photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Lou Elsten pins his opponent in the final dual of the season against Louisburg on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Lou Elsten’s first high school win came his freshman year against ranked wrestler Roman Clouse from Gardner Edgerton. It was his first dual of the year.

“I knew he was really good,” Elsten said. “I think it was tied 1-1 in the third period, and I ended up pinning him. My first one was a pretty good one.”

Elsten wrestled Clouse a few more times that year, including in the state tournament consolation semifinals. Elsten got the win there, too, with a sudden victory after a five-point takedown. He eventually placed fourth in the state in the 106-pound weight class.

Three years later, Elsten has accrued over 100 wins. The 100th came during the Husky Invitational with a few weeks left in his junior season.

“It is a big accomplishment, but I want to go higher than that,” Elsten said. “Hopefully, I’ll get to 150 next year. Hopefully, I’ll win a state title. Hopefully, that accomplishment will help push (my teammates) to work hard.”

Elsten started wrestling when he was five. He competed with his brother, Jack, and many of Lawrence and Free State’s wrestlers. Those wrestlers and his coaches are a significant reason why Elsten is the wrestler he is. They push him, and he pushes them. They built a strong culture in those youth clubs, and the success that he and some of his fellow youth wrestlers have had at the high school level is a product of that.

The Lions are a young team. Elsten, as a junior, is one of the team’s older and most experienced members. He’s watched his teammates grow exponentially since November, and he’s helped them wherever he can. His experience can help some of the younger players understand what is ahead of them as the Lions compete in the Sunflower League meet and regional meet. Then, those who qualified are off to the state tournament.

The Sunflower League meet will be particularly beneficial to the Lions. The team will later compete in the 6A East regional, mostly composed of Sunflower League teams. The league meet will give the wrestlers a chance to see some of the wrestlers they will face in the regional and give them an idea of what they need to do before the regional meet.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s not huge, but it gives us a good idea of who we’re wrestling,” Elsten said.

Elsten’s experience isn’t just helpful to his teammates. He’s been to the state tournament twice before and is coming off a season in which he finished third in the 113-pound weight class. He knows that he has to clear his head. Nerves are good, but he has to control them. More than anything, Elsten has to hit the mat and have fun playing the sport he’s loved since his childhood.

“(The key is) just go out and wrestle,” Elsten said. “Go out and have fun. That’s the point of wrestling. My goal is to win the state, and it’s a tough goal. But I believe in myself, and I’ve been working hard all year.”