Wagner Community School qualified eight wrestlers to the AAU State Wrestling Tournament that was held March 15th -17th in Rapid City at The Monument. Out of the eight qualifying wrestlers, five of the wrestlers brought home medals. The eight wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament were Klay Kokesh (tots 57), Jacob Holzbauer (Bantam 57), Lane Koupal (Midgets 63), Rachel Holzbauer (girls Midgets 77), John Krcil (Novice 64), Tom Krcil (Novice 63), Mason Turner (Novice 117), and Frank Krcil (Schoolboy 90). A big thank you to the dedicated coaches who volunteered their time to teach the WCS youth wrestlers this season. These coaches were Alex Kocer and Austin Genzlinger. Before the wrestlers left for the AAU State Tournament in Rapid City, WCS had the wrestlers do a walk through the hallways so that the staff and students could wish them all good luck. The five wrestlers that placed were Klay Kokesh, state champion; Frank Krcil, 2nd place; Tom Krcil, 3rd place; Rachel Holzbauer, 5th place; and John Krcil, 6th place. Klay Kokesh came home with a state championship title in the Tot’s 57 lb weight class.

Klay Kokesh is the son of Robert and Madison Kokesh. He is five years old and in preschool at Wagner Community School. Klay wrestles in the Tots division at the 57-pound weight class. Klay’s favorite part of wrestling is being able to wrestle with his friends. Klay started wrestling at the age of three when he would go to practice with his dad, Robert, who was a wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He started competing in AAU when he was five.

Klay’s favorite parts of the AAU State Tournament were wrestling and getting to swim. When asked how he felt when he stood at the top of the podium as a state champion, Klay said that he felt proud. One thing that Klay would tell anyone thinking about joining AAU wrestling would be that wrestling is fun. Klay’s favorite wrestling move is the single leg. He will definitely be back wrestling next year.

Congratulations to all the WagnerCommunitySchoolAAU wrestlers on a great season and representing the school so well at the AAU state tournament. Thank you to all the coaches, parents, volunteers and community for making this such a successful season.