NYM's Novak Wins State Wrestling Title

KSKK/KVKK’s Behlianno’s Athlete of the Week is Shane Novak of the New York Mills wrestling team.
The junior Novak won the Class A individual state title at 113 pounds at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul. Novak grappled with the pressure this past season of being No. 1 practically cover to cover, following a second place finish at state in 2011.
Unfazed, Novak achieved the state’s highest individual honor.
"The rankings don't really mean a whole lot to me,” Novak said. “[I took] one match at a time, wrestling for my team, wrestling for my town, wrestling for myself — I just kind of put the rankings aside and what people expected of me aside and wrestled how I wanted to wrestle."
Novak defeated three freshmen, including second-ranked Quinten Berres of Kimball Area who entered the bout at 43-2, to reach the finals for the second consecutive season.
A year the wiser, Novak wasn’t going to let another opportunity for a state title slip away.
Against James Goman of Trinity School at River Ridge, the Eagles grappler jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Excel Energy Center mat with an early takedown.
That’s all Novak would need to secure his first state title.
Goman recorded a point for an escape, but did little else, and another takedown by Novak provided the 4-1 decision.
" When I get the lead, [it's about] keeping the lead,” said Novak, who, in addition to wrestling, plays football and baseball for New York Mills. “Our coach (Eric Niemi) always says when you get the lead, keep it. It doesn't matter if you beat a guy by 15 or one, a win's a win and that was kind of my philosophy."
In 2011, Novak defeated Berres to reach the final only to lose to senior Jacob Braaten of Minnewaska Area by one point, 5-4.
Novak finished 2012 with 45 wins against one loss. The lone setback came early in the season at 120 pounds against Isaac Novacek of Badger-Greenbush.
"My whole plan was to go down to 113, but cutting weight at the beginning of the season is pretty hard,” said Novak, who enjoys hunting and fishing. “So I just wanted to wrestle at that weight for a little bit then drop it down (to 113) and maintain it down there."
The tri-sport athlete doesn’t regret not having lowered his weight sooner. A state title was the goal, which he achieved.
The same could not be said of his team.
Ranked No. 1 in section play, the Eagles bowed out in the semifinal to Border West.
"Our team kind of hit a wall, but you cant be mad about it,” Novak said. “Our team knew seedings didn’t mean anything and we knew we were going to have to wrestle to win. Boram West just came out and they were ready to wrestle. I guess we weren't, at the time.”
Still, the Eagles were able to send Novak and three others to the individual state tournament.
The hard work paid off.
Novak began wrestling at an early age. His older brother, Jordan, took to the mat and helped push Shane to find success.
The younger Novak now has 151 career wins. The school record is 172.
While the school wins list or an undefeated season would be nice, Novak’s goal for next season is to successfully defend his title.