By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Waterford High junior wrestler Max Fisher rated his record-breaking season as good.
That may be the understatement of the year.
Fisher, who was recently named Southern Lakes Conference wrestler of the year, finished with a school-record 51 wins, including 47 in a row and a fifth-place medal at the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament.
Fisher (51-3) also won the Ed Steche Invitational for a second straight year, was named most valuable wrestler at the Fort Atkinson Tournament, and posted a second straight conference championship.
While most wrestlers can only dream to have Fisher’s season, the junior grappler didn’t accomplish his ultimate goal of winning a national championship.
“I thought it was a good year and a good showing at state this year,” Fisher said. “My goal was going to state and winning the state championship.”
It’s hard to argue with a desire to be the best, which is something Fisher has exhibited since youth wrestling in Burlington. Fisher’s strong desire also helped him earn a trip the state tournament last year as a sophomore, where he lost his first match and didn’t get the opportunity for a wrestleback.
“Last year I lost in the first round and did not get a wrestleback, which was rough,” Fisher said. “I learned you have to come ready for the first match and show how important it is to win.”
Fisher certainly learned his lesson well this season, winning his 47 straight matches and earning the No. 1 spot for a time in the Wisconsin Wrestling online rankings.
Fisher finally lost a match against Nick Choinski of West Allis Central in the championship match at sectionals, 4-2, but he then won the second-place wrestle-back via pin in just over minute to earn the trip to state.
“What happened in my sectional finals match was I made a wrong move and he (Choinski) took advantage of it and he took me down,” Fisher said. “It was a wake-up call that proved to me that kids are tough out there, and I have to keep focus and wrestle my own style.”
Adding more intrigue to Fisher’s state run was his move down from the 145 weight class to 138 pounds at playoff time.
“I spent most of the year at 145 pounds, but I thought I had a better chance to do what I wanted at 138 and that was a better path for me,” said Fisher, who also made the same switch before last season’s playoffs. “It was a little different style that I had to adjust to, but I had experience wrestling at 138 so it gave me an edge.”
Fisher rode that edge all the way to the semifinals of the state tournament before he fell in the semifinals. Fisher, however, eventually came back and won his final match of the season and a fifth-place medal.
Although it’s not a state championship, Fisher still has plenty to build on during his busy offseason of wrestling in national competitions, along with Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling for the Burlington club team.
Fisher then will take a break from wrestling to start practice this summer for football, where he is a starting linebacker for head coach Adam Bakken.
“Next year, I have one goal and that’s winning a state championship,” Fisher said.
Will Fisher’s hard work pay off?
Just about everyone but Fisher would say it already has.
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