Former OSU Wrestler Rogers Named Lakeland College Coach

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Alex Ryan (Lakeland College SI)
07/31/2001


Peter Rogers takes the reigns at Lakeland one year removed from collegiate  competition     SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Ohio State University calls Peter Rogers an  "absolute warrior." He's also an absolute winner. Rogers has returned home,  accepting the job as Lakeland College's new head wrestling coach.    Rogers, an Oostburg native, brings an eye-opening resume to  Lakeland, and the opportunity for Lakeland's wrestlers to learn under one of  Wisconsin's most accomplished high school wrestlers.  Rogers finished his Oostburg High career with an incredible 145-1 record and  three state championships. His only loss came in the state championship  match of his freshman season.    He continued his winning ways during a solid career at Ohio State,  finished with an 80-63 record, including a 20-4 campaign his senior season  when he advanced to the NCAA Championships and earned a third-place finish.  Rogers was voted OSU's Most Dedicated Wrestler and a team captain for the  1999-2000 season.    After spending last winter working as an assistant wrestling coach  at UW-Oshkosh, Rogers returned to Ohio hoping to earn teacher certification.  He has a bachelor's from OSU in sport and leisure studies.    "Coaching is something I always wanted to do when I was done  wrestling, or while I was still wrestling," Rogers said. "It will be nice to  have my own program."    An avid hunter and fisher, Rogers plans on enrolling in Lakeland's  master of education program, allowing him to realize several of his goals at  once.    "I'm pumped to get back to Wisconsin," Rogers said. "It worked out  perfectly."    Lakeland Athletic Director Jane Bouche said Rogers' resume stands out, but  her discussions with the young coach told her that Rogers was the right  person for the job.    "Peter talks about wrestling with a passion that has helped him  achieve his past success," Bouche said. "That same passion will help him be  a great coach and a perfect fit for our program."    Roger will bring the same tireless work ethic he took to the mat  into building the Muskies wrestling program.    "As far as the wrestling part, it gets someone in there who really  cares about what happens," Rogers said. "I don't like to lose. I'm willing  to work hard and put in extra time to build a winning program, and I won't  be happy until I do.    "I'm looking forward to working with the kids. They all seem to have  good attitudes."    Rogers is well-known in local wrestling circles, and his older  brother, Steve, has coached a highly-successful program at Oostburg High for  several years. Rogers knows capturing the talent at local schools is  crucial.    "That's what the program has got to be built around," Rogers said.  "I know a lot of the kids in the area and the coaches. I'm confident we can  get kids here. Kids know they will be going somewhere where there is a  familiar face and maybe they even know you."