — one at Eau Claire North on Saturday and another at the Alliant Energy Center on Madison on Dec. 20 — before hosting the Bi-State Classic at the La Crosse Center on Dec. 29-30.
The biggest MVC dual of the season with come against Aquinas — ranked first in Division 3 — at the Bernie L. Ferry Fieldhouse on Jan. 20 before the postseason gets rolling.
That’s when the Vikings will have to be at their best.
As shown by the rankings, the strength of the team exists at lower weights, but the lineup should be strong throughout, especially in dual formats.
The WIAA has changed the postseason format this season and eliminated the regional round and sets up individual and team sectionals to be wrestled on consecutive Saturdays. Individuals compete for state spots on Feb. 14, and teams do the same on Feb. 21.
“I feel like, lowest weight to highest weight, we have a really solid team,” Alesch said. “Everybody likes the individual aspect, but everyone on this team wants to win as a team.
“We made the semis last year, but the goal is higher now.”
