Senior spotlight: Wrestling more than a sport for Stratford's Jake Drexler

STRATFORD - Stratford wrestling coach Joe Schwabe is quick to answer when asked the one thing that stands out about senior Jake Drexler. 

"He definitely has got a passion for the sport," Schwabe said during a team practice earlier this week. "He is someone who is dedicated and puts his hours in. It's his sport and something he enjoys doing. As a coach, you just love that mentality."

Drexler will tell you that wrestling is a year-round investment for him. 

RELATED: Carley Elmhorst's atttitude reflects on Colby girls basketball team

RELATED: Cameron Wenzel brings experience for young Medford boys team 

He started wrestling when he was 4 years old, has sought out specialists to help him with the mental aspect of the sport and has competed in international Greco-Roman wrestling tournaments. 

The results have paid off. Last year he finished with a 46-4 record and placed third at 132 pounds in Division 3 competition during the WIAA state individual wrestling tournament. He also helped the Tigers to the Division 3 state team championship the following week. 

He is ranked second at 152 pounds in Division 3 by wiwrestling.com and has the potential to make another run at an individual state championship. 

"(The potential) was there last year and has been there since he was a freshman," Schwabe said. "It's just a matter of him finishing what he needs to finish."

Drexler, who is one of four captains for Stratford, recently sat down with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin to talk about his wrestling highlights, his prematch routines and the places he would like to visit, among other topics. 

Do you have a certain nickname which your friends/teammates or family members call you?

When I was younger, people would always call me Jake the Snake.

What has been your most memorable sports moment?

This last year at Greco state (in Wisconsin Dells) where I got the chance to wrestle in the finals. It was a real fun match with a lot of action going on and a big crowd was gathered for that. 

You fell just short of an individual state championship last year. Does that provide a little more fuel for this season?

Definitely. I fell a little short of what the goal was last year. I took third place and it is just something that motivates me to do even better this year and take first. That's the plan. 

Is there something people might not know about you outside of school or sports?

I dedicate a lot of my time to wrestling and hoping to go do that in college. I also have a real entrepreneurial drive. I would like to own my own business when I am older. 

Do you have any superstitions or rituals you go through before a match?

I go through a company called Wrestling Mindset that helps you focus on all the mental aspects of the sport. I don't really believe in superstitions, that is one of the things that I have learned not to have. I do have a prematch routine which pretty much consists of the music playlist that I listen to, then I have my warm-ups and drilling, then I have my confidence anchor that I hit right before I go out on the mat. 

Where would your dream vacation be?

I have been to both Hawaii and Mexico and liked them both. But if I could go back to Hawaii that would be another cool experience. I had a lot of fun when I went there before. I would like to explore other countries, too, and that is a big thing with Greco (wrestling), to go overseas (for tournaments). I was in Sweden in October and it was pretty much a week-and-a-half or two weeks of training and competing. 

FAVORITES

Sport: Wrestling. I like the fact that you pretty much get out of it what you put into it. 

Pro or college athlete: I have always liked the way (former Penn State and Olympic athlete) Dave Taylor has wrestled. I like his attitude on the mat and the way he conducts himself. 

Movie: The "Fast and the Furious" series because I'm really into cars. 

Music artist or group: I can listen to anything and be just fine. Before a match I like to listen to upbeat music, something that will get me going and fired up.

Food or meal: Pizza. It is probably one of the worst foods for you but as a wrestler, you enjoy it when you can.