One coach, one school, 40 years

You ask Bill Sutter how it feels to be retiring after nearly 40 years as the wrestling coach at Goodhue High School, and he's not sure how to respond.

"I don't know," he said. "I don't know what it's supposed to feel like. I've never done this before."

Maybe not, but the old coach has done a lot of other things that will echo for years to come in his little southeastern Minnesota town.

He took 12 teams to state tournaments, winning Class 1A championships in 1980 (sharing it with Staples) and 2001 and finishing second in 1982. He coached five individual state champs, including his son, Brian, in 1991.

Sutter, 64, ranks second among Minnesota coaches in career victories with a record of 757-181-8 (topping the list is Owatonna's Scot Davis at 854-129-4). Sutter has been in the state wrestling coaches association Hall of Fame longer than many coaches have been on the job; he was inducted in 1988.

But the most wonderful feat of all might be the simple fact that Sutter stayed in Goodhue all these years. When the Mankato native graduated from Mankato State, he just wanted a job. Somewhere. Anywhere. He and his future wife, Kris, interviewed in Goodhue on the same day, and both were hired for the 1969-70 school year.

Bill, who retired from teaching seven years ago, taught physical education and computer class ... although it was originally called typing class and it involved manual typewriters. Kris taught German and Spanish for 34 years and retired this year.

"I had some opportunities to head out, but I decided this was where I wanted to be," Bill said. "We had three children who graduated from the school, and we lived happily ever after.

"I'm just like a contented old cow. I got there and I didn't leave. It's a great school."

Sutter is wrapping up his career at this week's state tournament. Goodhue didn't qualify in the team competition, but three individuals did. They are all seniors, which is a fine way for Sutter to bow out; the three kids will end their high school careers along with their coach.

"We want to go out showing a tribute to the program and what he's done," Micah Huneke said after winning his opening match at 160 pounds over Brandon Manderschied of Minnewaska on Wednesday. "There are three of us here, and any one of us could be his last match."

The Wildcats' Caleb Diercks lost to top-ranked Jason Sunderman of LeSueur-Henderson at 125 pounds and 189-pounder Eric Ryan recorded a decision over Jordan Kapphahn of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River.

Sutter didn't start the wrestling program at Goodhue, but he got it off the ground. It had been going for a year or two before his arrival, mainly with junior varsity matches. He started with the basics.

"The first thing we did in the wrestling room was go over the referee's position with the kids," he said. "They call it the starting position now, but it's the same thing."

Before long, a steady stream of Wildcats was advancing to state. When that stream finally ends this weekend, the old coach will walk away with not one single regret.

"If I had to do it all over again," he said, "I'd do the same thing."

John Millea • jmillea@startribune.com