(Audubon) This week’s Why I Coach guest has been instrumental in the success of the Audubon wrestling program.
Former Audubon head wrestling coach Blane Kerkhoff got involved as an assistant with the Wheelers in the 1980’s and spent nearly 30 years matside including a dozen as head coach. “Yeah, you know back in the day it just seemed like you just had those farm boys coming in and getting on the mat and really showing what could be done. I don’t know, we just have some tough nosed kids and we’ve been able to develop them into some pretty good wrestlers.”
He says it was always fun working with and developing kids. “You need to have the athletes and we did have some tremendous wrestlers here. We started with them young and I took them to a lot of camps. Every summer I was taking kids to camp and them being able bond and make it a family unit. That’s one thing that’s really unique about the sport of wrestling.”
Kerkhoff prided himself on being able to influence a match with his instructions from the corner. “We were in a dual against Logan-Magnolia and I had there cheerleaders sitting right beside me. Audubon’ cheerleaders were on the other side of me. I’d already told our cheerleaders when I talk they have to be quiet. But the Logan cheerleaders were just hooting and hollering practically the whole first match. I stopped the whole meet and said they’ve got to be moved. It was so funny because one of the cheerleaders got up and as they were moving she said their coaches told them to come over here and make as much noise as they possibly could. At first I was mad, but then I thought that was kind of neat that they thought enough of me to do that.”
Previous Coaches
John Kesselring, Adair-Casey alum
Eric Maassen, (AHST grad) Sheldon
Jerome Hoegh, Atlantic grad (West Sioux)
Gaylord Schelling, Atlantic and Tri-Center
Dick Strittmatter, Atlantic native
Chad Klein, Audubon Native (Kuemper Catholic and Boone)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Monte Riebhoff)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Steve Ahrendsen)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Scott Weber)
In Memory of Bob Monahan, Audubon (Curt Mace)
Chris Stimson, Elk Horn-Kimballton
Jan Jensen, Elk Horn-Kimballton alum
Seth Poldberg, EH-K grad and Guthrie Center coach
Trevor Gipple, (Griswold grad) SW Valley
Angie Spangenberg, Harlan and Red Oak
Eric Stein (Harlan grad) Iowa Central
Darrell Burmeister, Nodaway Valley
Lanny Kliefoth, Nodaway Valley
