JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Nate Rocheleau, a senior at Gering High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Rocheleau, a three-sport athlete, is one of Nebraska’s top high school wrestlers. He earned his fourth state tournament medal last month in Omaha, placing fifth at 138 pounds. He placed first his junior year, fourth his sophomore year, and fifth his freshman year. His performance this season helped Gering win the Class B state team championship. For his career, he piled up 158 wins. Rocheleau also started for Gering’s football team last fall at linebacker, and he plans to compete in track and field this spring (sprints, 4×400 relay). After graduating from high school, he plans to wrestle and major in business in college. His parents are Audrey and Tory Rocheleau. For being named an athlete of the week, Nate will receive a gift certificate for a free drink at Scooter’s Coffee.
Q: Talk about how thrilling it was to help Gering win the Class B state wrestling championship.
ROCHELEAU: “It was awesome. It had been a long time since Gering won it. It’s great to see the program back to where it used to be.”
Q: Were you surprised at all that Gering won the state title?
ROCHELEAU: “It might have surprised other people, but as a team, that was our goal. We knew we could do it.”
Q: Before the season, what gave you the confidence that Gering could win a title this season?
ROCHELEAU: “Honestly, it had a lot to do with our summer workouts. Everyone was willing to put in the offseason work. That made us confident that we would have success throughout the season.”
Q: What were some of the other keys to Gering’s success this season?
ROCHELEAU: “Another big key is that even our kids who weren’t predicted to go to state were willing to work as hard as they could. They got us key points. Everyone contributed, and it all added up to us winning the championship.”
Q: You’ve had some great moments in sports. Where does Gering winning the state team title rank in your list of achievements?
ROCHELEAU: “It ranks at the top. I won an individual state title, and that was great, but winning as a team was really amazing. Our program has really skyrocketed, and that’s part of the reason this title stands out so much.”
Q: When you started your freshman year, did you think winning a state team title would be possible during your high school career?
ROCHELEAU: “My freshman year we were down as a program, but I saw how much [head coach Jarred Berger] cared about the program and how much work he was willing to put into it. As an athlete, I knew if we put in that same amount of work, we could accomplish it.”
Q: During this year’s state tournament, did you ever get nervous about Gering’s chances of winning the title?
ROCHELEAU: “We had a rough semifinal round. It was tough for Gering. But we all knew we had to suck it up and win on the back side. Luckily, we all did what we needed to do.”
Q: Gering had several seniors on this year’s team. How special is that group?
ROCHELEAU: “Sometimes the best leadership is just leading by example. The seniors were willing to put in the work during the offseason, and we were always willing to run those extra sprints or do that extra work needed to get better. I think that pushed everyone on the team to work harder. It probably made the difference between us placing [somewhere in the top five or 10] and winning a state team championship.”
Q: Talk about how things went for you at state individually.
ROCHELEAU: “I’m not particularly happy with how I ended the season. But I started the season late coming back from an injury. I wasn’t expected to even be able to wrestle, so I’m glad I had the opportunity to wrestle this season. I’m glad I was able to do the best I could for the team.”
Q: How did you get injured?
ROCHELEAU: “I got injured during the football season. I had a ligament tear in my knee. I was told then that I would need to have surgery and be out for six months, causing me to completely miss the wrestling season. I didn’t want to miss the wrestling season, though. So, I rehabbed the best I could, braced up my knee, and just pushed through it. Now that the season is over, I’ll plan to have surgery on the knee.”
Q: Just how difficult was it to wrestle this season with an injured knee?
ROCHELEAU: “I had to completely change my stance, my style and the moves I used. I thank my coaches, though, for spending hours working with me, helping me to develop different moves.”
Q: How much did your knee bother you during matches?
ROCHELEAU: “I had to ice my knee between every match. I felt pain when I wrestled. It helped having the brace – it gave my knee some support – but it also made my knee a target. Other kids would shoot directly at that leg, but I just had to deal with it. That’s the name of the game.”
Q: How were you able to stay positive about your situation, especially being a senior?
ROCHELEAU: “I definitely got frustrated. Having something like this happen my senior year was tough. But I knew as soon as it happened that I was still going to be out on the mat my senior year. Nothing was going to stop me my senior year.”
Q: Considering your injury, were you amazed that you were still able to qualify for state and even earn a medal again?
ROCHELEAU: “Honestly, I was unsatisfied. I didn’t feel like I wrestled to the best of my ability. But that’s just a mindset that I have. I’m not satisfied not winning. I always want to push myself to be at the top.”
Q: Did winning the state team title take away some of the sting you felt individually?
ROCHELEAU: “When I lost my match at state, I felt like I had let the team down in the race for the team championship. I was worried we might not win. But when we won, that felt great. It felt like a big weight had been lifted off my chest. I felt 100 times better.”
Q: What will you remember most about your high school wrestling career?
ROCHELEAU: “Definitely winning my individual title, winning the team title, and also being part of the family dynamic of the team. I never thought I would get so close to a group of people in four years.”
Q: How much are you going to miss wrestling for Gering?
ROCHELEAU: “I’m going to miss it a ton. I’ve been a Gering Bulldog now for 10 to 13 years. I’m truly going to miss everyone I worked with and everyone who helped me along the way – not just on the team but everyone in the community. From start to finish, everyone in Gering really supported the Gering wrestling program, and that makes such a huge difference. We appreciated their support, and we always tried to represent Gering the best we could.”
Q: How important is wrestling in college to you?
ROCHELEAU: “To be able to wrestle in college would be a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to compete at the next level. I’m 100 percent excited to show everyone what I can do at the next level.”
Q: When do you think you’ll decide which college you’ll attend?
ROCHELEAU: “Soon, now that the season is over.”
Q: How much more improvement do you think you can make as a wrestler?
ROCHELEAU: “I think I’ve barely scratched the surface of how good I can become. The more I work at it, the better I’ll get.”
Q: Are you just as passionate about wrestling now as you were a few years ago?
ROCHELEAU: “Yes, maybe even a little bit more now. I’ve seen what I can do in wrestling – how far it can take me.”
Q: Do you have any siblings?
ROCHELEAU: “I have an older brother [Jacob Rocheleau] and a younger brother [Anselmo Rocheleau, who’s a junior at Gering High School].”
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
