Zach Kruse
Clarendon Hills
When did you first start wrestling?
When I was 5 years old. I saw my brother, Ron, wrestling growing up, and I always aspired to be like him - and still do to this day.
What do you love most about the sport?
How rewarding it is. Your success depends really only on yourself and only on what you do.
What is most challenging about wrestling at 190 pounds?
There's a lot of good wrestlers in the weight class.
How have you improved since your freshman year?
I would say my focus and love for the sport has improved a lot. I've come to like wrestling a lot more throughout the years.
Do you have any pre-meet routines?
I always eat Clementines before every match. That's pretty much the only thing I can eat. I get nervous before my matches.
What is the best insight you've gotten from a coach?
If the coach is mad at you or yelling at you, it's not because they don't like you. It's because they want to see you succeed.
What is your goal for the season?
To make it downstate. I lost in the match to make it to state last year.
What kind of example do you try to set as a team captain?
Just doing the right thing - doing the right thing in the classroom and outside of school and in practice, doing what my coach wants me to do.
What advice would you give to young wrestlers?
Don't put too much pressure on yourself to win. At the end of the day, it's not going to change your life a whole heck of a lot. Just focus on getting better through practice.
What are your plans for the fall?
I am going to play football at UW Platteville.
Why does coach Conrad Polz like having Kruse on the team?
We truly enjoy having Zach on the team. He is a talented athlete (29-2, ranked No. 4 in the state) with an exceptional work ethic. A true competitor, he gives his all every time he steps onto the mat. We are lucky to have such a committed and hard-working leader on our team, as he elevates our collective performance and creates a positive and motivating environment.
- profile by Pamela Lannom, photo by Jim Slonoff
