Braunagel keeps family legacy going on the wrestling mat
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (BVM) — If you follow Illinois high school wrestling, you probably recognize the Braunagel name. Already having three brothers leave a winning legacy at Belleville Althoff Catholic High School, the fourth and youngest brother, Joe, is now dominating on the wrestling mat just like the others.
Joe’s three older brothers combined for 10 state medals in their careers. The oldest, Jarrid, placed four times at the Illinois High School Association state wrestling tournament, with three third place finishes and one second place medal.
Shortly after, twins Danny and Zac would combine to win six medals, including two state titles each back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. Jarrid has gone on to have a solid college wrestling career at McKendree University, while the twins are currently competing on the mat at the University of Illinois.
But now, their 16-year-old younger brother is beginning to cement his own legacy in the sport at Althoff. Last season, Joe made it to state and won a medal by placing sixth. This year, as a junior, Joe won an individual state title at the 182-pound weight class in Class 1A. He finished his season with a 40-4 record, and not only did he add to the family legacy, but he made it a streak of five years in a row that the Crusaders had at least one state champion.
Joe, who also plays high school football, has wrestled since age 4. His brothers got him involved in the sport right away teaching him what it took to be a wrestler mentally and physically.
“It was a big learning experience. Whenever I wrestled them I learned a lot,” Joe said. “I’ve probably learned more from Zac, Danny, and Jarrid than all my coaches.”
As the youngest, Joe feels he has an advantage in being able to take a piece of each of his brothers’ wrestling styles and use it towards his own.
“I’m a little bit of all three of them. I’m long and lengthy like Jarrid, I hand fight and am a mean guy like Zac, and whenever I get my pace up I’m like Danny,” the wrestler said.
His brothers not only taught him the sport, but have always been there for Joe throughout his wrestling career.
“They’re my biggest supporters and I am their biggest supporters. Having that support means the world and I couldn’t ask for anything else,” Joe added.
While the 16-year-old has found the same success as his brothers before him, it has still been a challenge. Any athlete who is the youngest in a family filled with success like this one knows how much pressure there is to live up to the family name.
“Everyone expects you to be just like your older brothers,” Joe said. “This past season I often got asked ‘Are you going to win state twice? Are you going to U of I?’”
However, he uses this as a motivator.
“It drives me. I’m glad I can keep [the family name] going,” he said.
The Althoff Catholic wrestler is doing just that. As a freshman, he finished one match shy of state. As a sophomore, he made it another state appearance for the Braunagels, and as a junior, he finally achieved his goal of a state title.
Despite the successful year, Joe did face some adversity early on as he planned to wrestle in the 170-pound weight class, but had to build up to get to 182 pounds.
“It was pretty hard for the first month or so, muscle came into play. But after that I was finally back where I needed to be strength wise,” the 16-year-old said.
The schedule at the beginning of the year did Joe no favors either. On their second day of wrestling, Althoff was matched up against a top 20 team in the country and shortly after, competed in one of the top wrestling tournaments in the nation – the Al Dvorak Invitational.
But Joe would continue to get stronger throughout the season leading to another state appearance. The 16-year-old breezed through his first two rounds and ended up defeating the defending state champion in the semifinals of the tournament. During the state finals match however, Joe thought he could have left more out on the mat.
“I wrestled a little laid back more than I should have. I didn’t push the pace as much and didn’t get as many attacks as I wanted,” he said.
Still, a 5-4 victory gave Joe his first state championship, giving him the true sense of accomplishment that his brothers before him experienced.
“The first thing that I did was go hug my coaches. Then Zac, Danny, and Jarrid were all on the bleachers waiting for me. We all hugged and that’s when it hit me that I finally did it. I reached my goal,” Joe said.
It is not easy to win an individual state championship, but Joe’s approach mentally and physically were what led him to the title.
“Mentally you have to be able to go out on the mat and think whoever you wrestle is just another kid. Whoever I wrestle is going to get the best version of myself and I’m going to bring my A-game so they better bring theirs,” Joe said.
Physically, Joe says the biggest keys are staying in shape, working hard, and pushing through injuries.
While his brothers have been his biggest influence, Joe’s teammates have helped a lot as well. His freshman year he was on the team with Danny and Zac, but also many other dominant wrestlers that led Althoff to a fourth place finish at state.
“If you go through that team you are going to see all people that are top wrestlers in the state. That team was one of the best practice rooms I ever had,” the 16-year-old said.
Joe credits his partners from the last two years, now Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestler Max Kristoff as well as current teammate Anthony Federico – who finished second at state this year – as huge helps to getting to the point where he is. His coaches have been big influences as well, specifically Ryne Harris.
“He’s taught me so much and I couldn’t ask for a better coach,” Joe said.
The rising senior had a full wrestling schedule planned for the summer which has been in flux due to postponements and cancelations resulting from COVID-19. Had all gone as planned, Joe was going to compete at the Virginia Beach Duals, Freestyle Greco State, World Team Trials, and Folkstyle Nationals. He also had a chance to qualify for a Cadet World Team in Las Vegas.
No matter how much wrestling he is able to compete in this summer, Joe will head into his senior wrestling season with a similar goal.
“Every year my goal has been to win a state title. Next year is going to be the same goal, but every day that I’m in the room I want to also get better at one thing,” he said.
The wrestler also hopes to get more notice from colleges next year. Joe has not committed anywhere yet nor has he received any official offers, but several Big Ten schools have been in touch with him. Still undecided on what he might study, the 16-year-old will look to do something active after college, perhaps coaching or even becoming a U.S. Marshal.
First though, Joe will finish his high school wrestling career, where he has the chance to win back-to-back state championships, just as his twin brothers did.
“It would mean the world to me. Winning back-to-back state titles would feel even better than this year. That’s just a thing that most people haven’t done or won’t be able to do,” Joe said.
With the family history, and Joe’s legacy at Althoff that he continues to write, it would be no surprise to see another state championship for the Braunagel family next spring.
