ABOVE: North Union High School wrestling team members. Front row (l-r): Jackson Hutchinson, Ethan Preston, Josh Harmon, Lucas Dreyer, Brennan Bollinger and Hunter Clendenan; middle row: Gabe Whaley, Michael Tobin, Kade Madden, Samuel Kirkegaard, Kyan Walter. Back Row: Henry Moore, Liam Kollasch, Kaden Grimm and Max Merrill. Not pictured: Noah Hersleff. Submitted Photo Courtesy of Kim Meyer, Editor, Bancroft Register

SWEA CITY, IA – A freshman-heavy roster for the North Union Warriors are training hard heading into the 2024-2025 season gearing up for their first varsity wrestling opportunities. With 10 of the 15 on the roster being underclassmen, veteran leadership is proving to be vital as the team develops.

Eleventh-year coach Joe Johnson, who joined the program at launch, is confident in his young team, citing a willingness to push themselves hard every time they take the mat.

“When I give them a hard task, they don’t really complain about it,” said Johnson. “They just do it. And the leaders are vocal, but they’re showing they lead through their actions. And some of the younger guys, I think we have 15 guys on the team, and I think just about every single one of them’s gonna have an opportunity to letter this year and wrestle some varsity matches for us.”

North Union is relying on the veterans in four senior captains Brennan Bollinger, Lucas Deryer, Ethan Preston, and Josh Harmon to set the tone and be an example for their new teammates. They have thus far done a solid job according to Johnson.

“He’s a big boy [Bollinger], he’s been wrestling 215 for us,” said Johnson. “He has it made to state the last couple of years… Brennan wants to be the first Northeastern wrestler to bring home a medal. He wants to be the first Northeastern wrestler to make the finals. He’s got big goals and he works every day like he’s gonna achieve them.”

Bollinger is coming off of a 34-win season, Dreyer had 21 wins, and Preston 42 wins. They’re coming into the year with high hopes and expectations to improve further and aid in the development of the team as a whole.

“Every single day we step on the mat, we put our shoes on, we just try to get better,” said Johnson. “Whether it’s our running shoes or our wrestling shoes or whether we’re watching tape, we’re always trying to find a way to improve on and off the mat.”

Citing a tough conference, Johnson stated multiple teams they will face are ranked at a state level and will put up a fight whenever the Warriors cross them. But there is still a strong desire to produce a conference champion.

“We’ve never had a conference champion since we started the Top of Iowa Conference,” said Johnson. “I want to say eight or nine years ago. And that’s another goal Brennan Bollinger has, he wants to win the conference tournament at heavyweight.”

With veteran leadership at the helm and a desire to win, North Union heads to Northwood-Kenesett High School at 6 p.m. on Thursday for its first meet of the year.