Iowa Lakes Director of Athletics Troy Larson announced that Cody Alesch, a
Graettinger native, will be hired as the new wrestling coach/ housing director
for the college, pending approval from the Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes.
Before coming to Iowa Lakes, Alesch was a two-time state
place winner (2nd, 4th) from Graettinger High School. After graduating in 1998
he took his skills to Wartburg College where he was a 3-year letter winner,
Academic All-American in 2000, member of National Championship Team in 1999 and
National Runner-Ups in 2000 and 2002.
After Alesch graduated with a bachelor of arts in
Elementary Education he came back to his hometown where he resides with his
wife, Teresa (6-12 Principal at Graettinger-Terril consolidating school
district), and two children, Sacha (5) and Teague (2) to become the Head Wrestling Coach at Graettinger-Terril High
School from 2006-2012. In his stint as the head coach, he had 20 state
qualifiers; 14 state place winners, 2 of which who were champions; 2 National
High School Coaches Association Senior Academic All-Americans; 4 Team Regional
Dual Qualifiers; 2 Sectional Team Championships; and, 2 District Team
Championships.
In 2007, Alesch was named the Northwest Conference Coach
of the Year and had an overall Dual Team Record of 65-38.
Athletic Director Troy Larson is pleased with the
experience that new Head Wrestling Coach Alesch brings to Iowa
Lakes. “Coach Alesch brings an outstanding competitive background
to the sport having wrestled at a high level in high school and at Wartburg,”
Larson said.
There is much anticipation for success as Coach Alesch
begins his first season. “Having been a successful high school coach at Graettinger
with all the local connections makes him a great fit for the position” he said.
“He is passionate about young adults and the sport of wrestling which will serve
him well. I am confident he will do an outstanding job at Iowa
Lakes.”
Alesch also has high expectations coming into his new
role. “I am extremely excited at the opportunity to be a part of
Iowa Lakes and the surrounding communities as this is where my love for the
sport began,” he said. “The Iowa Lakes wrestling program has a great foundation
already in place. “
His goal is to bring “everything I can to ensure the
program stays successful for a long time.”
Alesch searches for well-rounded recruits. “I look forward to living a personal dream of guiding
student-athletes on and off the mat in a sport and community that I respect and
care so much about,” he said.
Along with his leadership duties as the Head Wrestling
Coach, he will assume the position of housing coordinator, with duties ranging
from promoting healthy lifestyles and enforcing housing policies, to meeting
with students to solve issues when necessary.
(Story and photo courtesy of Iowa Lakes Community College Athletics)
