A Rocket...in Red

The Cardinal wrestling mats will be making a bit of a road trip eight days from now, 16 miles to New Rockford, for Carrington's "home" opener in the NR-S Gym against the Oakes Tornadoes.

It wasn't something that Coach Josh Kerbaugh's program had to do, but what they felt they should do to recognize the contributions of one of their most dedicated grapplers.

Rocket senior Matthew Duchscherer has wrestled for the Carrington program since third grade when he began with the Pitcrew youth team, and will get the rare opportunity to perform in his hometown venue Tuesday night, November 23.

The three-time state placer for the Cards, including the returning state runner-up at 126 pounds, Duchscherer will be one of the leaders and main point-scorers of the team this season. He owns a career record of 96-22.

His coach, Kerbaugh, said that the Carrington program wanted to extend a token of their appreciation for his many years of excellence on the mats.

"Matthew is a very pleasant student-athlete to have in the room," he said. "He doesn't cause problems, works hard daily, and is a very respectful individual which makes him fun to coach."

The plans for the NR-S dual came about when Kerbaugh asked CHS Athletic Director Karla Michaelson about the possibility of hosting a dual in New Rockford.

"She reached out to [NR-S Athletic Director] Elliott Belquist, and they made the arrangements," Kerbaugh said. "We didn't really ask Matthew about it, we just told him we were going to do it. I know we've had duals in years past up there."

Kerbaugh said that the Carrington Wrestling Club will be in charge of transporting the mats to the NR-S Gym for the match, which begins at 6 p.m. with the junior high matches and the varsity dual with the Tornadoes to follow.

Back to New Rockford

To his knowledge, Belquist said that New Rockford High School last had a full independent wrestling program during the 1970s.

However, lack of numbers forced the disbandment of the team, though there have been individual New Rockford wrestlers that have competed for the Cards over the years before Duchscherer's emergence.

In 1998, Allen Allmaras took a sixth place finish at 215 pounds for Carrington. The Cards would also extend the honor to wrestle in the then-NRHS Gym for Allmaras.

Others that have donned the Cardinal red and white singlet have included Joey Allmaras, along with Matt Engels and Jacob Danduran in the early years of the 2000s.

Belquist says he is proud of the athlete and citizen Duchscherer has become around the New Rockford community.

"I think it's great for our community and students to have the opportunity to watch Matthew in New Rockford," he says. "He's had a nice career, and I don't think as many people know that as they should.

"It will be nice to spread the word and get people in the seats to watch him wrestle," Belquist concluded.

Through the Pitcrew program, there are expected to be a few more possible future CHS stars coming down the pike.

"I feel that the dual will be a good advertisement for wrestling as a co-op between New Rockford and Carrington, and hopefully it will drive enrollment," said Kerbaugh.