Bloomer-Colfax wrestlers return seven letter winners
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THE BLOOMER-COLFAX wrestling team returns seven letter winners for the 2023-24 season. Front row (L to R): Ayden Anderson, Drew Ryder, Dakota Meyer, Zeke Anderson, and Jacob LaGesse. Back row (L to R): Assistant coach Dave Blanchard, Aiden Poirer, James McElroy, Dillon Zwiefelhofer, Ty Peterson, Kolton Burgess, Miles Luek, and head coach Braydon Johnson. —photo submitted
The 2023-24 Bloomer-Colfax wrestling roster of 11 features seven returning letter winners.
Among those seven letter winners is Ayden Anderson, Colfax’s lone competitor. Anderson returns for his senior season seeking to improve on a 31-20 record from last season.
Second-year head coach Braydon Johnson will need to rely on his returning letter winners which also include James McElroy, Drew Ryder, Zeke Anderson, Jacob LaGesse, Miles Lueck and Kendra Hamman to replace the leadership lost via the graduations of Ethan Rubenzer, Brok McCann, Brison Tuschl and Samy Espinal.
Johnson said that all of his returning letter winners have the potential to score a lot of points for this year’s Raptors’ squad.
The coach is also intrigued by newcomers Charlie Hebert Aiden Poirer, Dyllon Zwiefelhofer and Kolten Burgess. All have an opportunity to make big strides in their first year of high school wrestling according to Johnson.
While Johnson sees comradery as one of his team’s greatest strengths, the lack of depth and a clear leader could hinder the Raptors throughout the season.
With that in mind, Johnson would like to add a few more wrestlers to the team. He also wants the squad to maintain a 3.0 GPA and take at least two wrestlers to the state meet in late February.
“It is important that the team continues to work hard throughout the year and to never give up,” stated Johnson.
Spectators will notice that some of the weight classes have been changed for this season
Johnson sees Cadott, a perennial power, as the team to beat in this year’s Cloverbelt Conference race.
Assisting Johnson this year are Dave Blanchard and Ty Peterson.
2023-24 Roster
113-Drew Ryder (10)
120-Zeke Anderson (10)
126-Ayden Anderson (12)
126-Jacob LaGesse (10)
132-Charlie Hebert (9)
138-Aiden Poirer (10)
144-Miles Lueck (10)
150-James McElroy (11)
157-Dyllon Zwiefelhofer (11)
190-Kolten Burgess (9)
215 Boys and 191 Girls-Kendra Hamman (12)
John Timm Duals
The Raptors opened the season at the John Timm Memorial Duals in Glenwood City this past Saturday, December 2.
Bloomer-Colfax finished last in the six-team event with a 0-5 record. The Raptors lost 45-30 to Spooner/Webster, 73-3 to host Glenwood City, 42-24 to Somerset, 58-12 to Clear Lake and 54-27 to Triton High School which is located in Dodge Center, MN.
Colfax’s Ayden Anderson finished winless in his five matches.
The Raptors will compete in the Eau Claire North Invitational this Saturday, December 9.