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PRESS&DAKOTAN
YANKTON DAILY
Wagner s Alex Kocer
Eyes Fifth State Title
BY JEREMY HOECK
jeremy.hoeck@yankton.net
WAGNER Try as he might,
Alex Kocer has been unable to
avoid the state spotlight for his
accolades on the wrestling mat.
It s just not possible when
you ve put together the kind of
career the Wagner senior has assembled.
Four individual state titles.
Three team championships.
But now, Kocer is about to feel
the spotlight burn even brighter
as he begins his senior year with
a chance to win his fifth straight
state title and in the process,
join rare company.
I ve thought about it, sure,
he said before a pre-season practice outside Wagner s red-clad
wrestling room. It s a cool
thought.
It doesn t always happen, because every year has been
tougher.
Kocer has won championships at 103 pounds (2008),
119 (2009), 130 (2010) and 152
last season as a junior.
Only four other South Dakota
wrestlers have won five straight
state titles. Kirk Wallman of Freeman (1984-89) and Logan Storley
of Webster Area (2006-11) both
won six straight two of the
three in U.S. history to accomplish that feat.
Lincoln McIllravy of Philip
(1988-92) and Hannon Hisek of
Bon Homme (1994-98) each captured five straight titles.
Put another way, Kocer could
join exclusive company with a
strong senior season.
He doesn t ever bring it up,
but just by the things he does, I
think he feels it a little bit, said
Wagner first-year coach Chas
Welch, who pointed to Kocer s increased summer workout habits
as proof.
The crazy thing is, he s about
the most carefree kid you can
ever meet.
Even with all his success,
Kocer has, for the most part,
done so quietly, without much
hoopla.
When the Red Raiders won
Championship Effort X 4
Wagner s Alex Kocer will try to become just the fifth South Dakota
prep wrestler to win five state championships during his career. Last
February, he became the 16th wrestler in S.D. to win as many as four.
Six-Time Champions
Kirk Wallman, Freeman (1984-89) .....................................................98-112-126-132-138-152
Logan Storley, Webster (2006-11)....................................................103-119-130-152-171-171
Five-Time Champions
Lincoln McIlravy, Philip (1988-92)..............................................................98-112-125-152-152
Hannon Hisek, Bon Homme (1994-98)....................................................112-119-125-135-135
Four-Time Champions
Dan Bonte, Garretson (2001, 2003-05) .....103-119-135-140
Rick Jensen, Watertown (1971-74)..............98-105-119-132
Alex Kocer, Wagner (2008-11).................103-119-130-152
Seth Lange, Sturgis (2007-10)...................103-119-125-130
David Rowe (1983-86) ...............................112-119-132-132
Travis Slaba, Wagner (1992-95) ................103-119-119-125
their three consecutive team titles from 2008-10, the bulk of the
focus was on Wagner three-time
state champion Robert Kokesh
now at Nebraska.
Now, just like last season,
Kocer is the undisputed leader.
Is he ready for that role?
I hope the guys see me like
that, he said. I m an easy-going
guy, but we like to push each
other. That s what the seniors before me did to us younger guys.
Kocer is not alone when it
comes to Wagner wrestlers
poised for strong seasons. Senior
Derek Dickerson is the returning
Class B champion at 160 pounds,
while David Kocer (So.), Tyler
Dion (Jr.), Sage Zephier (Jr.),
Austin Soukup (Jr.) and Brady
Cuka (Sr.) all competed at the
state tournament a year ago.
The attitude showcased by
Kocer is not unlike that of his
teammates, Welch said.
He s very good about pushing the younger kids and pushing
the team in the right direction,
said the 29-year-old former
wrestler at Northern State. He
never wants the spotlight on him.
That s the whole program in
Wagner; everyone has the same
mindset.
If the Red Raiders need motivation, they need only to look at
their schedule this season. Wagner will compete in tournaments
at Kimball, Winner-Gregory,
Nick Smith, Yankton (2001-04)...................103-119-119-125
Chad Uhrig, Sully Buttes (1996-99) ...........103-119-119-125
Cory Wallman, Marion-Freeman (92-95) ...135-145-152-152
Gary Wallman, Miller (1961-64) ...................95-112-127-133
Troy Wallman, Freeman (1985-88) ..............98-105-119-126
Dustin Walraven, Huron (2004-08) ............112-130-135-135
Howard, Sioux Falls Lincoln and
Wyoming.
All the while, Kocer will be
there, giving guidance to his
younger teammates.
The kids definitely look up to
him. It s nice to have someone
who can demonstrate what s
going on or what the coach is explaining, Welch said. He leads
by example.
