Princeton Tigers' wrestling room comes to life with new murals of state medalists

Walking into the wrestling room at Princeton High School is like taking a step into the past.

The Tigers Den, which up until 2022 served as the school’s computer lab, has been spruced up this year with new murals of all 21 state medalists to have graced the Tiger uniform, including seven state champions.

“We needed something in here to brand it as our own. Had to utilize the wall space and figured why not brand it out,” PHS coach Steve Amy said.

Amy let most of the wrestlers he had pick their own picture while he tapped into the collection of late Tiger coach Randy Swinford for wrestlers from the past.

He said the Tigertown Tangler youth wrestlers and PHS grapplers past and present love it with the kids dreaming to make the wall one day.

“The guy who did it for us did a great job,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s something that, ‘Man, I want my picture up here one day’ when (the Tigertown kids) are in there practicing.”

PHS senior Ace Christiansen, who placed third at state last year at 138 pounds and shares the wall with his dad, Aaron (1995) and brother, Augie (2023), loves it.

“I think it’s pretty cool being able to see all of us up there and knowing that those pictures will always be there for many other wrestlers to see in the future,” Christiansen said.

In addition to the north wall, the entrance to the wrestling room has been covered up on the outside with artwork and the west windows spell out A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E on one portion and E-F-F-O-R-T on the other.

The weight room and neighboring chorus rooms have similar entrances.

The Tigers’ wall of fame includes state champions Mike Jones (1983), Brandon Nink (2003), Brian Taylor (2002), Dennis Taylor (1980), Kipp Wahlgren (1990) and Kristian Wahlgren (1993-94).

Ace Christiansen and teammates Cade Odell and Augustus Swanson, who all medaled last year, hope to add to their honors this year.

Other past state medalists include Brian Anderson (1993), Ryne Bird (2002-03), Zach Bird (2005), Dallas Hill (2019), Mike Ouellette (1981), Clint Peterson (1990), Drew Pranka (2015), Chase Tatum (2018-19), Ty Taylor (2007-08) and Adam Wason (1995, 1997).

St. Bede to host regional

St. Bede will be hosting a Class 1A regional on Saturday, Feb. 8 with Princeton, Putnam County-Hall, Mendota, Ottawa Marquette and the Amboy co-op on hand. Other participating schools will be Aurora Central Catholic, Lisle, Sandwich and the Somonauk co-op.

The top three wrestlers at each weight class will advance to the Oregon Individual Sectional on Feb. 14-15.