By Two Northern State wrestlers have taken an unorthodox path to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Seth Brossard and Devin Bahr have both been graduate assistant coaches for the Wolves, but are again competitors.
Brossard, who wrestles at 174 pounds; Bahr, a 157-pounder; and Chase Bloomquist at 165 pounds; all made it through the Super Region V meet in Minot, N.D., on Saturday, March 2 to qualify for the national tournament.
Northern State wrestler Seth Brossard works to take down Wisconsin-Parkside’s Brody Hemauer earlier this season. Brossard won the 174-pound division at the Super Region V meet to qualify for the NCAA Division II national tournament. Photo courtesy of Kory Burdick
Brossard started this year on the bench helping head coach Rocky Burkett lead the team before returning to the mat.
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“You know, you just seeing guys wrestling, competing and I had eligibility left, so it didn’t take much for me to want to wrestle again,” he said. “I wrestled in junior college and Division III and this is my COVID year right now, and, honestly, it’s hard not to want to want to get back out there when you have the opportunity to.”
Bahr is in his seventh year of college. Two knee injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a medical redshirt that has extended his collegiate career. Last year, as a graduate student, he made nationals, but did not place. He returned as a graduate assistant coach this season, but donned a singlet as soon as he was granted another year of eligibility because of his injuries.
“I spent my first five years at (the University of Wisconsin). There, it was a lot of in and out of the lineup, competing with other guys, and that’s where I tore my ACL for the second time, and then I came to Northern to be a graduate assistant coach,” Bahr said. “I just wound up competing with the guys. It didn’t take much for me to want to wrestle now that I’m entering my last year.”
Bloomquist was quick to point out that he’s in just his fourth year of college, drawing chuckles from Bahr and Brossard.
After having previously been coached by them, Bloomquist has adjusted to being a teammate and offered a friendly barb.
“We had to deal with it with Devin (returning to wrestling first), so when Seth did it, we knew how to handle it. Hey, Rocky likes bringing in these 25-, 26-year-old guys who should probably start thinking about starting a family,” Bloomquist said. “Nah, I mean it’s all fun and it’s pretty awesome.”
This will be Brossard’s third trip to nationals, but his first at the Division II level. He qualified in junior college and when he wrestled at Division III Wisconsin-LaCrosse last season.
“Outside of Division I, this is probably the toughest region you could wrestle in,” Brossard said. “I was pretty proud of myself when I got through to nationals and I’m excited to be going. I’m also happy for Chase. He’s been my practice partner for the past couple weeks, and I’m excited for him because he’s never gone to nationals.”
Northern State wrestler Devin Bahr works to keep position during a match earlier this season. He has qualified for the NCAA Division II national tournament. Photo courtesy of Alec Schoof
Bloomquist is throwing any and all expectations out the window. He just plans on going for broke once he takes the mat.
“I’m just gonna let it fly. Nothing left, man. I mean, all three of us, we don’t have much to lose, and it’s our last year, so why not go make some more noise at the show?” he said. “I really don’t feel pressure gets to me much. I’m pretty relaxed. Growing up, my dad told me wrestling’s not the only thing in life, so I try and live by that now.”
Bahr said he feels some additional pressure, but added that the competition the Wolves have faced this season should have all three wrestlers prepared for the national tournament.
Northern wrestlers have already faced top competition
“We’ve already wrestled the best kids in the country, so we know what to expect. The only difference is that you’re on a bigger stage now. Granted, there’s some more pressure, but we’ve wrestled a handful of the top guys, so we’re ready for what’s next,” Bahr said.
The end of a long and winding road is approaching for Bahr and Brossard. Bahr said he’s twice thought about being done with wrestling along the way.
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“I’ve had three ‘one more rides.’ Just that one last ride only three times, you know?” he said.
While he’s excited for the national tournament, Brossard admits walking off the wrestling mat for the last time is not going to be easy.
“I’m just excited to get down there and compete. I love the sport, and it’s my favorite thing to do. It’ll be really hard to let it go once I’m done, but I’m just ready to go and take some heads,” Brossard said.
At the region meet, he went 4-0 to win his weight class. He’s 12-0 on the season and ranked third nationally.
Bahr advanced to the championship match and placed second at Super Region V. He’s now 17-5 and ranked ninth.
Bloomquist finished third at the region meet and has a 19-12 record.
Turnquist
Brossard and 149-pounder Wyatt Turnquist were named to the All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team. Turnquist, who was ranked near the top of his weight class all season, finished with a 28-6 record. He was fifth at the region tournament, just missing nationals.
The national tournament is March 15 and 16 in Wichita, Kan. To track results, visit the NCAA Division II Wrestling page.