He s done things people can t
get away with, but for him, it
looks natural.
As far as his post-high school
plans, Kocer said he hasn t decided yet on a college.
I m pretty indecisive, he
said, with a grin. I ve had a lot of
schools send letters and stuff,
but I m not sure yet.
I just want to have a good finish to high school first.
WINTER SPORTS
PREVIEW 2011
CENTER PHOTO BY JEREMY HOECK
CROSBY-JAEGER
FUNERAL HOME INC.
Avon, SD
119 N. Poplar St.
Wagner, SD
124 E. Hwy 50
384-3781
Springfield, SD
604 8th St.
369-2488
B
Wagner HS
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY
JAMES D. CIMBUREK
SURROUNDING PHOTOS COURTESY
SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING
SECTION
Red Raiders Boys Basketball
Date
12/10
12/17
12/30
1/3
1/6
1/7
1/10
1/12
1/19
1/23
1/26
1/27
1/31
2/3
2/4
2/10
2/11
2/14
2/17
2/24
Opponent
Avon
Dakota Christian
Parkston Classic
Plankinton
Bon Homme
Corsica/Stickney
South Central
Parkston
Winner
Tripp-Delmont/Armour
Scotland
Hartington Cedar Catholic
O Neill
Andes Central
McCook Central/Montrose
Chamberlain
DWU Classic
Vermillion
Platte-Geddes
Gregory
Location
Wagner
Corsica
Parkston
Plankinton
Tyndall
Corsica
Wagner
Wagner
Winner
Wagner
Wagner
Hartington, Neb
O Neill, Neb.
Wagner
Salem
Chamberlain
Mitchell
Wagner
Wagner
Gregory
Time
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
TBA
6:30 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5 p.m.
TBA
8 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Date
12/6
12/10
12/12
12/16
12/17
12/29
1/3
1/5
1/7
1/10
1/12
1/14
1/20
1/27
1/31
2/2
2/4
2/10
2/14
2/16
Opponent
Winner
Lennox
Tripp-Delmont/Armour
West Central
Dakota Christian
Parkston Classic
Hanson
Bon Homme
Corsica/Stickney
Gregory
Parkston
Hanson Classic
Avon
Scotland
O Neill
Andes Central
McCook Central/Montrose
Chamberlain
Vermillion
Platte-Geddes
Date
12/1
12/3
12/8
p.m.
12/10
12/13
12/16-17
12/29-30
1/7
1/14
1/17
1/24
1/28
2/2
Opponent
Location
Bon Homme
Wagner
Kimball Tournament
Kimball
Winner/Gregory Tournament
Time
6:30 p.m.
9:30 a.m.
Wagner6
Howard Tournament
Howard
Parkston
Wagner
Wyoming Tournament
Gillette, Wyo.
Sioux Falls Lincoln Tourn. Sioux Falls
SESD Conference Tourn. Tyndall
Mitchell Tournament
Mitchell
Kimball/Lyman Triangular Kimball
Andes Central
Lake Andes
Wagner Tournament
Wagner
Scotland/EPJ/Beresford Quad.Scotland
10 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
TBA
11/10 a.m.
10 a.m.
11 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
10 a.m.
5 p.m.
Date
12/10
12/29
1/6
1/7
1/9
1/14
1/23
1/30
Opponent
Wagner Tournament
Vermillion Tournament
Chamberlain Quadrangular
Stanley County Meet
Mitchell/S.F. Roosevelt Tri.
Madison Tournament
Chamberlain/Kimball Tri.
Vermillion/West Central Tri.
Jim & Julie Jaeger and Chad Peters
Red Raiders Girls Basketball
FORT RANDALL
TELEPHONE
CO.
384-3993
Wagner, SD
Commercial
State Bank
~ Since 1902 ~
(605)384-3646
204 South Main Wagner, SD
Fax: (605) 384-3403
www.commercialstate.com
Email bank@commercialstate.com
Location
Winner
Wagner
Wagner
Wagner
Corsica
Parkston
Alexandria
Wagner
Corsica
Gregory
Wagner
Mitchell
Wagner
Scotland
O Neill, Neb.
Lake Andes
Salem
Chamberlain
Wagner
Platte
Time
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
TBA
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
TBA
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
5 p.m.
5 p.m.
5 p.m.
Red Raiders Wrestling
Red Raiders Gymnastics
Location
Wagner
Vermillion
Chamberlain
Ft. Pierre
Wagner
Madison
Chamberlain
Vermillion
Time
Noon
11:30 a.m.
6:15 p.m.
Noon
6:30 p.m.
Noon
6:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
