It’s not often that the priorities of a kindergartener include competitive sports, especially when the tournaments are spread across the country. For senior Preston Lehmann, dedication toward wrestling was implemented through his family by the time he was three years old.
“It was fun because we got to travel all over the country and see a lot of different states and places that some people don’t get to see,” Lehmann said.
Throughout their careers, Lehmann and his older brother Tyler had yet to represent the same team, since Tyler had wrestled for Apple Valley for the beginning of his high school career, until 2010 when they were finally able to wrestle at the varsity level together at West Fargo.
“Sharing the state tournament with my brother back in 2010 was great,” Tyler said. “And to knock Bismarck off was a great accomplishment that we got to share as brothers.”
After graduating, Tyler spent two years at the Olympic training center away from the family until returning back to North Dakota to be on the NDSU wrestling team.
“He has done so much more with it [wrestling] and he has made world teams,” Preston said. “Every time I get a chance to wrestle around with him or when he coaches me it’s great because I know I can trust him in the corner coaching me so it’s a great, big influence because he knows so much about it”
Approaching Preston’s senior year, the choice of narrowing down a college was a no brainer. Within the first few weeks of the 2012 wrestling season, Lehmann verbally committed to NDSU, reuniting the brothers once again.
“Honestly, I was going to go to whatever college he was going to go to. Whether it was in Pennsylvania or at NDSU I was going to go wrestle with him because I like the 2010 season so much fun and I wanted to have more of that so,” Preston said.
Robert Kish, the head coach of the NDSU wrestling team, is looking forward to having Preston on the team.
“We saw many great qualities in Preston. He has a passion for the sport and a unique understanding of what it takes to be successful,” Kish said. “He has the work ethic and dedication to do some special things at this level and we’re excited to get him in the room and get to work.”
According to Preston and Tyler, they are ecstatic about having the opportunity to push each other next year, as well as integrate unity into the team.
“The wrestling family is a small one,” Kish said. “But the pain and hardships along with the glory this sport brings ultimately creates close bonds with each and every member of this team, and we’re excited to have Tyler and Preston reinforce this concept.”