Forsee grapples with end of wrestling career
By Tom Skeen
The Communtiy Press
NEW RICHMOND — How New Richmond senior wrestler J.R. Forsee isn’t getting some looks from the next level is quite confusing.
All the 285-pounder has accomplished in his career is reaching the Division II state tournament three times and coming home with both a sixth- and seventh-place finish.
“I haven’t been looked at by any schools that I know of,” he said. “If I have the chance to join the club (team) at whatever college I choose, I will do that just to continue wrestling.”
While the trip to state his junior year may be the favorite moment of his career, the three-time state advancer really put an exclamation point on his career with his sixth-place finish at state this season.
After losing his opening match of the tournament 10-1 to Connor Sharp of Beloit W. Branch High School – who finished third at state last season and fourth in 2013 – Forsee didn’t get down on himself because he was used to being in that position.
“After losing my opening match, what went through my mind was this is the third time I’ve been here because I’ve lost my opening match every year at state,” Forsee said. “I’m here again. I need to fight back even more and win to place higher.”
The senior did just that as he went on to win his next three matches before losing in the consolation semifinals sending him to the fifth-place match where he lost to Dustin Kuhlwein of Jonathan Alder High School.
“It means a lot to me that the coaches helped me enough to get to that level,” Forsee said about eclipsing his seventh-place finish from a year ago. “I think they helped me a lot on my journey to being a man.”
Forsee said he worked hard throughout his career, but attributes most of his success to his coaches while putting blame on himself for not winning a state title.
“The coaches were a big part of how hard I worked,” he said. “I liked all my coaches, but I listened to some a little bit more. I always worked hard, but maybe not as hard as I should of to win state and maybe that’s why I didn’t.”
With the hopes of continuing his career at the next level, Forsee has reflected on his career as a Lion and knows he will miss his sport dearly if this truly is the end.
“I know now that it’s done, I’ll miss it,” he said. “It was a big part of my life. It helped me in school and in life. All three times (at state) were fun and I’m glad I got to go with three different groups of people. It made each trip unique.”