X

After finishing as state runner-up the past two seasons, Gannon Knebel of the Wagner Red Raiders made sure his final trip to the top stage ended just the way he had envisioned since he was four years old, standing alone at the top of the podium.

Knebel captured the 215-pound state championship in dominant fashion, earning a 17-1 technical fall in the finals. Despite the commanding score, his approach before the match was simple and steady. “Just enjoy the moment,” Knebel said. “I was thinking that it was my time, stay relaxed and go get it done.”

Even with his experience, he never took anything for granted. “You can never expect a match to go that way, especially a state finals match,” he said. “After I got the first takedown, I felt in rhythm.”

When the official raised his hand, the realization began to sink in. “It was surreal,” Knebel said. “I felt very grateful to be in that position.”

His championship moment was years in the making. Knebel placed at state all four years of high school, seventh as a freshman at 160 pounds, runner-up at 190 pounds as a sophomore and junior, before claiming the title at 215 pounds as a senior.

Those runner-up finishes became motivation rather than discouragement. “It definitely added fuel to the fire,” he said. “It gave me experience that not many wrestlers have.”

Winning a state title had been a goal since childhood. “My want to win — it has been a goal of mine since I was four to be a state champion,” he said.

Moving up weight classes over the years helped him grow stronger and more confident. “Moving up definitely helped me improve on the strength side of things,” he said. “I also seemed to have a speed advantage.”

Heading into his senior season, his mindset was clear. “Coming into the year I knew it was all or nothing,” he said.

Gannon’s parents, Jason and Stacey Knebel, have watched the journey from the very beginning. He has wrestled since kindergarten.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” they shared. “Gannon not only has become a good wrestler, but he has learned so much along the way about how to win with grace and how to take losses with grace.”

They credit Wagner’s strong wrestling tradition and the upperclassmen Gannon admired for helping shape him, not only as an athlete, but as a young man.

“Watching Gannon develop into the man he is today has been very rewarding. He has a drive to work hard and get better each day,” they said.

Behind the scenes, the work has been constant. Gannon has spent countless hours in the school weight room and at Iron Kingdom — even asking for a gym membership for his birthday the past four years. “He has used it well,” his parents said.

He also competed on the South Dakota Dual teams in Des Moines three times and attended team camps at Northern, SDSU and Nebraska, continuing to challenge himself against top competition.

“We are extremely proud because we have seen all his hard work in the weight room and the wrestling room pay off,” they said. “He is a dedicated athlete that sets high goals for himself, and he reached his biggest goal on Saturday night.”

For his family, the moment carried deep meaning. “Watching Gannon out on that mat, to me he is still our little boy and I will always be his biggest fan,” his mother shared. “His dad has been a huge part of his wrestling journey as his coach and dad. He has and always will be in his corner.” She also shared the steady encouragement from his siblings. “He has been supported by his siblings all the way through, and they are also his biggest fans,” she said.

As a young wrestler, Gannon looked up to Wagner standouts Dave Kocer, Alex Kocer and Robert Kokesh, watching them compete whenever he could. Years later, being coached by Dave Kocer brought his journey full circle.

His success began long before high school. Knebel was a two-time AAU State Champion in fourth and seventh grade, a middle school state champion in seventh grade, and qualified for AAU State every year from kindergarten through seventh grade.

To finish his career on top while representing Wagner’s decorated wrestling program made the achievement even more meaningful.

“Wagner Wrestling is a decorated program, so to be at the top representing this program means everything,” Knebel said. “I definitely felt the support and love from the Wagner community.”

The lessons he carries forward extend beyond the mat. “To be resilient in everything that you do — you can always improve,” he said.

His advice to younger Raider wrestlers is simple: Enjoy the process. Have fun with it. Wrestling is a brutal sport, and if you can learn to love it, that is a big advantage.

As for what comes next, Knebel is exploring opportunities to wrestle in college and remains undecided about his future plans.

For now, though, a lifelong goal has been achieved — and Wagner has a new state champion to celebrate.