Posted: 3/10/04

Denney and Underdahl earn All-State honors

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

To talk to John Denney and Jimmy Underdahl of the Forest Lake High School wrestling team you would never know they were All-State wrestlers who finished third and fourth at the weekends state meet.

You wouldnít know they did so well because coming home state champions was all that mattered to them.
I wanted it all,î Denney said. ìI would give anything to wake up and it be Friday morning again and give it another try, but thatís the way it goes.î

Underdahl felt the same way, saying, ìTo know that you were that close to going all the way is kind of disappointing. When you look back you just think about what you could have or should have done.î

At the state meet this past weekend at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Denney did place third, and Underdahl fourth in their respective weight classes to earn All-State honors.

ìAnytime you can get wrestlers to the state meet through our conference thatís an accomplishment,î Forest Lake head coach Bob Dettmer said. ìThen to get the All-State honors is even better, then you sit back and think of all the wrestlers in the state. Now thatís outstanding.î

In the 135 lbs. weight class, Denney defeated Alex Thurston of Saint Paul Highland Park by technical fall to move on to the next round to face Jeff Gleason of Apple Valley. Denney defeated Gleason by an 8-5 decision, moving onto the semifinals. In the semifinals, Denney lost to eventual state champion Adam Elseth of Albert Lea by a 5-2 decision.

After the loss to Elseth, Denney went to the wrestle back for the fight for third place. Denney started off by defeating Matt Brauer of Burnsville by a decision of 5-3. In the final match of his high school career, Denney squared off against Jarred McCarthy of Farmington for third place. Denney won the match by a decision of 10-4.

The third place finish earns Denney a special honor within his team. A picture of Denney will now go up in the wrestling room.

ìItís nice to be up there with all the greats and mentioned with them,î Denney said.

Underdahl had quite the state meet himself. In the opening round, Underdahl defeated Matt Hedlund of St. Paul Como Park by fall. In the next round he had a decisive 8-1 decision over Andy Leisen of Rochester Mayo to move onto the semifinals. In the semifinals Underdahl wrestled the eventual state champion Michael Fessler of Apple Valley. Underdahl lost the match by an 11-5 decision.

In the wrestle back, Underdahl took on Dave Bjorkstrand of Burnsville. Underdahl defeated Bjorkstrand to move on and wrestle for third place. Underdahl took on Andy Bisek in the battle for third place, and Bisek won the battle by a decision of 4-2. Underdahl finished in fourth place.

ìI expected to be there,î Underdahl said. ìIf you donít set your goals high, youíre never going to get there.î

Both wrestlers talked of goals and how important they are. The whole team believes in setting goals that are not easy to accomplish. Forest Lake wrestling coach Bob Dettmer talked to the parents of his wrestlers in an early season practice and explained to them that he wanted his wrestlers to set goals high in everything they do, because anyone can reach an easy goal, but it is much more gratifying to reach that goal other people fear setting.

ìThey help you,î Underdahl said. ìBy setting goals you donít take a lot for granted.î

Goals werenít the only thing that got these two wrestlers to the state meet, their own hard work, and the help of the Forest Lake coaching staff got them there too.

This year the boys saw the return of coach Dettmer who was away from the team for most of the last two seasons because he was fulfilling military duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Just by talking to any one of the Forest Lake wrestlers you can tell they respect each and every one of their coaches. They know that their coaches know what they are talking about, but their head coach seems to have a special respect from his wrestlers because of his experiences away from the mat.

ìWhen he says something you take it for real because you know he has been there,î Denney said.
Of course Dettmer is a bit modest about the respect his wrestlers have for them.

ìI think from top to bottom we have an outstanding coaching staff. They go the extra mile for the kids and to get to know them as people,î Dettmer said. Dettmer went on to explain that his assistant coaches do a lot of work and he acts mainly as a moderator to ensure that everything gets done.

The future

With the season now over and both Denney and Underdahl seniors, they can now look to the future and life after high school. Both plan on attending Dakota County Technical College where they plan to wrestle. Denney plans on going to school to become a high school teacher, and Underdahl an electrician.

ìItís going to be hard to replace them,î Dettmer said. ìBut that opens up a spot for someone to step up. That is the exciting thing to see whoís going to be the next team leaders.î

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