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Furseth gets hero’s welcome as Craig’s first state mat champion

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig High School state champion wrestler Siven Furseth is applauded by wrestling head coach Jeff Kaster, center, and assistant coaches and student body during a pep assembly at Craig High School.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

State Champion wrestler Siven Furseth, right, is congratulated by fellow students following a pep assembly honoring him as the first Craig High School State Wrestling Champion.

JANESVILLE — Stepping to the mat Saturday for the 130-pound WIAA state wrestling title bout at the packed Kohl Center in Madison was easier for Siven Furseth than walking Monday to center court before a cheering student body at the Janesville Craig High School gymnasium.

Craig students were assembled to give Furseth congratulations for becoming the first wrestler in school history to win a state championship. Furseth, a junior, defeated Marshfield’s Torin Boernke, 4-0, to earn the milestone title.

“It was really sweet (winning the state title),” Furseth said. “But then this happens, and I was more nervous about this than my actual match.’’

As the Craig students cheered, Furseth walked slowly toward his coach, Jeff Kaster, who stood smiling. He presented Furseth with a copy of the 130-pound state bracket as the crowd hooted and cheered from the bleachers.

Furseth became the city’s second state wrestling champion since Janesville opened two high schools. Shane Fleming won a state championship for Parker High in 1986.

Jeff Kaster, Craig’s wrestling coach, said Furseth is a special athlete.

“Siven is, like, one-of-kind,” Kaster said. “He learns things quickly. You show him something, and he can do it.’’

Kaster said other Janesville wrestlers have made it to the state finals, but winning the championship takes a special effort.

“Siven stayed focused the whole time,” Kaster said. “He stays on his feet. What he does is difficult.’’

Furseth, who never suffered a take down this season, was striving to equal his idol, Dan Gable, an Olympic gold medalist, who went through an entire season without a takedown at Iowa State, where he compiled a 118-1 record.

“Gable is his idol,” Kaster said. “He wanted to do what (Gable) did, and he did it.”

Furseth finished the season 40-0 and is 128-4 through his high school career.

Joe Kaster, Jeff’s father, was Craig’s wrestling coach for 30 years. Like his son, he was impressed with Furseth.

“We had two state champs in 40 years at Craig and Parker,” said Kaster, who put the championship medal around Furseth’s neck last Saturday. “That just goes to show what a precedence this is.’’

Furseth said he just wanted to defeat Boernke, who defeated him in the state 125-pound finals last season.

“I wanted it really bad this year,” Furseth said. “I lost in the finals to the same kid, so he already got it (a state title), so it made me want it just that much more.’’

While losing last year to Boernke was frustrating, Furseth said he didn’t let it stand in the way of his season.

“I let it go to the back of my head. I really wasn’t thinking about last year,” Furseth said. “I was just focusing on a state championship.’’

Winning the state title was the easy part for Furseth. Celebrating the title, and accepting the cheers from well-wishers is another story.

“Everybody has been calling and congratulating me,” Furseth said. “It’s kinda nice, but I don’t know ...”

Furseth seemed more at ease on the wrestling mat than in the spotlight he earned.