Cousins chase history at Coleman
Coleman possesses an impressive list of WIAA individual state champions.
Koltin Grzybowski recalls memorizing it probably around the same age he was learning how to count and recite the alphabet.
That’s how much wrestling means to an aspiring grappler there.
“I’ve always been brought up knowing Coleman’s history,” Grzybowski said. “I can name off all the state champions we have and their weights and years.”
Grzybowski and fellow senior Caleb Gross have each been able to add their names twice to that state title list, which currently stands at 34 and is the sixth most in the state.
The cousins have a chance to make history later this month if they can become the first wrestlers at Coleman to win three straight WIAA individual state championships.
Follow Preps Agenda on Facebook
“We just go to practice and drill as hard as we can because how you drill is how you perform,” Gross said. “It helps a lot having someone there that is just as good as you are.”
Grzybowski (113 pounds) and Gross (132) are both ranked No. 1 in Division 3 for their respective weight classes, according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
They both got the wrestling itch at a young age after seeing the name of their maternal grandfather, Jerry Champagne, on Coleman’s list of state champions.
Champagne won a state championship in the 95-pound weight class in 1964.
In 2017, Grzybowski (106) and Gross (113) joined their grandfather on the record board when they recorded state title wins at the two lowest weight classes.
They each bumped up a weight class last year to become the fifth and sixth wrestlers in school history to win two straight individual state titles. It was the first time a Coleman wrestler accomplished the feat since Jason Maye won back-to-back championships in 1996 and 1997.
Jereme Maye won a third state title in 1999 at Coleman after previously claiming titles in 1996 and 1998 while wrestling for Crivitz.
Grzybowski and Gross have the rare opportunity to become the first wrestlers in school history to win three consecutive state titles.
“They’re great kids,” Coleman coach Kevin Casper said. “In the practice room they’re great leaders because if they see somebody that is doing something not the way they should be, they are the first ones to speak up and let them know and how to correct it.
The two grew up wrestling against each other on an eight-foot mat at Grzybowski’s house.
Although they share a championship pedigree and always competed at similar weight classes, they are rather different on the mat.
“They are two different style of wrestlers,” Casper said. “Koltin is so quick and fast and is a scorer on his feet and just dominates that way. … Caleb is more in control of the match. They might be tighter matches, but he’s in total control. He’s good in all three positions.”
While Grzybowski (33-1) and Gross (32-3) are focused on trying to return to the top of the state podium, the cousins would like nothing more than to help the Cougars win a WIAA team state title.
Neither has had an opportunity to compete at the UW Field House in Madison, where team state is held. Coleman’s last trip came in 2015 and its last title was won in 2014. Their grandfather helped the Cougars win a fourth team title in five years in 1964.
Coleman has a stacked lineup to attempt to chase an 11th team state championship this year. It includes 10 wrestlers ranked in the top five of their respective weight classes in D3. Like Grzybowski and Gross, senior Jake Baldwin (145) is ranked No. 1.
However, No. 2 Coleman likely has a tall task ahead with top-ranked and two-time defending state champion Stratford at the D3 sectional hosted by Auburndale next Tuesday.
“We knew all the way up that this group was a talented group and that they have the tools,” Casper said. “Now, it’s up to them to prove that they can have that success that we’ve all been hoping for.”
COLEMAN’S RANKED WRESTLERS
(Wisconsin Wrestling Online’s state rankings as of Jan. 31)
106: Chance Gruber, fr., No. 9
113: Koltin Grzybowski, sr., No. 1
120: Kasey Casper, sr., No. 4
132: Caleb Gross, sr., No. 1
138: Karson Casper, fr., No. 4
145: Jake Baldwin, sr., No. 1
152: Bryce Karban, sr., No. 3
160: Tyler Blanchard, so., No. 5
170: Shamus McLain, jr., No. 4
195: John Bieber, jr., No. 4
220: Spencer Karban, so., HM
285: Brock Martinson, sr., No. 2