South Q&A: Stevermer has goals left to meet

Chris Stevermer of Prior Lake is the epitome of a student-athlete. The senior is a two-sport athlete (wrestling and football), and he ranks in the top 20 of his graduating class with a 4.05 grade-point average. He plans to wrestle at North Dakota State or St. John's University.

"He's a team leader who leads by example," Prior Lake coach Joe Block said. "He's that All-American boy."

Stevermer recently won the Class 3A, Section 2 wrestling title at 152 pounds and will compete in the state individual tournament beginning today at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. He talked to the Star Tribune's Ron Haggstrom about his athletic career and his academics at Prior Lake High School.

Q  You had three goals coming into the wrestling season -- own the school record for pins, 175 career wins and a state championship. You accomplished one up to this point, most career pins [85]. What about the other two?

A  I'm not going to get to 175 wins. I was only going to be able to that if we got to state as a team, and we finished second in the section. The other is going to take a lot of work. It's going to be tough.

Q  You own a 35-6 record and are ranked No. 3 in the state in the 152-pound weight class in Class 3A. The luck of the draw didn't do you any favors. You meet No. 1 Carter Adams of Coon Rapids in your opening match. What are thoughts about that match?

A  I got an interesting draw. If I'm going to win state, I would have to face him one way or another. It might as well be right off the bat.

Q  Is it beneficial for you to face Adams in the opening match?

A  I think so. It gives me two days of practice to get ready for him and his style.

Q  You have a chance to put me in your favorite hold. What is it and why?

A  The quarter-nelson. It works well for me. It's powerful and gets people to roll over for me.

Q  What is you most memorable moment in wrestling?

A  Hopefully, that is yet to come. Up to now, it would have been my freshman season when I won the section as an individual and we won the section as a team.

Q  What is your fondest memory in football?

A  That would have been last year when we won our first Class 5A section game in school history. We beat Bloomington Jefferson [45-0].

Q  Have you suffered any injuries in football or wrestling?

A  I've dislocated a couple of ribs and broke my wrist. I broke my wrist in eighth grade in [wrestling] practice when I was taking on somebody about 40 pounds heavier than me.

Q  Did that teach you anything about picking on bigger kids?

A  It taught me I had to be more careful when picking on bigger kids.

Q  You talk about being competitive. Does that also carry over to the classroom?

A  A lot of it does carry over into the classroom. I want to get the best grade or best score on something.

Q  After you graduate, what will you miss about high school?

A  All the people I have grown up with and played sports with over the last 13 years. Also, just being able to call myself a Laker.