By BUTCH HARMON
This year’s Division 4 individual state finals had an extra-special meaning for the Krupp family of New Lothrop.
After experiencing disappointments in the past at the finals, this year’s led to sweet celebration.
Last year, as a junior, Taylor Krupp lost in overtime in the 160-pound championship match.
Taylor’s older brother Justin was there to experience that disappointment with Taylor. Like Taylor, Justin knew the disappointment of coming up just short in the finals. During his high school career, Justin twice reached the state finals and twice came up short.
This year, the disappointments of coming up short were swept away in one moment, as Taylor scored a takedown in the final 10 seconds of his match with Shane Rodenburg of Kent City. The takedown provided the deciding points, giving Krupp a 6-5 decision over Rodenburg. Making the moment even more special was having Justin, a New Lothrop assistant, right there on the mat.
“Justin is my coach, and he was the first one who hugged me after the match,” Taylor said. “It was sweet having Justin there when I finally won it. It was a great brother-bonding moment. It was great to share it with him. He was there to see me lose last year, and now he was here to see me win this year. ”
With the win, Krupp ended the season with a 56-0 record.
Krupp’s opponent Rodenburg ended his season with a 52-2 record. Krupp had defeated Rodenburg 5-3 in overtime two weeks prior in the regional finals.
“I felt like we were going to overtime again,” Krupp said. “I didn’t want to be in that position again, so I saw an opportunity and took it.”
Making the day even sweeter for the Krupp family was that younger brother Connor, a freshman, placed fifth at 103 pounds.
“This was not only a great day for me but for my family, also,” Taylor said. “Having Justin there when I finally won it was special. He’s my coach, and he knows all the work that I put in. That was huge having him here.”