Audubon junior picks up second career medal at State
By Drew Herron - AJ Sports Editor / March 6, 2014
AUDUBON - The passion for wrestling runs deep in the Kerkhoff household.
Audubon junior Brad Kerkhoff recognizes it, appreciates it and he doesn’t hesitate to tap into it.
Kerkhoff recently captured a State Wrestling medal for the second straight year, with his dad and longtime Wheelers head coach Blane Kerkhoff there on the mat with him at Wells Fargo Arena.
It was the eldest Kerkhoff who was there to give Brad his red warm-up sweat suit and congratulate him first following 6-5 decision victory that fetched him seventh place. But when reflecting upon what it took to wrestle through to another Saturday at the State Tournament, Brad recounts a story more in line with brotherly love on this trip to Des Moines.
“To be honest, there is no way I would have placed or been able to make weight if I didn’t have my brother as a workout partner,” Brad Kerkhoff says of competing regularly against his older brother Blair. Blair is currently a sophomore 141-pounder at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.
“He’s picked up so much knowledge and technique wrestling on college, wrestling against him is a lot different than any other opponent around here,” Brad Kerkhoff says. “Having him around helps out a ton, somebody at your disposal who is ALWAYS willing to wrestle and help me.”
Brad and Blair both made it to the State Tournament in 2012, when Brad was a freshman at 106 and Blair a senior at 126.
Last year, mononucleosis shelved Brad for part of the off-season, and it was a while before he could go at it full blown. Having Blair around, with his collegiate wrestling education and training plan certainly helped as well. As did a more mature approach to nutrition and training regimen.
The countdown to State 2015 has already counted for the Audubon Wheelers, and perhaps no other individual is more driven than Brad as he looks forward to his final bite at the apple.
Four days a week to lift, three days to wrestle mixed in with camps and conditioning make up the bulk of this off season’s regiment and road map to Des Moines.
From his freshman year to his sophomore year he went up in weight classes from 106 to 120. As a junior, he competed at 126, not much of a transition as kids tend to grow, and many of the opponents he faced this winter were the same last year at 120. Next year, its almost certain Brad will not compete at 126, but perhaps more likely at 132 or 138, or even 145. Though, there is no way to predict how tall nature might take growing boys, but Brad will be ready to go wherever he ends up next winter.
Entering his senior year, Kerkhoff has a reputation as tough on the bottom and the top, and ought to have on record an ability to shoot effectively from his feet in the neutral position. Finishing up after shots is one area he expects to polish over the summer, as well as defending against shots. Continual footwork training and nutrition goes without saying.
“I’d like to get a lot better with my feet,” Brad says. “To be able to take anyone down and to feel more confident (against shots) defensively on my feet. I can’t continue to give up takedowns like I have been, if I want to get to where I want to go.”
His coach and father, Blane, says the biggest difference and growth he saw this year compared to last was mental toughness and belief in himself.
“Every kid has the goal first of reaching State, and then you experience it and it makes you hungry for a medal,” coach Kerkhoff says. “And, once you get on the medal stand, it’s natural that you want to get something better. I know that’s a goal for him, and he has one more year to chase that championship.”
Brad Kerkhoff finished his junior season with a 47-8 record for a Wheelers’ team that posted a 20-2 dual record and won the Western Iowa Conference Tournament title.
Audubon sent five individuals to the State Tournament, and all but senior Matt Fett (who finished as fourth place medalist) will return for the Wheelers next year.
There already is a buzz about town regarding next season’s wrestling squad, with 12 starters set to return. If all remains in place, Audubon can expect eight juniors to become seniors for 2014-15. This past season might be signs of bigger things to come by the end of next winter.
“We have all kinds of opportunity for Audubon Wrestling next year,” Brad says. “There are four of us returning State qualifiers and we all know what it’s like, and what we are capable of. That’s the thing about wrestling at State…you learn how good you are because you wrestle against the best and you see how you do.”
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