http://www.sctimes.com/article/20111214/SPORTS03/112140006/Prep-wrestling-Blind-Sauk-Rapids-wrestler-has-big-goals?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Umbrella|s
Here is the article just in case it gets archived:
Written by
Tom Elliott
SAUK RAPIDS — Matt Kruger always has loved wrestling. It’s a sport the Sauk Rapids junior always has been good at despite being visually impaired.
“It’s a physical sport,” Kruger said. “And, it’s a challenge.”
The challenge is taking on opponents who can see. Kruger says that on the mat, he really can’t see anything.
He has retinitis pigmentosa. It’s an inherited vision disorder that deteriorates the retina and causes vision loss. These days, he can make out shadows, but uses Braille to read.
Wrestling, as his limited vision gets worse and worse, indeed is a challenge.
“He does a pretty good job though,” said Sauk Rapids senior Erik Olson, who is ranked fourth in the state in Class 3A at 113 pounds. “He’s a fighter.”
He has been good enough to post a career junior varsity and junior high record of 47-56. He has wrestled varsity nine times and is 0-9.
The goal this season is to get that first varsity win.
“He got into it primarily because it’s a good sport for the visually impaired,” said Ernie Kruger, Matt’s father and a former St. Cloud Tech athlete. “They’ve made a few minor adjustments to accommodate him. Otherwise, it’s the same as everyone else.”
To start matches, Kruger touches hands with his opponent. After the whistle, little else changes.
Kruger said he uses his sense of touch and can hear his opponent moving around in order to judge what he must do next in a match.
“I can kind of feel where his hands are going, judging his movement,” Kruger said.
His dad says the time on the clock is shouted out more frequently during his son’s matches. Sometimes the score is shared, too.
Like most wrestlers, Kruger generally knows the score.
And, he rarely can make out what everyone is yelling about during his match.
“I can hear the coaches a little,” he said. “But that’s about it.”
Very active
Wrestling is one of Kruger’s two sports that he participates in. He also runs cross country. The Times did a lengthy feature on him in 2009 during his freshman season. He also was profiled by Fox Channel 9 television in the Twin Cities.
He still runs cross country with a partner, who is attached by a rope. He doesn’t mind the attention.
“It’s all right,” he said quietly.
In wrestling, he has a regular partner during practice, McKay Ness. The two have been buddies since elementary school.
In the Sauk Rapids wrestling room, it’s hard to spot Kruger. He’s just another high school wrestler working hard trying to get better.
The difference comes when there is running and conditioning. He and Ness share some head gear, each holding onto it. Ness makes sure Kruger doesn’t run into something. He generally doesn’t.
“When it comes to wrestling, he’s extremely motivated,” said Ernie Kruger, whose younger son Jacob also has retinitis pigmentosa. Sisters Katie and Elizabeth do not have the condition, nor do his parents, including mom Ann.
He wrestles at 138 pounds, usually on the JV for new head coach Wade Cruser.
“He’s all right,” Matt Kruger said. “He’s been around for a while (as an assistant).”
Part of the Storm
He’s treated like everyone else. He ran as hard as anybody during intense conditioning drills at the end of the Storm’s practice earlier this week.
“We’ve really been fortunate and blessed to be a part of this community,” Ernie Kruger said of the Sauk Rapids school district. “Everyone has been very helpful and very supportive.
“We know of other kids with Matt’s condition up north who don’t have the same opportunities that Matt has gotten.”
Kruger is an excellent student. He says history is his favorite subject and credits his sister Katie, who is 18, with motivating him to do well in school.
He likes school a lot, enjoys most aspects of it. When he’s not in wrestling, going to school or doing homework, he says he enjoys spending time with his friends.
In other words, he’s just another kid, albeit one who is dealing with a disability. Though to him, being blind isn’t unusual.
“I just think it’s normal,” he said.
His teammates think he’s extraordinary.
“It’s a physical sport,” Kruger said. “And, it’s a challenge.”
The challenge is taking on opponents who can see. Kruger says that on the mat, he really can’t see anything.
He has retinitis pigmentosa. It’s an inherited vision disorder that deteriorates the retina and causes vision loss. These days, he can make out shadows, but uses Braille to read.
Wrestling, as his limited vision gets worse and worse, indeed is a challenge.
“He does a pretty good job though,” said Sauk Rapids senior Erik Olson, who is ranked fourth in the state in Class 3A at 113 pounds. “He’s a fighter.”
He has been good enough to post a career junior varsity and junior high record of 47-56. He has wrestled varsity nine times and is 0-9.
The goal this season is to get that first varsity win.
“He got into it primarily because it’s a good sport for the visually impaired,” said Ernie Kruger, Matt’s father and a former St. Cloud Tech athlete. “They’ve made a few minor adjustments to accommodate him. Otherwise, it’s the same as everyone else.”
To start matches, Kruger touches hands with his opponent. After the whistle, little else changes.
Kruger said he uses his sense of touch and can hear his opponent moving around in order to judge what he must do next in a match.
“I can kind of feel where his hands are going, judging his movement,” Kruger said.
His dad says the time on the clock is shouted out more frequently during his son’s matches. Sometimes the score is shared, too.
Like most wrestlers, Kruger generally knows the score.
And, he rarely can make out what everyone is yelling about during his match.
“I can hear the coaches a little,” he said. “But that’s about it.”
Very active
Wrestling is one of Kruger’s two sports that he participates in. He also runs cross country. The Times did a lengthy feature on him in 2009 during his freshman season. He also was profiled by Fox Channel 9 television in the Twin Cities.
He still runs cross country with a partner, who is attached by a rope. He doesn’t mind the attention.
“It’s all right,” he said quietly.
In wrestling, he has a regular partner during practice, McKay Ness. The two have been buddies since elementary school.
In the Sauk Rapids wrestling room, it’s hard to spot Kruger. He’s just another high school wrestler working hard trying to get better.
The difference comes when there is running and conditioning. He and Ness share some head gear, each holding onto it. Ness makes sure Kruger doesn’t run into something. He generally doesn’t.
“When it comes to wrestling, he’s extremely motivated,” said Ernie Kruger, whose younger son Jacob also has retinitis pigmentosa. Sisters Katie and Elizabeth do not have the condition, nor do his parents, including mom Ann.
He wrestles at 138 pounds, usually on the JV for new head coach Wade Cruser.
“He’s all right,” Matt Kruger said. “He’s been around for a while (as an assistant).”
Part of the Storm
He’s treated like everyone else. He ran as hard as anybody during intense conditioning drills at the end of the Storm’s practice earlier this week.
“We’ve really been fortunate and blessed to be a part of this community,” Ernie Kruger said of the Sauk Rapids school district. “Everyone has been very helpful and very supportive.
“We know of other kids with Matt’s condition up north who don’t have the same opportunities that Matt has gotten.”
Kruger is an excellent student. He says history is his favorite subject and credits his sister Katie, who is 18, with motivating him to do well in school.
He likes school a lot, enjoys most aspects of it. When he’s not in wrestling, going to school or doing homework, he says he enjoys spending time with his friends.
In other words, he’s just another kid, albeit one who is dealing with a disability. Though to him, being blind isn’t unusual.
“I just think it’s normal,” he said.
His teammates think he’s extraordinary.
