The Manitowoc Lincoln Wrestling team gave back to the community this week with a simple act of kindness.
The squad, led by Coach Tyler Wetenkamp, met at the playground at Henrey Schuette Park, and cleaned up all of the leaves and trash that was left behind.
With Tyler’s brother being the Manitowoc Parks Planner, Brock Wetenkamp, Tyler not only helped out his brother, but it is also great for team chemistry.
He explained he wanted to “Do a little team bonding before the actual season starts and get in here and clean up for the community. My kids come here. We bring our kids here. Not so much now because it’s cold, but it’s just a nice thing to do, I guess, for them and get them a little extra work.”
Thorton Ash, one of the Senior leaders on the team, noted that good team chemistry is vital to a successful season.
“Having a good team dynamic helps everyone and helps the people who may not be like as confident in their skills,” he explained. “(It) helps them have more like self respect and more enjoyment for sports and what they do.”
Fellow Senior Malaki Munoz also pointed out that the clean-up effort is their way of giving back.
“The community…they come in support and are the Lincoln High School in our athletic program, so it’s always good to come back and give them give them what they need too,” he said.
We asked Coach Wetenkamp about his outlook on the season, and he had nothing but praise for his athletes.
He said bluntly, “We are going to have the best team we’ve had since I’ve been coaching.”
The Ships will begin their season with a scrimmage against Valders at the JFK Fieldhouse on December 1st, ahead of their first regular season meet in Kimberly on December 6th.
