Mental muscle
By Nathan Cooper, Tribune Sports Writer
Most area sports fans know that the Albert Lea High School wrestling team has excelled on the mat during the past few years, but for as much success as the Tigers have had during their meets, they’ve sustained even greater success in the classroom.
With a 3.9 cumulative grade point average among varsity participants, the ALHS wrestlers have been awarded their third consecutive state academic championship.
It’s nothing new for coach Larry Goodnature’s squad, as five out of the last seven years the Tigers have claimed the state academic title, giving them a dynasty.
Goodnature summed it up well: “That’s unbelievable. “In the last nine years, the team’s GPA has not dipped below 3.5.
“We are very proud of our wrestling program on the mat, sending a school-record eight individuals to state, “said Goodnature. “We are very proud of these same athletes in the classroom. We are the talk of the state wrestling community with our grades.”
On the first day of the state tournament, Albert Lea was presented an award for its continuing pursuit of academic excellence and for topping the 253-school list for academics.
Brandon Klukow and Zach Hansen were among 28 wrestlers statewide to earn academic all-state honors. Both carry a 3.93 GPA. It was the second year in a row Hansen made the team.
The Albert Lea coaching staff takes academics very seriously because, according to Goodnature, quality traits in the classroom translate into quality wrestlers.
“The sport of wrestling teaches respect, self-discipline, responsibility and pride, “said Goodnature. “Wrestling is individual, and in the classroom, you can’t count on a team. These are attributes you need in the classroom.”
To make sure academics are stressed in the Tiger wrestling program, each wrestler is required to turn in a progress report of his grades each week to make sure that appropriate academic standards are being met. Also on a weekly basis, the team sits down for 60 minutes and has a team study hall for the purpose of studying and completing homework. Goodnature compares it to a weekly parent-teacher conference and, not surprisingly, has been pleased with the results thus far.
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