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A long time ago in a state very far away, I was once a youth wrestler.

It didn’t last long, but I have vague recollections of being told what a “half nelson” and “full nelson” were as I was repeatedly taken down and humbled on the mat. The highlight of my time as a youth wrestler in North Dakota was when I won a tournament that included no other wrestlers in my weight bracket.

Just for the fun of it, I wrestled a much younger wrestler in an exhibition match.

I lost.

But this column isn’t about my wrestling career. The only reason I mentioned it was to display that I know how tough the sport can be and that it tests you mentally, physically and even emotionally.

This column is a tribute to two area wrestlers – Blooming Prairie senior Bo Zwiener and Austin senior Sam Winkels – who both finished in second place in their weight classes at the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament last weekend. 

Zwiener is a four-time state qualifier and Winkels is a three-time state qualifier.

The work these two have done on the mat and in the weight room is far more than most can imagine and they both worked their way up to taking their lumps as young wrestlers to being amongst the best in the state as seniors. Both will also wrestle in college as Zwiener is headed to St. John’s University and Winkels is headed to St. Cloud University.

But Winkels and Zwiener are much more than hard working athletes. They are excellent role models in their communities and they’re a prime example of what being a student athlete is all about.

Zwiener was a Region One AAA award winner as he served as a captain in football, wrestling and baseball. He’s also been involved on the trap shooting team, the MSHSL student advisory leadership team, FFA, and student council.

Winkels was a captain on the Packer football team in the fall, and he’s been an all around positive force in AHS in many roles. Just recently, he was helping out in a basketball game during the unified sports day, which helps students with special needs get involved.

Both Zwiener and Winkels have been positive, motivated, and hard working and they are all-around good kids. Their impact will likely last long beyond their time in their respective high schools.