It has to be an omen for all those thinking they can knock Germantown senior Jesse Thielke from his perch atop the wrestling landscape in Wisconsin.
Three weeks ago at the North Shore Conference tournament, Thielke talked about the upcoming individual state tournament. He’d been battered by a head-butting opponent in the conference final, had that happen again at the Homestead Regional and, despite his dismay at the tactics, he remained upbeat.
His only thought about state: “This is going to be fun.”
No worries. No nerves. Pure confidence.
It is Thielke’s hallmark of greatness that has made his high school career and perhaps his future something to watch in awe for wrestling fans in Wisconsin.
His final campaign should cement his standing as arguably the best ever high school wrestler in the state.
But for him, it comes down to fun, and going out with a bang.
The state tournament begins at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison with Division 1 preliminary matches. Thielke is set to face Fort Atkinson senior Cory Schueman (34-14). Quarterfinals in D1 follow the preliminaries, and then D2 and D3 preliminary matches begin.
Thielke’s confidence is at an all-time high and that should have his competitors shaking in their wrestling shoes.
Thielke has put on a show this year, and why not. He is the top recruit in the state and one of three No. 1 nationally ranked wrestlers from Wisconsin in what has become a recruiting bonanza the state hasn’t seen in years, if ever.
