Gary Seymour, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Dan Tauchen
A lot of young brothers emulating the older siblings they look up to might wear similar clothes, or listen to the same music.
Dan Tauchen had a more novel approach.
The Bonduel High School senior punctuated his stellar year on Feb. 7 by defeating Rosholt’s Tony Kontney 8-2 to win the 160-pound division of the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 meet. Afterward he learned that he was named the conference’s Wrestler of the Year, becoming the third member of his family to do so.
The shadows cast by the older brothers were long ones: Joe Tauchen went 45-4 en route to a second-place finish in the 220-pound weight class at state two years ago, and Ben Tauchen was a two-time state champion, also at 220 pounds, four seasons ago. Both earned CWC-8 Wrestler of the Year honors under coach Chris Rank.
Dan Tauchen’s fate at the state meet will be determined over the next two weeks, but for the time being, going where his brothers went is a satisfying validation.
“We’re kind of a modest family,” he said. “We don’t really boast about what we did, or how much we’ve won. Even (Ben) doesn’t talk about how he won state twice. I always knew they were really good, and I looked up to them. But I guess (being CWC-8 Wrestler of the Year) is really nice because now I feel noticed.”
Opponents have long noticed Tauchen, presently the state’s No. 4-ranked wrestler in his weight class, although most often from an unfavorable viewpoint. He improved to 38-2 by winning the 160-pound title Saturday at the Coleman Regional.
“You know, rankings are … good conversation pieces,” Rank said. “I would say he’s at least that good (No. 4). I would be surprised if he doesn’t make it to state.”
Tauchen, who finished sixth at state last year at 152 pounds, is capable of doing anything in the postseason — except avenge his two losses. The first defeat came at the hands of Coleman’s Kevin Lansin in Tauchen’s first match of the season. Lansin dropped to the 152-pound weight class shortly after the match.
“A one-point loss in the first match of the year, I wasn’t really in a groove yet,” Tauchen said. “I was ready to wrestle him again the next week at Shawano, and all of a sudden he gets on the scale and … .”
His other loss was a two-point setback at the hands of Jared Krattiger, of Waterford, a Division 1 school. Bonduel wrestles in Division 3.
Aware that peripheral storylines of retribution will take a back seat when the important matches get under way, Tauchen assessed his postseason chances.
“A reasonable goal for me would be to finish in the top three at state,” he said, adding, “but what I really want is the state championship.”
To that end, Tauchen treats practice like live matches, looking to ensure that if he happens to get upended somewhere on the road to a title, it won’t be because he got outworked.
“But I don’t really use the stuff I normally use in meets,” he said. “I try new stuff, to widen my arsenal. The things I’m good at I can do no matter what, so I’m always looking to develop new stuff.”
He got an instant dividend out of the outside sweep he’d been working on to supplement the “Kelly” (fireman’s carry) that he had most often used, registering his first takedown of the conference meet with the outside sweep.
At the Coleman Regional, Tauchen was operating at something less than 100 percent physically but still had enough to win his weight class. He trailed Shiocton’s Garrett Gunderson 2-1 late in the match before posting the necessary reversal to give him the winning margin.
“I wasn’t worried about that one,” said Rank, who likes his 160-pounder’s chances the rest of the way as much as anyone’s. “When he wants to score, he can score. It’s been a pleasure coaching him and everyone in his family. I’m really proud of Dan and the career he’s had. He’s an exceptional wrestler.”