October 22, 2018 at 10:53 a.m.
Piasecki hired as RHS wrestling coach
Piasecki hired as RHS wrestling coach
Nathan Piasecki was hired by RHS earlier this month to take the reins of a program Paul Ellenbecker led to four Great Northern Conference championships over the past five years.
"I really cherish this opportunity and I'm going to definitely make of it, put my whole heart into it," Piasecki told the River News. "I think the kids are getting a quality athlete that's going to be working with them every single day."
Piasecki, a Lakeland Union High School alum, returned to the Northwoods this summer. Prior to that, Piasecki compiled a lengthy resume as a coach and a wrestler.
According to Piasecki's resume, a copy of which was obtained by the River News, Piasecki was a USA Wrestling National Team member in Greco-Roman in 2001, 2006-07 and 2010-11, and was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 60-kilogram (132-pound) weight class by USA Wrestling in 2010. He a national champion in the Men's Division at the U.S. Open that year.
"It gives me a lot of confidence when you've competed and made wrestling one of the main aspects of your life for so many years," Piasecki said. "It takes a lot of the guesswork out of it. I know what works and I'm going to stick to what works. I know the guys will have top-notch coaching. They're not going to have to worry about getting outcoached. They're going to know when they step out on the mat halfway through the season that they've been prepared."
He was an assistant wrestling coach at Niles West High School in Chicago during the 2014-15 season and an assistant coach for Florida Gulf Coast University in 2015 and 2016.
"We're very fortunate to have a candidate of that caliber in front of us," RHS activities director Brian Paulson said. "He's back in town now. He's working up in Lakeland. He wants to be here, and wants to build our program."
The position has been open since April, when Ellenbecker announced he was stepping down from the program to pursue other opportunities within the school district. Paulson said he interviewed Piasecki last month and his hiring was approved earlier this month by school district administration.
"I was very excited to see that the head coach job was available," Piasecki said, noting that he heard about the opening through a parent of one of the wrestlers on the team. "I applied for it and went in for an interview. It was a really good interview. I got to make some of the people affiliated with the team. It went really well and they just offered me the job the next day."
The Hodags underwent a wrestling renaissance during Ellenbecker's seven years at the helm, winning conference titles in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Additionally the team produced several state qualifiers and four state place winners. Last February, Rhinelander had two wrestlers - Jacob DeMeyer and Reuben Guzik - in the Division 1 semifinals of their respective weight classes. Alec Kurtz also placed at state for the Hodags a year ago.
Despite the loss of that much talent, Piasecki said he feels the Hodags can pick up right where they left off.
"They've had such amazing success the last five years that my goal is to win conference," he said. "I think we can do that, especially meeting the guys that I met last Thursday. We have a good nucleus of guys that have some quality experience who are going to really take off, in my opinion, by the end of the season and just be ready to go."
Paulson said he noted similarities in the leadership styles of Ellenbecker and Piasecki during the interview process.
"Paul was very good at the overall picture, and you don't get this with all coaches. He was like the CEO of the wrestling program. He worked it that way and delegated it into his other coaches," Paulson said. "In speaking to Nathan, he puts a lot of trust in his other coaches also. I think that helps them buy into the program."
Piasecki said he will bring one of his best friends and coaching partners, Jake Hairrell, with him to the Hodag program. Otherwise, a number of Rhinelander's assistant coaches from the previous few years will return to the program.
"I think it's going to be a very good season for the guys," he said. "All of their old assistant coaches up there and a couple of new guys that are going to add something. They'll have a half dozen coaches up there on a daily basis, which is going to be great for them."
Practice for the Hodag wrestlers begins Nov. 12. Piasecki said the team will hold a few informal weight room and open mat sessions prior to the start of practice. The team's first match is scheduled for Nov. 29 at Crandon.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.