Biesecker brings will to win to wrestling

In the sport of high school wrestling you don’t have to be a big guy to make a big impression.
Junior Calvin Biesecker wrestles at just 112 pounds, but he leads the Dragons team with an 19-5 record after taking second place at a tournament Saturday in Stuart’s Draft. 
“He has been with us since we restarted the program three years ago,” said coach Mike Sizemore. “He’s put in a lot of hard work and now he’s starting to win consistently. Wrestling is a more technical sport at the high school level than basketball or football and it takes a lot of practice to become a good wrestler. When you have some natural talent and a good work ethic like Calvin, it speeds up the process.”
Sizemore said the Biesecker is naturally strong and he also has quickness. Both attributes serve him well on the mat.
“You can be the smallest kid on the wrestling team and be the best,” said Sizemore. “Calvin has a wrestling-type mentality. He knows what it takes to win, he’s worked hard to become a good wrestler and it’s starting to payoff.”
Biesecker doesn’t limit his learning to what he can pickup with the Dragons.
“He goes to U.Va. and puts in extra work during Sunday elite practices down there,” Sizemore said. “In the (Jefferson) district he’s only been beaten byu a kid from Louisa. If he really focuses he has a good chance to be in the district finals this year.”
As an example of his improved skills this season, Sizemore pointed out that a wrestler from Albemarle who beat Biesecker three times last season faced a different fate this year.
“When they met this season, Calvin dominated him, 11-1.”
Biesecker said his interest in wrestling began in the sixth grade.
“My brother and I liked to roll around and my dad took us wrestling and I started to like the sport,” he said. “I like the intensity of each match and the competition. A lot of people don’t know what an intense sport wrestling is. They don’t really give wrestlers enough credit for what they do. Every week I face new challenges.
“My most difficult challenge is cutting weight if I need to. If I’m overweight I spend the week working hard to lose weight, but if I’m at weight than I can focus on technique in practice.”
Although he hasn’t made any definite college plans, Biesecker that he “likes to build things and do architectural drawings” and right now he’s leaning toward James Madison University of the University of Virginia to continue his education, perhaps earning an architectural degree.
Sizemore said he doesn’t like to single out one wrestler for recognition because he strongly stresses the team concept.
“I feel we have a great shot at having more wrestlers in the district finals than just Calvin,” he said. “I think we have a great shot this year at having our first district champ since the program started up again.”
Biesecker would like to be at least one of the Monroe wrestlers to claim a title.
“My goal this year is to be district champion and to make it to the state tournament,” he said.