Raschka ready for fun season
Pewaukee senior feels less pressure
There’s a sense of relief that seems to have come over Pewaukee senior wrestler Jacob Raschka.
Having accomplished almost everything he could have dreamed of when he began wrestling, he is actually relaxed heading into his final season.
Everything came together in one big year that began with a national championship, included his first WIAA Division 1 state individual title and ended with him signing a letter of intent with Missouri two weeks ago.
Finally, Raschka feels like he can go out and enjoy what he earned with all that hard work over the years as he heads into his final season as the state’s topranked wrestler overall and sure to be No. 1-ranked 195-pounder in Division 1 when the first rankings come out.
“I really just want to have fun with it,” Raschka said of his final season. “Obviously I want to win a state title again, but I just want to have one good last ride. Last year, I felt a lot of pressure. This year I feel a little bit less.”
Raschka was dominant last season as he posted a record of 54-0, winning the 195-pound D1 title in his third trip to Madison. As a freshman, he went 47-6 and finished fifth at 152 in D2. As a sophomore, he finished fourth at 170 with a record of 51-4.
Last year, he was driven to win the state title after winning the USA Wrestling cadet freestyle national title two summers ago.
He wasn’t even challenged during the state tournament, blowing through the field to win his first state title.
“It’s amazing how much better he is,” said Pewaukee coach Ed Kurth, in his 17th season at the school and 21st overall.
“He’s so focused and so driven. It’s amazing how much better he is now. I’ve never seen someone so driven.”
Raschka attacked all of his opponents last year and set the school single-season takedown record with 300. He also owns the school single-season pin record with 30 and the single-season victory total with 54, both set last year..
This year, he is likely to surpass David Phillips’ school record of 170 victories, given he would have at least 50 matches to improve on a career record of 152-10.
“What I’m amazed about is his technique and his intensity,” said Kurth. “Everything is in line when he wrestles — his head, his heart and his knee alignment are all in a line. He never drops his head (when he shoots)."
Raschka, ranked No. 11 in the national high school rankings compiled by The Open Mat website, will get an early test when Pewaukee, the top-ranked team in the area, takes on Stratford, one of the top teams in Division 2, in a multi-dual at North Fond du Lac at 7 p.m. Dec. 8.
Raschka is scheduled to face Stratford senior Kamren Bornbach, a two-time D2 state champion, in that dual.
“I’m always looking for a challenge,” said Raschka. “I’m excited for that match.”
Other than that match, Raschka’s biggest challenges are likely to come Dec. 30-31 at The Clash National Duals in Rochester, Minn., and Jan. 6-7 at the Cheesehead Invite in Kaukauna.
Raschka should be ready. This summer, he didn’t get the results he wanted at big national tournaments, failing to place at one and finishing fifth at another. He learned a valuable lesson as his national ranking dropped from No. 5.
“I wasn’t working as hard as I should have been,” said Raschka. “I had to get back to work. Right now, I just want to get better this year and keep working.”