Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Itís virtually impossible to preview the wrestling team and not discuss how this is Bob Dettmerís final year as its head coach. He casts a large shadow, leaves big shoes to fill...pick a cliche because theyíre all true. After 30 years of leading Forest Lakeís most successful athletic program, Dettmer will make a gradual transition this season where he will go from high school teacher and head coach to State Representative.

ìIíve been telling people that I want to leave my teaching and my coaching with the same enthusiasm I had when I first came in,î Dettmer says. ìI still love it and itís time for a new challenge.î

Ready to emerge from Dettmerís shadow, or preparing to fill those big shoes, or, well, you get the idea, is his assistant of 11 years, Rich Elliot.

But before we send Dettmer off in a rocking chair to a condo in Florida, there is the matter of featuring the actual team. They did lose a state champion in Jordan Kolbow, but when it comes to Ranger wrestling, thereís more where that came from. When Dettmer thinks about what wrestlers he expects to do well this season, the names start flying.

His three captains are seniors Lucas Munkelwitz óranked No. 1 by the Pioneer Press at 171 pounds ó who placed fifth in state last year, Shawn Saxe and Luke Opsahl.

ìItís good to have somebody back that has that state tournament experience,î Dettmer says.

Speaking of the state tourney, the squad also has Charlie Janssen coming back, who is just a freshman but he has also been to the state meet, and this will already be his third year competing at the varsity level. Ben Morgan is another young wrestler who should help the program. He has been to nationals for his age group and has good prospects at 103 pounds.

ìWe lost a lot of seniors, but weíve got guys coming up and theyíre looking pretty good,î Opsahl says. ìWeíve been working hard this year so weíll have another solid team this year, but weíll have to have some guys stepping up as well.î

With members like Nate Arcand, Kevin Determan, Brent Kolbow, Kevin Nelson, Trevor Osterbauer, Logan Robinson, Lee Smith, Brandon Yetter, Collin Peterson and Nick Zemke, Forest Lake should be just fine this season.

ìIf you look at some of these guys coming back, they got a lot of varsity experience and theyíre only going to get better as the season progresses,î Dettmer says.

Many of those wrestlers were all-conference in 2005-06, and Dettmer is high on those who werenít recognized by the SEC.

ìHeís going to be a good heavyweight for us,î Dettmer says about Peterson.

Because of the wrestle-off system that establishes who participates in each meet, the official line-up is never truly official. ìThe kids like that,î Dettmer says, because there is no subjectivity involved in picking the roster. Plus, it helps the team because some of the wrestle-offs are more difficult than that weekís opponent.

ìI expect us to have another good year, have fun, and weíll work and get ready because maybe our chance will come,î Dettmer says, paraphrasing the Abraham Lincoln quote that serves as the Forest Lake wrestling philosophy.

Dettmer and the boys know theyíll have to get ready for the grueling schedule. The conference promises to bring serious competition in Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Park and Hastings.

ìThey got a good group coming back again this year,î Dettmer says about Hastings. ìWeíll gun for them.î

Mix in another talented group like Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Cambridge and St. Francis that make up the section and the fun never ends.

ìTheyíre all wrestling schools, so we got a great, tough schedule and itís going to be good to compete with these good teams,î Dettmer shares. ìBy having good competition throughout the season you prepare yourself for those final three weeks of the season ó the conference, the section and the state ó thatís what itís all about. Everything else kind of prepares you for the state tournament.î

As of last Friday, Dec. 1, this yearís version of the Rangers began studying and preparing for that chance.

ìItís their time to shine in the limelight,î Dettmer says. ìItís now their responsibility to keep the tradition going of Forest Lake wrestling.î

OPENING WEEKEND

When Dettmer says itís their time to shine, well then itís their time to shine. Last weekend was a busy one for the wrestlers as they opened the season on Friday with a meet against Mounds View and then took part in the Chisago Lakes dual on Saturday.

There is no other way to say it than Forest Lake dominated the competition, which moved them to No. 6 in the metro area rankings.

Fridayís 58-21 victory over Mounds View was a bit easier than Dettmer anticipated, but he said his team was just ready.

Morgan, Opsahl, Nelson, Determan, Zemke, Yetter, Kolbow, Munkelwitz and Osterbauer all won courtesy of pins, and Janssen earned his victory by way of an 11-3 major decision.

Against Chisago Lakes, much of that same group was joined by Arcand, Saxe, Smith, Robinson and Peterson on the victory parade as the Rangersí won 66-5.

The other two team wins were just as convincing with Forest Lake defeating Blaine, 76-4, and Hibbing, 48-15.

ìI was very impressed by several of the guys,î Dettmer said. ìI know Nick Zemke, our 145 pounder, he won four matches last week.î

The first of those wins came against James Guy of Mounds View who was ranked No. 5 in the state.

Nine other wrestlers are undefeated in the early going, with a grand total of six being 4-0. Janssen is one of the six and he took on an outstanding competitor from Chisago Lakes.

ìHe beat him convincingly,î Dettmer said. ìHe beat Mitch Anderson, heís ranked [in the state], and Charlie beat him 10-1.î

The schedule doesnít waste any time with the St. Francis Tournament coming up on Saturday.

It will be full of ìwrestling schoolsî like No. 5 ranked Anoka, so itís back to the mats for Dettmerís group.

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