State wrestling experience especially poignant for Whitko High School coach, player
(Photo provided) Below, Dan Rothgeb, a junior at Whitko High School, will be competing at the IHSAA State wrestling contest.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The memories created this weekend will last a lifetime for four Whitley County wrestlers who will compete at the IHSAA State wrestling contest, including Columbia City’s Austin Egolf and Lane Michel, Whitko’s Dan Rothgeb and Churubusco’s Jordan Hamilton.
But this weekend is likely to have a nostalgic side for the Whitko crowd and is bound to be uniquely special for Whitko High School wrestling coach Matt Koontz. 
Exactly 20 years ago this week, Koontz himself was a Whitko High School wrestler competing at the state competition. Kootz and fellow Whitko wrestler Mike Venable competed at the State contest in 1989, the last time Whitko wrestling was represented at the state level.
20 years later, Kootz will be experiencing the event from the other side of the mat -- as he encourages a member of his team, Daniel Rothgeb, in his big moment.
Rothgeb, is a junior at Whitko High School and will compete in the 125 pound weight class. He was conference champion in 2008 and 2009, a sectional champion in 2009, won third place in Regionals, fourth place in Semi State and will compete at state.
Rothgeb was Whitko High School’s Athlete of the Week the week of February 4 and has a 30-8 record. He is the son of Celinda Johnson and Eugene Rothgeb and has a brother, Jacob.
The 71st annual IHSAA State wrestling tournament will begin tonight at 6 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Quarter finals will begin at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow with semifinals to follow. Consolation rounds will begin at 5 p.m. and finals will begin at 7:30 p.m.
A live webcast of all Saturday bouts will begin at 9:30 a.m. by visiting www.ihsaasports.org