By Blake Chadwick

Bluestem’s Dagan Turner only started wrestling in eighth grade, and now, as a senior has the opportunity to be a part of something special.

“Dagan is a great teammate and a hard worker,” head coach Nash Burtin said. “He has to balance work with sports, and that’s always tough, but he’s found a way to get better and make his teammates better in the practice room.”

Now, with a team that is progressing every single day with him, the senior’s fast-paced wrestling style can help lead him and his team to a good state-run.

“We think we can win regionals this year, but we don’t do that without Dagan,” Burtin said. “It’s also not easy to get kids to stick out 4 years of wrestling at Bluestem.  In the seven years that I’ve been the coach, the list of wrestlers who have done that is very short, but he will be on that list in six weeks.”

As one of those wrestlers who will have been able to wrestle their whole career at Bluestem, Burtin and Turner have gotten very close.

“He’s always been right there to show me what to do and how to improve,” Turner said. “He has helped me like family.”

Turner won’t be satisfied with only being one of a few who have wrestled all four years or his state qualifier run last year.

“I want to be a state placer this year instead of qualifying,” Turner said. “I have to stay focused on training for regionals and focus on how I can progress further.”