Central's Lehr: Wrestling coach of the Year

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Crystal Lake Central wrestling coach Justen Lehr had an unusual goal heading into the season – simply to have fun.

Not in a winning is fun sense, but to enjoy the experience – the wrestling, the relationships and even the work.

“We’ve got some great kids who are a blast to be around,” Lehr said. “I wish every coach could experience having a team who has as much fun as we do.”

The fun goal did not take away from the grueling practices and tough schedule that Lehr put together to get his team ready for both the Individual State and Dual Team State tournaments.

With Trevor Jauch (125 pounds) and Joey Kielbasa (145) coming back after winning state championships in 2009, and the Tigers placing third as a team in Class 2A, the expectations were high.

Lehr credited his wrestlers’ work ethic for their success – working out before school, lifting weights in the offseason and competing during the summer.

“The biggest thing is to have guys repeat as state champs,” Lehr said. “Can they push themselves harder than the previous year?”

The Tigers succeeded both individually and as a team. Jauch and Kielbasa won their second consecutive state championships, Austin Marsden (189) won a state championship, Taylor Servant (140) finished second and Gage Harrah (215) placed at state for the second consecutive time, finishing fourth. As a team, Central finished second at the state dual meet.

For his team’s accomplishments, Lehr is the Northwest Herald Wrestling Coach of the Year as selected by the sports staff with input from local coaches.

Also given strong consideration was Richmond-Burton coach Bret Wojcik, who put together a strong squad highlighted by Jack Dechow’s second-place finish at state at 160 in Class 2A.

The biggest challenge with having state caliber wrestlers, Lehr said, is to find a way to accommodate all levels of ability in the same room.

For his elite wrestlers, he often paired them up with assistant coaches in practice matches. Those wrestlers then gave other team members challenging practice matches.

“The only way they are going to get better is to get pounded on by those kids,” Lehr said. “I truly feel that helps out our lower-level and younger guys.”

One of the things that impressed Marsden was Lehr’s sense of when to push them hard and when to ease up a little. Marsden said Lehr was an effective coach both from the conditioning and technical aspects.

“He pushed us hard,” Marsden said. “He taught us good technique.”

Marsden also appreciated Lehr’s focus on team chemistry.

“We became really good friends as a coach,” Marsden said. “I bonded with a lot of the kids on my team.”