High schoolers took to the mats over the weekend for the state wrestling tournament in Rapid City. One student shared his story of overcoming illness and making it into the championship rounds.
The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center roared with applause as high school wrestlers took to the mats for the state wrestling tournament championship rounds. Dirk Wolf is a competitor in the 126-weight division from Lemmon High School. The 17 year old says he has been wrestling for nearly 12 years. But last year, for a time Wolf had to stop training.
“I was just sick for a couple weeks and I couldn’t really not be sick so I ended up getting French Polio from it. I couldn’t really walk and lost grip in my hands and stuff so it was pretty scary I guess,” says Wolf.
Wolf says he started to recover at the end of the summer but that getting back into wrestling afterwards was slow and took hard work.
“It’s completely gone I think so far and I’m able to wrestle. Wrestling’s taught me a lot of things. Teaching me how to overcome obstacles that get in my way and stuff,” says Wolf .
Wolf’s dad, Todd Wolf, says the seeing his son sick was nerve-racking.
“It happened right after the state meet last year so just kind of scary I guess. It’s great to see him back on the matt and performing at the high level. It’s a big accomplishment. He worked all summer with a personal trainer to bet back strong, get his quickness back. Just walking was kind of hard for him for a little bit so to be able to move that quick is pretty great. I’m just happy he’s in the finals and win or loose we’ll be happy,” says Todd Wolf.
After high school, Dirk Wolf says he hopes to get wrestling scholarship and continue in college. Wolf took second place in his division at the tournament.