This year the Black River Falls wrestling team is under new management. Seventh-grade teacher David Prell stepped in as the new head coach after the team’s old coach, Steve Markee, retired after 32 years. Even though Prell is new to being a head coach, he isn’t new to the sport.
“I grew up wrestling. I started wrestling in first grade. Wrestled all the way through high school. And then a year in college,” Prell said. “[I] spent a lot of time doing that. My family was a wrestling family, so I wrestled every day with my brother, even outside of practices. In addition to that experience, I do have some military experience with the physical training that’s involved in that.”
His experience extends into his coaching methods and how he is planning for this year.
“I just hope to share my passion for the sport. To share the techniques that I have learned. And mostly to share what hard work, and just staying with something, even if you’re not the best at it can do. And where you can go if you just keep working at something,” Prell said.
Charlie Heath is a sophomore at BRFHS, and she’s heading into her second year of wrestling, with a goal of making it to state after being just one place away last year.
“Last year, I didn’t really know what I was doing because I was still very new. So it was mostly just learning and, like, getting the hang of it,” Heath said. “Then once I actually got into a match, then I just, like, felt it out. And I think that’s what’s helping me this year is just feeling things out. This year my training is more serious.”
Parker McCormick, a junior and captain of the wrestling team, has been wrestling for 14 years. This has left him with a lot of experience under his belt to carry into the upcoming season.
“Other seasons gave me like a game plan. Just showed me what I should keep doing and how to get better, and showed me other people too, and what they’re doing.”
With new leadership from the head coach and other experienced wrestlers on the team, the wrestling team has been getting ready for the season in many ways, whether through open mats, conditioning, or lifting.
“The big thing is the open mats. They’re available. Open to anybody. So if you’re looking to join wrestling, the best way to do that would maybe be to try it out at an open mat. We had them on Wednesdays and Sundays.” Prell said. “The season’s coming up, so those are going to end. But, that’s a big thing. Just get on the mat, roll around a little bit, see if you enjoy it, and then, feel free to join.”
