Nemaha Valley Raider Wrestling
1988

Picture yourself in the year 1978. You are a member of the feared Nemaha Valley wrestling team. Basketball is a popular sport in the Seneca community, but when the community also has a regional champion wrestling team, the fan support is just as great. There are 21 members on the team and you feel like a stud if you make the varsity squad.

Now picture yourself ten years later, 1988. Only eight students are out for wrestling and the team goals have changed to individual goals. With 12 weight classes to fill and only eight out, there is no way to compete as a team.

"We don't go into the match going for the win. We want to see how good we can do for ourselves. There is no way we can be team oriented," said Brad , sr.

Another problem that has hindered wrestling success is the lack of experienced wrestlers. Five out of the eight members on the team have wrestled at the maximum of two years on the high school level.

"David so., and Scott so., wrestled real well for first year wrestlers. The more they wrestled the better they became," said Coach Steve .

Steinlage and Jason so., qualified for the state tournament. Steinlage went undefeated throughout the regular season and regionals before losing twice at state. He went on to finish fourth place.

"I wasn't disappointed with fourth place. If I had wrestled badly I would have been disappointed, but I did wrestle well," commented Steinlage.

Hammes placed fourth at regionals and wrestled very determined at the state meet. The next two seasons look promising for Hammes.

"I was real proud of everyone. Everyone worked hard to achieve the goals they made," added Lizzol.