The state wrestling tournament on Feb. 28 marked the end of the proverbial road for a pair of mainstays of the Rockhurst program for the last four years. Neither Anthony Totta nor Kade Tholen went out the way they wanted to, but both seniors are taking a lot away from their time in the Hawklets’ wrestling room.
A varsity wrestler all four of his years, Tholen finished fourth at the district tournament this season to advance to state for the first time in his high school career. He was knocked out of state after his first two matches. Despite the bittersweet ending to a strong senior season, Tholen is appreciative of his time at Rockhurst.
“My experience at Rockhurst was great,” Tholen said. “I discovered a lot about my future and how to improve myself.”
Despite options to continue wrestling in college, Tholen is choosing to instead focus on beginning his career. He wants to become a pilot.
Totta, meanwhile, will keep wrestling. He’s committed to continue his athletic endeavors at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Totta leaves as the most decorated of the wrestlers in the class of 2025, with two state qualifications under his belt. A broken leg earlier in the season was a big setback to what he’d hoped would be a strong senior year, but that might just make his fourth place finish and second-consecutive trip to state all the more impressive. He did fall short of his desire to bring home a state championship, being eliminated after three matches.
Regardless, Totta says his Rockhurst wrestling experience greatly impacted him. He says he learned so much–especially from head coach Rich Wikiera, who returned to lead the program ahead of Totta’s sophomore season.
“Coach Wikiera has been a blessing,” he said. “I mean he’s been coaching for [more than 40] years now, so all that wrestling knowledge has really helped me develop and motivated me in the right ways.”
Totta says his growth during his time at Rockhurst impressed even him.
“These have been the best years of my life concerning wrestling,” he said. “I’ve developed more as a wrestler than I ever did in my youth. I found a greater love for it than I had in my youth.”
Totta is looking forward to continuing to wrestle at the collegiate level, though he knows it’s a significant step up.
“I’m definitely excited for the next chapter. I’ve heard your first year in college wrestling is your hardest. It’s where you develop the most, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Both Totta and Tholen say their wrestling experience at Rockhurst has taught them lessons they will carry with them well beyond this year.
“Wrestling definitely taught me what it means to work hard,” Totta said. “On days you don’t even feel like going, you got to show up for the rest of the team and in the end it will pay off.
“It has also taught me how to overcome adversity. I definitely learned that with my broken leg coming back from and finishing the season after surgery.”
“Training taught me no matter what or how hard things are, your body can go much further than your mind tells it,” Tholen said. “It also taught me discipline… It has taught me character… In all, it taught me life skills that I will carry with me forever.”
