KJ Fischer
KJ Fischer is a state champion.
The 8-year-old Shawano Wrestling Club member took first in the 69-pound weight class Saturday at the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation Folkstyle State Championships at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
“At the beginning of the year, he told his parents that he was going to state,” coach T.J. Miles said. “Everything I taught in class, he really seemed to pick it up.”
Fischer (39-2) beat Ross Zvolena, of Loyal, 5-0 in the title match, scoring on two takedowns and an escape.
Miles said he talked to Fischer before the final match and assured him he could do it.
“The kid was focused all day,” Miles said. “He was on a mission.”
Miles knew Fischer, who is a second-grader at Hillcrest Primary School, was in for big things this season.
“I told his dad, don’t be surprised if this boy doesn’t lose all year,” Miles said.
Fischer was undefeated most of the season, but did end up losing a pair of matches just before beginning a push to state.
“The weekend before regionals, he got beat twice,” Miles said. “I think it was a very good thing for him. He wasn’t focused; he wasn’t really wrestling his style of wrestling.”
Those would be the only matches Fischer lost all year.
“He did very well,” Miles said. “I’m very proud of him.”
Fellow club members Drake Herm, Will Bieber, Andrew Popp, Landan Gretzinger and Tagen Miles also qualified for the state tournament. Popp reached the podium with a fifth-place finish in the 95-pound weight class.
Fischer is the youngest youth wrestler to win a state title for Shawano. Club member Jared Kust won titles in 2006 and 2007, and Brandon Fish won in 2004 and 2006.
Miles, in his second year coaching the Shawano Wrestling Club, said the quality of the club competition helped prepare Fischer for state.
“He’s only going to get better because his toughest competition is right there in our wrestling room,” Miles said. “It’s hard to predict, but I project him to be a state champion when he gets to high school. If he keeps putting his work in and keeps plugging away, I see good things.”