Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Clintonville High School senior Jacob Reiter wrestles teammate Charlie Poppe during practice Dec. 18 at Clintonville High School. Reiter earned his 100th career win earlier this season.
Jake Reiter may have hit a major milestone last week, getting his 100th career win, but the Clintonville High School senior says the wins are not as important to him as the losses.
“I don’t really look back on the matches I won,” said Reiter, who wrestles at 195 pounds. “I look back on the matches I lost and try to learn, get the most out of them.”
Reiter, who finished fifth at the WIAA state tournament last season and is a three-time sectional qualifier, was still excited to reach a mark only a few Truckers wrestlers have notched.
“It was pretty exciting. … It felt pretty good to get the 100th win finally,” Reiter said.
His coach said the secret of Reiter’s success is in the time he puts into the sport.
“Definitely his work ethic is amazing,” coach Justin Mc Auly said. “In the last 10 years, we haven’t had a whole lot of 100-win wrestlers. It’s quite an accomplishment for us.
“Jake, the time that he puts in on the mat, the time in the summer, the summer reps he gets in, it’s above everyone else and it is starting to show.”
Reiter’s 100th win came Dec. 14 at the Winnebago Lutheran Academy Invitational against Oostburg’s Jordan Blok, who is ranked as an honorable mention in Division 3 by Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Blok isn’t the only ranked opponent Reiter, who is ranked No. 3 in Division 2, has dispatched this season. He also beat Racine Case’s Larry Harleston, ranked No. 5 in Division 1, earlier this season.
“Those are two tests that were good for him early on this year and he came out on top,” Mc Auly said. “He came out on top, so that was a good confidence-booster this season.”
Reiter is 15-1 on the season and finished third at the Shawano Holiday Classic wrestling tournament Saturday in Shawano.
Aside from improving his technique by wrestling a lot over the summer, Reiter also said his conditioning has improved from running cross-country in the fall.
All that work has gone toward his goal of reaching state again and improving on his top-five finish.
“Get down to state is my first goal,” Reiter said. “Mainly, place at the top.”
The Truckers only have nine wrestlers on the team, but the coach said the team doesn’t lack quality.
“We’re not abundant in numbers, but there’s kids I trust out on the mat every week,” Mc Auly said.
Reiter said he has been impressed with 182-pound wrestler Charlie Poppe and 145-pounder Tim Jerabek.
“It’s a small team, but there’s a lot of potential,” Reiter said. “Working with the guys this year, they all seem to have a different attitude this year. Everybody wants to get down there (to state) now.”