Hoesing matches all-time wins record
HARTINGTON — Cedar Catholic’s Eric Hoesing has inked his name atop the wrestling record books for the local program.
Hoesing is now tied for the alltime career wins in the program with 90, following his victory over the No. 8 wrestler in Class D Chad Wichmann of Palmer at the Elgin Public/Pope John Invitational.
The win, via a third round pin, also gave him his first title of the year.
He currently stands tied with Ethan Koch (152 pounds), who graduated last year.
He can take the top spot for his own to become No. 1 on the list Jan. 4 at a tournament in Pierce.
His coach, a former stand-out wrestler at Howells, knows what it takes to succeed.
“He’s probably one of the hardest workers I have ever coached,” Tro-Cat head coach Justin Bartling said. “He’s definitely the most worthy to have that record.”
The only unfortunate thing is that his record will most likely be broken next year by 138-pounder Kerby Hochstein.
Hochstein already has 72 wins in his career.
Hoesing’s achievement comes despite breaking his hand his freshman year and coming down with mononucleosis the following season.
He made the state tournament a year ago and the goal is to medal this year in Omaha on the final weekend of the season.
“Eric is a great kid with good grades, and he never comes close to being a disciplinary worry or anything. He’s the kid who will be there early and the last one to leave.”
For Hoesing the run of success has not kept him from being grounded.
“It’s been a goal since I stepped on the mat, so it proves that hard work does pay off,” Hoesing said. “I didn’t even know I was even close to tying the record or breaking it until they told me. That is a major milestone.”
Hoesing knows success cannot come without a lot of effort, so he’s not afraid to put in plenty of practice and conditioning time.
“I just spend a lot of time in the weight room and wrestling room,” he said.
Hoesing is known for an “in your face” attack style that is about getting after the opponent.
Hoesing’s success is another example of a program on the rise.
“That just means we are building the program one step at a time,” Bartling said. “That shows the growth. The program is continually moving forward, which is what we want.”
Hoesing is undecided what he wants to do collegiately, but it all depends on what kind of offers he could see in the future.
He also knows that he won’t be No. 1 on the Tro-Cats’ list for long since Hochstein is nipping at his heels with one more year left on the mat in Hartington.
“Kirby has been putting in as much work as I have, so he deserves it,” Hoesing said. “Me and him have been wrestling together since grade school, so I really wouldn’t want it to go to anyone else.
“He’s going to break a lot of my records. My main goal is to get to 100 wins. I have until Feb. 22 (the state tournament) to get there.”