Sawyer Kuenzer '25 Recruiting Profile

Up until my freshman year, I had played three sports- baseball, football, and basketball. I believed football to be my only sport and loved the game, playing it from 5th grade to all four years of high school. After football ended in 9th grade, I planned to take it easy through the winter and focus on lifting and potentially throwing shot put in the spring. One of my football teammates asked me if I had ever considered wrestling, which I still believed to be TV-Style with elbows and chokes. I was unaware the school even had a wrestling team in the first place.

My freshman season I nearly quit. We had a very small team and rarely if ever won duel meets and practices were held on old mats in a stuffy balcony above our gym. I was undersized for heavyweight, but had no reason to drop to 215 and challenge my practice partner for his spot as there was no way I would take it. I went 11-27 on the season and lost my only match at district qualifiers in 12 seconds. I didn't know if I would return for next season.

My sophomore year, I returned to the team 50 pounds heavier after lifting and eating clean all summer. Unfortunately, a coach had recruited another heavyweight to come wrestle for out team who would end up going D1 for football and was faster and more aggressive than I was. I spent most of this season on the bench, going 9-3 with another first round exit at Districts.

The summer before Junior year I attend 2 different camps, a locally hosted week long Purler event and then a week long event at Central Michigan University. This kicked my season into overdrive, propelling me to a 37-9 record. I only lost to 4 different opponents all year, and every single one won at least one match at state. I placed third at Districts before losing a close rivalry match in the regional blood rounds to end my season.

The summer before my senior year I attended the University Of Michigan's heavyweight camp to practice with and learn with other top heavyweights from around the country. I also took third at the Meijer State Games Beach Wrestling tournament after a tough random-seeded bracket. I have also begun kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to keep up with my competitive drive and continue to improve my gas tank. I have a amateur kickboxing match scheduled for November 9th.

I currently post a 3.4 cumulative GPA and perform best at science and English subjects. Math is my weakest subject as I struggle to memorize formulas and terms. My choices for majors include Kinesiology, Sports Psychology, and Exercise Science. I am also considering a career path in the armed forces or law enforcement.