Sparring siblings

CELINA - Brothers Logan and Luke Muhlenkamp are naturally sparring partners on the practice mats for the Celina wrestling team.

Logan Muhlenkamp, a senior who wrestles primarily at 170 pounds, and Luke Muhlenkamp, a junior who works at 182, pair off during drills in practice, pushing each other to become better.

Their drive has not only helped them become top wrestlers this season, but has been a key to the Bulldogs having a program revival.   

"We've always wrestled with each other," said Logan Muhlenkamp. "We've always have had that competitive side with each other. It pushes us. Yeah, we might get mad at each other in practice, but we're always going to love each other at the end of the day. Honestly, I wouldn't want anyone else as my drill partner."

"Honestly, it's the best thing you can ask for," said Luke Muhlenkamp. "Because you know you have that one person who's going to push you every single day. We drill with each other every day of the week. We know the other person can go that much more. When you have a sibling who can push you, that means a lot."

That hard work has paid off for the brothers, who each reached the 100-career win milestone during the season. Logan Muhlenkamp reached the mark first during an early season meet with Kenton at the high school gym. Luke Muhlenkamp recently earned his 100th at the WBL tournament.

"When he got it, I was thinking it would be nice to get mine this season," said Luke Muhlenkamp. "It would be cool for both of us to get it. It was in the back of my head (but) it wasn't until the WBL that I realized I was pretty close."

"I thought it was amazing. It shows how great of coaches we have," said Logan Muhlenkamp. "Coach (James) Miracle and coach (Curtis) Doner push us. There's no way we could have got to 100 wins if it weren't for them. It's an awesome feeling when your brother gets his 100th as a junior."

When one brother is wrestling, the other is usually close to the mat rooting him on.

"It was a pretty great thing because we're always there for each other," said Luke Muhlenkamp, who is 38-7 so far this season. "That's how life is with us, too. We're always there for each other."

The brothers were watching each other often at the WBL tournament in Wapakoneta. While Logan Muhlenkamp was denied a championship at 170, finishing third, he proudly watched as his younger brother scored a pinfall in the 182-pound championship match to give Celina its first league champion in seven years.

"It was awesome!" said Logan Muhlenkamp, who is currently 35-9 on the season. "You couldn't ask for anything better."

Both wrestlers will leave their marks. Logan Muhlenkamp has a career record of 126-46, which is the third-most wins by a Celina wrestler since 2008. He also has the most victories by pinfall with 80. Luke Muhlenkamp boasts a record of 101-34 with 61 pins.

Both look to keep the season going as long as possible as the Division II sectional gets underway this evening in Napoleon. Logan Muhlenkamp is looking to become a four-time district qualifier while his brother is looking to return to district after having qualified the previous two seasons.

"We're definitely going to give it everything we got," said Logan Muhlenkamp. "If I don't make it, I'm going to be blessed for the chances that I have had in my four years. I'm going to give it all that I have. I hope Luke does the same and that we both make it to state."

Luke admits that next season will be strange without having his older brother by him.

"It's going to be hard not having your brother out there for each sport," said Luke Muhlenkamp. "This was our last year in football together and same thing with wrestling. We've been wrestling together since sixth or seventh grade and football since third and fourth grade. Going to be tough next year."