For the Wolding family, wrestling is a tradition passed down every generation.
“I grew up with two brothers, and we wrestled all the way through high school,” New Salem-Almont head coach Dave Wolding said. “I wrestled for a couple years up in Dickinson State.”
And after his sons were born, Wolding introduced the sport to them.
“He pushed me some days, but eventually I started to like it on my own and he just kind of helped me from there,” New Salem-Almont junior Tayt Wolding said. “When we were younger my dad would always come on the ground with us on his knees and just let us play around with him.”
But that particular tradition hasn’t kept on as everyone’s gotten older.
“We used to have a mat upstairs, and there’s a couple holes in the walls, and Mom doesn’t like that so much,” Tayt said.
So the Woldings instead just give it their all in the Holstein wrestling room, and the dedication to the sport has already paid off for Tayt.
“He was a state champion two years ago. Last year he was third,” Dave said.
And to help Tayt keep improving, his dad will often match up with him during practice.
“It’s a daily thing. I mean even after practice we’ll grab each other and roll around for 15 minutes after practice, just to go over stuff,” Tayt said.
It’s a support system that both of them treasure.
“It’s pretty rewarding as a coach and as a dad to be in here with them on their hip,” Dave said.
The Holsteins will participate in Rumble on the Red starting this Thursday.
