6 Huskies advance to wrestle at districts

WEST BRANCH - It's great to win a tournament. It is even better to win a postseason tournament.

Highland did that Saturday with a Class 1A sectional title.

'You do want to celebrate those highs, but I also want to keep the kids hungry,” Highland coach Derick Ball said.

The win advances the whole team to tonight's regional duals. Highland will wrestle at Denver against Denver. The winner will face the winner of Alburnett and Beckman Catholic for the right to go to state.

'We are going to go up there, throw our hat in the ring, and see what happens,” Ball said. 'We are going to go up there and plan on winning.”

The Huskies advanced six individuals to the district Saturday at Wilton.

Highland had three sectional champions in Brady Hahn, Cory Stewart and Dan Burton.

'Those are my three big guns,” Ball said. 'They have been my three hammers for the last two seasons. Dan has faced some adversity with a knee injury, but he's back. I want those three to finish on the podium (at state). That is the goal. They are our leaders. I don't have to say much. They take the lead and do it vocally and by example. You just can't ask for much more out of 17- and 18-year-old kids.”

Second-place Highland finishers were Geoff Streb, Cael Yeggy and Jordan Sosa.

'Streb is another one who has grown so much over the last two seasons,” Ball said. 'His record might be around .500, but he is so much better than that. He's peaking at the right time. He is one of those guys who had given up the sport and came back out. I'm glad he gave me the opportunity to coach him. Cael and Jordan are both wrestling above their weights. You can talk about gutsy all you want, but those two guys are it. I can put them anywhere and they will fight their butt off. They fight every inch of the way.”

Ball is in his second year coaching wrestling at Highland and is very happy with the athletes he sees at the school.

'There are times when you ask a kid to do something and they question it or go behind your back, but not these guys. They are always ready to go no matter what. ‘Where do you want me? What do you want me to do?' is what I hear back and it couldn't make a coach more proud. It would be easy for them to give up and think they can't get in the lineup. They show up every day and give me everything they have.”

It's a great example for the other kids, but the parents and community have made a difference as well.

'Look at the crowd we had (Saturday),” Ball said. 'It was incredible. What this program has done in two years is great. We are building a foundation. These people are passionate about wrestling and that is great. It helps me fit in here. Some people see me and might be annoyed by my energy, but I don't care. I love these kids and I'm going to fight for them all I can.”

The crowd was the loudest of the day, even more than the home team. It was very vocal, even rising to their feet for third- and fifth-place matches.

'It's great to see Highland coming back into prominence,” Ball said. 'It also means we have a big week ahead of us. One thing I love about my guys is their hunger. You see teams that are hanging on by a thread, but that's not us, but that's not Highland. Our guys are ready to get after it. I feel great for our seniors.”