By Joe Shinners Perspective is what Port Washington junior wrestler Alex Dieringer is all about. He’s been at the top of the podium almost everywhere he goes. Yet he’s experienced frustrating losses in the public eye, and still understands that for him wresting is about one thing: having some fun out there on the mat. Thankfully for Dieringer, he’s had many more good days than bad days as he embarks on his third trip to the individual state wrestling tournament as one of the top five wrestlers overall in the state. The individual state wrestling tournament runs from Thursday through Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. As usual, Dieringer will be the favorite to win a state title, this year in Division 1 at 140 pounds after Port shifted up to Division 1 after a one-year stint in D2 a year ago. His main competitors are expected to be Wisconsin Rapids sophomore Rylan Lubeck (45-3) and River Falls senior Cam Loomis (39-2). Dieringer, the state D1 state champion at 103 pounds two years ago as a powerful lightweight, is looking to regain his state championship form after a frustrating loss in the D2 finals at 125 a year ago. That’s when Dieringer lost to Tomahawk’s Zach Zehner, now a senior, by a 7-6 decision in the 125 D2 final after a poorly timed headthrow was perfectly countered by Zehner. That loss has been gnawing at Dieringer ever since. “I actually wrestled bad at that state tournament (last year),” said Dieringer, who will carry a 41-1 record into the state tournament this year. “It didn’t wrestle good at all. It wasn’t me. I just had a bad tournament. But I’ve had those before. I’m excited to get back to state. I’m excited to get back to a big tournament again. I’m having fun. That’s what it’s all about.” Big-time athletes love the big stage, and Dieringer, with a career record of 124-4, is no different. Still, Port coach Angelo LaRosa understands that as a young athlete, Dieringer was at times overwhelmed by the hype. “It’s hard to point a finger in one direction and say why he lost (at state),” said LaRosa. “But I think it was a kid just being 15 years old and not having a good day. High school kids get rattled. Sometimes we forget that they’re just kids. (The loss) might have been the best thing that has happened to him. He wants to go and he wants to work out. He wants to be the best. He makes huge gains every year. Alex has a huge ceiling. He has tons of room for improvement.” During the offseason – if there is one for him-- Dieringer continued to add to his resume as an individual and a member of the state cadet national team as he improved his national ranking among the many polls that have emerged of late. As an individual, Dieringer was a two-time champion at the cadet national championships in Fargo, N.D., winning in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. The double victory on a national stage was impressive. “It’s a big deal,” said Port coach Angelo LaRosa. “To be a double champion out there is a really big deal. That’s what a lot of college coaches look at. He beat a lot of big -time guys.” He also helped the Wisconsin cadet Greco-Roman team win the national title. A year earlier, Dieringer was part of the Wisconsin team that won the cadet national Greco-Roman team dual championship. Dieringer also won the Pointer Open, a collegiate level tournament, at 141 pounds earlier this year. “I didn’t even think I was going to place,” Dieringer said of his performance at the collegiate-level tournament. “I was really surprised.” LaRosa is quick to say that Dieringer has grown from his state championship loss a year ago and moved beyond it. “I think he’s responded well,” said LaRosa. “I know you can dwell on it or do something about it He’s done something about it. It’s different with him because for him to have a real hard workout he has to wrestle against coaches. We’ve had a lot of really hard workouts with him.” Dieringer, a three-time North Shore Conference, regional and sectional champion, has responded. He rolled though the regional at Kaukauna with two pins and a 7-4 victory over Kaukauna junior Alex DeGroot to advance to the Sheboygan North Sectional. Dieringer was supposed to be challenged at the sectional. He wasn’t. Dieringer picked up two pins before rolling over Oshkosh West senior Jeremy Schumann (43-2) by an 8-0 major decision in the 140 final. Earlier this year, Dieringer lost to Arrowhead junior Jake Sueflohn (44-1) by a 10-6 decision in the 135 final at the Cheesehead Invitational in an all-state final at the prestigious tournament. Dieringer shrugged the loss and his decision to stay at 140. “He caught me in a seatbelt,” said Dieringer. “Jake’s a good wrestler. It wasn’t that bad. I’m fine at 140. I feel strong. I feel good.” Go Back to the Home Page Read More Articles by Joe../../../../07-08_Article_Archive/Archive.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1