Spring Green family has rich wrestling tradition
River Valley senior Seth Liegel looking to win second state title
SPRING GREEN, Wis. — The road to the state wrestling tournament begins this weekend with regionals all around the state.
In Division 2, River Valley senior wrestler Seth Liegel is still undefeated this season as he goes for his second straight state title. That kind of success on the mat is really nothing new to the Liegels of Spring Green.
“My older brothers were wrestlers, so I just followed them,” said Seth Liegel, a 152-pound wrestler.
As the third of four boys, Liegel grew up in a very sports driven household.
“(We talk) a lot about sports and my mom is outnumbered. It’s a competitive household but we all get along,” Liegel said.
Seth is just the latest Liegel to leave his mark on River Valley wrestling.
His dad, Ralph, won two state titles in the early 1980s and went on to wrestle at the University of Wisconsin. He is now an assistant wrestling coach with the Blackhawks.
Seth’s older brother Scott won a state title in 2009 and currently wrestles at UW.
“I just try to help them along, and I kind of know what they are going through,” said Ralph.
Seth won his first state title last year, and will follow in his family’s footsteps wrestling at UW next year.
“Everyone talks about the pressure but he never brings it up, and I never really think about it. But it’s just kind of neat. Two brothers wrestled there and so did (my dad), so that will be kind of cool,” said Seth.
“I am proud of them, they have worked hard for it and both keep working hard,” said Ralph.
18460612“He is a great kid in the community and he has a 3.8 GPA. He is just what you want for a student athlete,” said head wrestling coach Jaime Hegland.
“I’m just enjoying the last month of the season. I have one month left I get to spend with my teammates and my dad as a coach, and I’m just making the most of it,” said Seth.
