High hopes on the mat for Swan Valley’s 2021-22 season
SAGINAW, Mich. — The Swan Valley varsity wrestling team has returned to the mats for the 2021-2022 season. After last year’s run was cut short by Covid-19, the Vikings squad looks to make it to Ford Field in Detroit the first weekend in March for the individual state finals.
The team consists of 23 boys and two girls. Head coach Justin Brandel returns for his seventh campaign leading the Vikings grapplers. He graduated
from Swan Valley High School with an outstanding 192 career wins and wrestled all throughout high school and at the collegiate level. As a high school athlete, Coach Brandel was a three-time state qualifier, three-time MVP for his team, and was captain his junior and senior year. He is a great coach and supports all of his athletes. Coach Brandel has also brought aboard five volunteer coaches to help him this season.
The Vikings wrestling team includes eight seniors: Mark Adams, Caleb Brandel, Lucas Fox, Hudson Karst, Robert Jeter, Matthew Starks, Brice Tweddle, and foreign exchange student Julia Hans from Germany. The team practices everyday, Monday through Friday, and competes every Wednesday and Saturday. Wrestling is not just practice and competition, it makes up a lot of hustle and tussle, pins, and wins! It’s also living a healthy lifestyle, showing a hard work ethic, never giving up, and being a good teammate!
The Vikings had a great start to the season, winning their home invite on December 11, 2021. After their home tournament, Swan Valley won their next team invite on the following Saturday at Saginaw Heritage High School. To start off the New Year, Swan Valley had another impressive showing at the Saginaw County Invitational, placing third as a team with 10 out of the 13 wrestlers placing in their respective weight class. The Ueberroth twins, Cody and Tyler, were crowned as individual champions! Both brothers, Cody and Tyler, along with teammate Mark Adams, all qualified for individual regionals last season, but sadly they were not able to move forward due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year, their main goal is to make it to the top of the podium!
Female wrestler Kennady Tiitola also has set the bar high for herself. Kennady was interviewed by teammate Julia Hans. She was asked what it is like being one of the few girls on the wrestling team and defeating most of her opponents on the mat.
“It is a great experience and I love the sport in general,” Kennady said. “Being one of two girls on the wrestling team, it is a good feeling and it shows that guys aren’t the only ones who can dominate in that sport. It’s a great feeling to win in a boys sport and it’s good to see the sport growing not only in the boys division, but in the girls division as well.”
The goal for these athletes is definitely attainable! Swan Valley always puts forth 100% effort, even if they are tired. Now being in the middle of competition and with regionals and states right around the corner, we wish the team the best for the second half of the season!
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