By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post (information from Barton Athletic Department)
When Kade Sander finished his Great Bend High School wrestling career with a record of 89-16 and 3rd and 4th place finishes at the state tournament, the thought of continuing his athletic career in college was not a big driving force. Wanting to get into his “adult life”, Sander chose to attend Barton Community College for the natural gas program.
“I finished the natural gas program in a year and I was getting that itch to come back and get on the mat,” said Sander. “That’s when Barton opened their wrestling program for the first year. I got convinced to not go to the workforce yet at 19 years old.”
Sander became Barton’s first wrestling signee. He went 39-20 overall in his initial 2015-2016 season and went 2-2 at his first national tournament.
Sander decided to sit out the next year and become a volunteer assistant coach for the Cougars.
“Honestly, the break was probably the best thing that could have happened for me,” said Sander. “Maturity wise. Being able to see things from a different perspective. Knowing and analyzing matches more than just physically doing it. The mental game was huge.”
Serving as a coach, gave Sander the “grit” to wrestle again. He returned to the mat the following year and was able to join his younger brother Keaton on the team.
Sander went 35-4 during the 2017-2018 season, with losses only coming to four-year competitors in open tournaments. He entered the national tournament as the #1 wrestler in the 157-pound weight division.
“Preseason, I was nothing,” said Sander. “Through the tournaments, I would slowly move up to like #8, #4 then #2-ranked wrestler. Going into nationals, it was intimidating being #1. You knew everyone was out to look for you.”
Sander needed two extra periods in the championship match before an escape wrapped up the title.
“The mental game was there,” said Sander. “You have to believe in yourself and what you trained for. You realize why you’re there, what your goals are, and take it one match at a time.”
Sander now works as a Journeyman Gas Tech at NorthWestern Energy in Kearney, Nebraska. On the job, he received a phone call from Barton Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs informing him he was selected to be inducted into the Barton Sports Hall of Fame.
“I got a call from an unknown number in the middle of work,” said Sander. “Trevor asked how I was doing. It threw me for a loop. I didn’t know if something happened to my sister. He then asked me if I wanted to be part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class. It’s something I never expected or thought about.”
Sander was inducted into the Barton Sports Hall of Fame along with tennis player Neus Torregrosa and basketball player Jackie Jones.
“I remember when I won the national championship it didn’t set in right away,” said Sander. “We wanted to go celebrate and have fun, but I remember thinking about how sore I was. It didn’t hit me until weeks after. Remembering it now, I have the chills. It’s an awesome feeling that I don’t even know how to describe to somebody.”