Krueger returns to Bulldog wrestling
By Erik Buchinger
Nathan Krueger has been put in charge of the program he wrestled for in high school.
Krueger replaced Glenn Butzin, who resigned after two years of coaching New London High School wrestling.
“I’ve always loved wrestling,” Krueger said. “I grew up in New London, wrestled in New London and coached at the middle school for eight years.”
Krueger started wrestling when he was in third grade and completed all the way through to his senior year at New London High School where he nearly made it to state competition.
Krueger has been coaching ever since.
“Wrestling is the ultimate sport,” Krueger said. “It’s physicality, it’s endurance, it’s quickness, and the thing I like so much about wrestling is it’s teaching these kids so much about life – Seeing adversity, hitting it head on, and breaking through it. It’s everything they’re going to need when they get into the real world.”
Krueger coached New London Middle School wrestling for eight years before stepping down and has been coaching at the youth level for the last two years.
When the high school head coaching position became available, Krueger jumped on the opportunity.
“I have a passion for it,” Krueger said. “I had to step away from it for a couple years, but the opportunity was there. I had the support of my family, and I’m looking forward to being the head coach.”
According to Krueger, the best part about his new job is the group of wrestlers he gets to work with.
“I like working with the kids, I really do.” Krueger said. “You look at the effort that they’re putting in and the work ethic – it’s second to none as far as a group of kids that I’ve coached, so that’s what I’m really liking right now.”
Krueger met with a few of the seniors on the roster prior to the season to define some goals for the season, which included winning the conference and four wrestlers qualifying for state.
Among Krueger’s long-term goals for the program include building the Bulldogs into a powerhouse.
“I’m looking to build the New London wrestling program into one of those dynasties,” Krueger said. “When other coaches from other cities hear New London, they think of wrestling. We have a lot of other sports that are also really stepping up their game here, which is awesome, but I want New London to be known as a wrestling town in the community.”