Joe Drennan
Sports EditorTwo years ago Forest Lake wrestling coach Bob Dettmer turned his team over to his assistant Rich Elliot. Dettmer was turning his team over because he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army.
When Dettmer returned from Iraq just before the start of the school year, Elliot handed the wrestling team back over to him.
ìItís great to have him back,î Elliot said of Dettmer. ìI know he still has a few years before he wants to retire so it is nice to see him return and finish his career the way he wants to.î
ìI knew the program was in good hands with Rich, Steve Hinrichs, and Mark Smith,î Dettmer said. ìThatís a real credit to those guys, and the support they got from the wrestlers, alumni, and volunteers who helped out.î
Dettmer started this season like he starts any season, with an open practice where he invites the parents of his wrestlers to watch a practice. At the open practice, Dettmer and his assistant coaches run the wrestlers through a typical practice so their parents can see what their kids go through on a daily basis after school. Dettmer says he feels this practice is most important for parents who are new to the sport because it helps them get a better understanding of what their son or daughter is going through.
While talking to the parents, Dettmer told them how important it is to the kids to have one of their parents at each and every match. He said the emotional and psychological support the kids get from their parents being at matches is invaluable.
With the pressures of school, grades, and the sport wrestling, Dettmer told the parents the kids need their support.
ìWrestling is very much like life,î Dettmer said. ìYou have your ups and downs, but you still have to come back on Monday and start all over again.î
The importance of family was another topic Dettmer touched upon. He noted that there are only three practices over the Christmas break because he feels that is time for the wrestlers to spend time at home with their parents.
Time in Iraq
Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Dettmer, an intelligence officer, was called to active duty. After spending nearly a year in Afghanistan, Dettmer and his detachment were close to coming home. About a month before they were scheduled to return, they were told they were being shipped to Iraq and their return was put on hold.
While gone, Dettmerís wife Colleen suffered a heart attack, his sons Travis and Robb got married two weeks apart, his daughter Krystal graduated from Forest Lake High School, and he became a grandfather.
After Colleenís heart attack, Dettmer was able to come home long enough to ensure her recover. He also found time to come back for his sonsí weddings. He also had one other surprise visit. Dettmer surprised Krystal by coming home for her high school graduation. Many may remember him surprising Krystal just after she finished a solo at the Forest Lake Senior High Pop Music Program in May.
While doing his part in the war in Iraq, Dettmer said the young men and women who are over there serving impressed him.
ìI remember the second day of the war,î Dettmer said. ìIraq was sending missiles to us, the sirens went off, we put our gas mask on and headed to the bunker. Looking in the eyes of those young troops, they knew they were in the real situation and my hat goes off to them.î
ìI think from my experience with the military as Americans we really need to look at the importance of instilling the values in the American youth and the sovereignty of our country,î Dettmer said. ìWe take them for granted and I learned when you get them taken from you, you really take that for granted,î
To help his team better understand what he did during his two year absence, Dettmer prepared a power point presentation for his wrestlers, explaining what he did.
ìI came back rejuvenated knowing what weíre doing here with our wrestling program is really good for our young people,î Dettmer said.
The team
This yearís team is led by senior captains Jimmy Underdahl and Johnny Denney, J.J. as Dettmer refers to his captains.
Patrick Taylor and Curt Noris in the 140 weight class, and Phil Osterbauer and Luke Opsahl, will probably see some varsity time also. Clay Harrison, Eric Morris, and Matt Joyer will be wrestling in the 115 weight class, and Matt OíBrien, Jordan Kolbow will wrestle in the 150 weight class. Derek Peterson will wrestle as a heavyweight.
ìI think this is a team that youíll see changes throughout the year,î Dettmer said. Some kids will mature faster, earning spots on the team. Youíre going to see a real mixture of underclassman and upperclassmen.
While talking to the parents, Dettmer said one of his goals for the team is to be one of the top three teams in the state. Realizing that is setting the bar high, Dettmer said he realizes that he thinks it is important for a coach to set a goal like that to motivate the wrestlers to work hard. He also feels that goal setting is an ongoing process.
ìI have seen wrestlers work hard in the past and reach their goals,î Dettmer said. ìGoals are important.î
After being gone for two seasons, some of the wrestlers are just now getting the chance to work with Dettmer.
ìThis year, the group of seniors I got were 10th graders when I left,î Dettmer said. ìEssentially I missed two classes of wrestlers. It was really tough leaving those guys behind.î
Dettmer said that despite being away from the team for two years, most kids either knew him from before, or had heard of him. He added that his assistant coaches who were running the team while he was gone have the same philosophy as he does as far as how to run the team and how to approach the sport of wrestling, making it easier to come back and pick up where he left off.
ìWrestling is a sport that as you spend time on a mat with an individual they get to know you and get to know that youíre really there to help them excel,î Dettmer said.
Dettmer explained that coach Elliot is his head assistant who comes up with the practice plan each day. Coach Hendrichs organizes the junior varsity team, and coach Phil Sundblad is in charge of the ninth grade team.
The next meet for the Rangers is tonight against Park (Cottage Grove) at home. Start time is 6:00 p.m.
Top of Page
