The Wrestlers and Wrestling Cheerleaders received individual awards and had pizza and rootbeer floats with family, friends and team after the season. The team finished the year with a 15-8 dual meet record. The team ranked as follows: ACGC invitational, fourth; Milaca Duals, fourth; Rockford Tourney, first; Kimball Duals, third. The team was in the final four at the section 5A tournament and lost by two points to the state entrant MCAA. The team also tied with Pierz for the CMC conference title. Both teams had a 6-1 record. Individually, the Cubs had their most successful year in the history of wrestling at Kimball. They had five wrestlers in the state tournament with three placing in the final round. The team was led by their senior class, which ended the year with a final record of 115-15. The seniors not only did a great job on the mat; they also did a superb job of helping out the wrestlers in the practice room who did not have as much experience. For most of the year there were five to eight wrestlers who had never wrestled for Kimball on varsity before this year. The team awards went to the following wrestlers: o MVP: Tom Libbesmeier. o Iron Man: Brady Knaeble and Erich Deutsch (never missed practice). o Most Pins: Brady Knaeble and Tom Libbesmeier-15. o Most Improved: Jeremy Dahnke. o All-CMC Academic: Erich Deutsch and Steve Landwerh. o All-CMC Second Team: Dan Barthel and Jeremy Dahnke. o All-CMC First Team: Brandon Hurrle, Brady Knaeble, Blaine Lemke, and Tom Libbesmeier. o KDUZ All Area: Blaine Lemke, Tom Libbesmeier, Kyle Winter. o All State: Tom Libbesmeier and Kyle Winter. o Team Captains: Tom Libbesmeier and Blaine Lemke. o Cheerleading Spirit Award: Melissa Bolvin. o State Entrants: Gary Salmela and Jeremy Dahnke. o State Place winners: Blaine Lemke, sixth; Kyle Winter, second; Tom Libbesmeier, first. o Letter-winners: seventh-grade Andrew Huhn and Jacob Kiecke; eighth-grade John Hanley, ninth-grade Dan Barthel, David Dahnke and Andy Diffley; tenth-grade Erich Deutsch, Peter Jonas and Chris Sheehan; eleventh-grade Jeremy Dahnke, Luke Deutsch, Brandon Hurrle, Zach Mackereth, Ryan Nutter, Gary Salmela, and Brianna Libbesmeier; twelfth-grade Brady Knaeble, Steve Landwehr, Blaine Lemke, Kyle Winter, Tom Libbesmeier and Travis Winkelman. With the success of the wrestling season some final thanks should be given out. Thanks to the assistant coaches Erik Kask, Brad Olsen, and Frank Schiefelbein IV. Donating their time coaching were Ryan Harrison, Scott Libbesmeier, and Kurt Gun. The Tri-County News for all the coverage and pictures. Kimball Expresso for bringing the pizzas to the school. John and Jackie Bolvin for donating the root beer (the fifth time they have done it). A big thanks to the Kimball Wrestling Booster and Alumni Club and the Elementary Wrestling Club for all they donate and their help. Another BIG thanks to all the fans who come out and supported and cheered on all the young people who worked so hard to give the Kimball Schools a great reputation.
