Compliment? 'He's a freak like me'

"We were talking about Jake, and Brandon Paulson said, 'He's a freak like me,' " coach Todd Springer said.

Paulson, who earned a silver medal in wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, was part of the practice rotation until he tore a knee ligament during a session with Deitchler earlier this season. Though in obvious pain, Paulson told Deitchler, 'I didn't give up the takedown.'

"It stinks," Deitchler said of Paulson's injury. "But it happens."

Deitchler, a senior wrestling at 152 pounds, started the week 27-0 and having not lost a match since his sophomore season. He won the state title at 140 pounds as a sophomore and rolled to a 37-0 record and the state title at 145 pounds last season.

He already has the program record for victories and hopes to join Paulson and Dick Mueller as Anoka's only three-time state champions.

The time Deitchler spends competing on the mat marks only a fraction of the time he spends honing his craft. He has viewed Springer's entire video library, which the coach said is at least 75 tapes. And he spends a lot of time on flowrestling.com, a website with wrestling videos galore.

"I look at different styles guys use and try to make them my own," he said.

At practice, Deitchler faces teammates, coaches and alumni, because as Springer said, "Jake would mentally and physically abuse anyone who had to wrestle him day in and day out."

Springer, who takes his turns with Deitchler, counts himself lucky. He suffered only a strained knee ligament.

"I like training at a high level," Deitchler said.

As he is not afraid of a challenge, having wrestled and won at 189 pounds in December against Albert Lea.

A new challenge awaits Friday, when Coon Rapids comes to Anoka for a dual meet. The visiting Cardinals are third in the Guillotine ranking -- one spot ahead of Anoka -- though the rankings will change the day of the match.

The match could be a preview of the Class 3A, Section 7 championship. The Tornadoes are two-time defending section champs while Coon Rapids has not been to state since its lone appearance in 1986.

"They are a big rival, but we have to treat it like every other match," Deitchler said.

"If we build it up too much we might tighten up. But the coaches do a great job, and I think we'll know what to do. We'll be ready to take charge."