Perry freshman Kade Van Kirk will be one of four Perry Bluejays wrestling this week at the 2013 State Wrestling Championships in Des Moines.  Van Kirk is coming off both a sectional and district championship and talks about his biggest area’s of improvement.

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“I have really improved on my feet and with my shots.  I like to apply the legs and put in the power half.  Usually that gets me the results I want.”

You better get used to the last name  of Van Kirk as Kade won’t be the only one representing Perry.  His older brother and senior Jackson has been the most consistent of the Bluejay quartet and Kade says he relies on Jackson quite a bit for that brotherly advice.

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“Jackson is a great big brother.  I talk to him all the time about different things on the wrestling mat.  He always has advice for me and really cares about how I do.  Its great to have him in my corner.

That’s Perry Freshman Kade Van Kirk.  Bluejay Head Coach Trevor Kettleson points to one specific conversation he had with Kade midway through the season that seeemed to turn the table for Van Kirk.

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In 2 years on the job, Kettleson has now sent 11 wrestlers to the state tournament.  He talks about some of the things he learned last year in his first year as a coach at the state tournament.

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“I really learned a lot last year as a coach at the state tournament…I knew the competitor aspect but being a coach is a little different.  I think I want to communicate with each individual wrestler a little bit more than last year, especially during the wait times for the wrestlers to hit the mats.  Just want to keep them sharp and ready to go.”

Perry and the rest of the 2A wrestlers will be in action Thursday night at 7 with 1st round bouts.