Burroughs' Mitch Stromsdorfer (right) wrestles with teammate Walter Buhro during practice.
(Photo by Sarah Conard) |
John Burroughs senior Mitch Stromsdorfer is working toward the biggest "payday'' of his wrestling career.
A two-time state finalist, Stromsdorfer won the Missouri Class 2 title at 152 pounds as a sophomore but was knocked off in the championship match at 160 a year ago. Competing this season at 171, he enters today's ABC League Tournament at Principia with a 38-0 record.
With a career mark of 135-10, Stromsdorfer prides himself on outworking the competition. He views training almost as if it's a job.
"This is a sport built around discipline and sacrifice,'' the 18-year-old said. "You have to put in the time and do the work if you want to be successful. For me, getting a chance to compete in tournaments on the weekend is like payday.''
Stromsdorfer is determined to cap his career with another state championship, and he's not about to let anyone or anything stand in his way.
"I'm going to be an undefeated state champion,'' he said. "I know that because I've worked way too hard to let it get away from me now.''
Burroughs coach Dean Tiffany said he has never worked with a more single-minded athlete.
"The loss at state last year really lit a fire in Mitch,'' the coach said. "His focus and dedication since then have been incredible.''
The results speak for themselves. Just two of Stromsdorfer's 38 matches this season have gone the distance. His record includes six forfeits and 30 pins.
"I honestly don't go out looking to pin,'' Stromsdorfer said. "My goal is to wrestle my match, to be smart and to take advantage of opportunities. But if the pin's there, I'm going for it.''
Stromsdorfer, who bypassed his senior football season to focus on wrestling, is blessed with exceptional strength, but what sets him apart on the mat is his ability to size up challengers.
"Mitch can find holes in his opponents' style and exploit them,'' Tiffany said. "But what really makes it work is his patience. He's perfectly willing to wait out the other guy and then attack when the time is right.''
Stromsdorfer added: "It's a fine line. You have to be aggressive without getting anxious.''
A wrestler since age 8, Stromsdorfer appeared to be on his way to qualifying for state as a freshman 135-pounder when he suffered a concussion in a district semifinal match. The next season, he was pushed in practice every day by then-senior Mike McGee.
"They weren't really drilling as much as just beating each other up, but it made both of them better, tougher wrestlers,'' Tiffany said. "At a school our size, it's tough to find anybody who can push Mitch in practice.''
This season, that task has fallen upon Tiffany and fellow coaches Ed Moeller, Joe Bingham and Jim Ott.
Stromsdorfer suffered his lone sophomore loss at districts. But he bounced back, beating Odessa's Garrett Jones 3-1 for the championship to cap a 37-1 season. As a junior, he finished 30-2 with losses at districts in overtime and 10-4 to Clinton's Logan Huggins in the title match at Mizzou Arena.
Stromsdorfer, who placed third at the Brute Nationals in Kansas City last spring, spent the summer wrestling in freestyle events, looking for competition whenever and wherever he could find it.
A top-level student who plans to pursue a business degree in college, Stromsdorfer hopes to continue wrestling after high school, preferably in a Division I program. He knows a strong showing later this month in Columbia could help make that happen.
jlyons@post-dispatch.com | 636-255-7205
