Being an elite wrestler requires more than just spending hours in the weight room and perfecting your moves on the mat. While Koen Huepenbecker does both of those things and more, the Woodhaven High junior also understands the “other” side of wrestling.

“Your mentality is probably the most important part of the sport because if you go into a match thinking you’re going to lose, you will lose,” said Huepenbecker, who doesn’t lose very often. “You have to believe that you are the best wrestler in that gym.”

Huepenbecker has already pinned down an impressive career for the Warriors but he’s looking forward to bigger and better things.

“When I started as a freshman I was small and not very strong, and was kind of sloppy with my technique,” he said. “But now I am a lot stronger and I have improved my technique greatly and cleaned it up.”

As a freshman, Huepenbecker made it to regionals but lost one round before qualifying for states.

Huepenbecker opened his first trip to the state finals last year with a 5-1 win over Ozia Wilson of Dakota. He then lost his next match to Grandville’s Josh Vasquez, who ended up reaching the finals. His tournament run ended with a close 10-8 loss to Rockford’s Braylenn Aulbach. Huepenbecker finished his sophomore year with a 44-11 record.

Woodhaven Coach Jeremy Brant said Koen is “an exceptional student-athlete who brings dedication, determination and a good work ethic to both school and wrestling.”

“Koen is a wrestler that continues to grow,” Brant said. “He does not shy away from tough competition and is always looking for how he can improve. He is a wrestler who loves the grind and listens to constructive criticism on where he can get better and what his strengths and weaknesses are.

“He also is an excellent example for his teammates, showing the time and dedication it takes to make progress toward your goals. He is a leader by bringing his teammates up and encouraging them to push themselves.”

Huepenbecker won 40 of his first 43 matches as a junior and plans on returning to the state finals this year. He wrestled at 132 pounds during the season but will wrestle at 126 in the postseason.

“The season is going really good,” he said in early February. “I’m seeking to win a state title. The team has been decent all year and we really grew as the season went on. My long-term goals are to win two state titles and get 150 career wins.”

The D-1 individual state finals are March 1-2* at Ford Field.

Huepenbecker’s love for wrestling began at a young age.

“I started wrestling in third grade,” he said. “I originally liked football more but then my love for wrestling grew as the years went on. In the off-season, I lift almost every day and also get my cardio up by going to the gym.”

Koen, 17, is the son of Craig and Kelly Huepenbecker and has a 3.9 GPA. He participates in both National Honor Society and DECA at Woodhaven.

After high school, he plans to continue to wrestle and get a degree in engineering.


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