By Bruce Rolfe
It’s been nearly four months since the Galesburg-Augusta Athletic Department hired Sam Blyveis as the new wrestling coach.
The first year Ram coach is eager to put some of his ambitions into action now that the wrestling season has started for the G-A girls and boys wrestling teams.
Blyveis takes over the head coaching position Chris Champion held.
A 1992 graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview, Blyveis wrestled at Lakeview and went on to wrestle at Grand Valley State University before transferring to Olivet College when the wrestling program at GVSU was dropped.
Prior to coming to G-A Blyveis was an assistant coach the last three years at Fowlerville where two of those three years the Gladiators advanced to the state championships and in 2024-2025 were state runners up.
Blyveis said part of building a program that hasn’t realized much success in a while is developing the trust of the individuals while building a culture that not only demands success, but properly defines it.
“That is happening and it is happening fast. They are buying into the system. I consistently alter the goals I have for them, but what’s more important is that they are starting to set standards for themselves and the program,” said Blyveis, who spent one year as an assistant coach at Gaylord helping the Blue Devils to the state semifinals before he was assistant coach at Fowlerville.
The first year G-A wrestling coach adds recently when he discussed lineup options for dual meets with the team and weight classes each individual could wrestle at, the team was on board 100 percent with doing what it takes individually to succeed as a team.
Even in some cases if it meant a wrestler was willing to wrestle up a weight class to put a competitive lineup on the mat.
“They are already on a solid path. As for the goals I have for them, that is changing on a weekly basis, and for the better, said Blyveis, who also was an assistant coach with the Battle Creek Lakeview wrestling team.
Each new coach brings their own coaching style and Blyveis said building a culture of success and the expectations required that come with it is something he will emphasize.
He often refers to the ARC’s of wrestling - Aggressive, Relentless, Controlled.
“They are getting it and it is working. How quickly they can implement it, time will tell,” said Blyveis.
He adds at the suggestion of one of his assistant coaches he is starting to add another C, for Conviction, to his ARC’s theory, which he said can mean a wrestler shouldn’t give up on a wrestling move if it doesn’t work immediately.
“We teach a system and one move sets up another. You have to believe in your training and trust that what you want to do will work,” continued the G-A coach.
Blyveis said based on practices so far, he’s seing unity and conviction in the new processes and technique has been accepted.
“The attitude of the majority of our wrestlers is absolutely the most impressive aspect of what I have seen. They are not afraid to work hard, and they are welcoming the fact that they are learning what hard work looks and feels like,” said the first year G-A coach.
Blyveis will have a roster mixed with returners and first time wrestlers on the varsity squad.
Returners include Colton Robertson (144-pound weight class), Jaxsen Ray (138), Jonah Ranes (175), Ayden Maine (190), Nathan Ellis (190), Owen Cowles (126), Lincoln Hawes (126), Zac Herring (132), Kendall Hunter (132), and Kameron Prince (HWT).
New wrestlers include Ashton Dingee (157), Zac Charlton (113), Tyler Rabb (138), Jaxson Kasten (120), Jace Stevenson (190), James Taylor (138), Nicklas Stevens (132), Donaven Tiffany (126), and Breckin Vickery (113).
G-A Girls Wrestling
G-A currently has six members on the girls wrestling team.
They are freshman Addyson Coleman (105), sophomore Addison Walden (125), and seniors Alexis Thomas (145), CJ Valadez (170), and Shayleigh Simonds (190).
Currently the girls are scheduled to compete in six tournaments on the schedule, beginning December 5 at East Jackson at 5 p.m.
G-A Wrestling Profile
Head Coach: Sam Blyveis - 1st year
Volunteer assistant: Tim Ray, Dan Ellis, Mike Walden, Blake Hoffman.
Middle School Coach: Shawn Klinger
Returning Boys: Colton Robertson 144; Jaxsen Ray 138; Jonah Ranes 175, Ayden Maine 190, Nathan Ellis 190, Owen Cowles 126, Lincoln Hawes126, Zac Herring132, Kendall Hunter132, Kameron Prince; HVY
New wrestlers: Ashton Dingee 157, Zac Charlton 113, Tyler Rabb 138, Jaxson Kasten 120, Jace Stevenson 190, James Taylor 138, Nicklas Stevens 132, Donaven Tiffany 126, Breckin Vickery 113.
G-A Girls Wrestling Team: Freshman Addyson Coleman (105), Addison Walden (125), Rainey Butcher (155), senior Alexis Thomas (145), senior CJ Valadez (170), senior Shayleigh Simonds (190).
It’s been nearly four months since the Galesburg-Augusta Athletic Department hired Sam Blyveis as the new wrestling coach.
The first year Ram coach is eager to put some of his ambitions into action now that the wrestling season has started for the G-A girls and boys wrestling teams.
Blyveis takes over the head coaching position Chris Champion held.
A 1992 graduate of Battle Creek Lakeview, Blyveis wrestled at Lakeview and went on to wrestle at Grand Valley State University before transferring to Olivet College when the wrestling program at GVSU was dropped.
Prior to coming to G-A Blyveis was an assistant coach the last three years at Fowlerville where two of those three years the Gladiators advanced to the state championships and in 2024-2025 were state runners up.
Blyveis said part of building a program that hasn’t realized much success in a while is developing the trust of the individuals while building a culture that not only demands success, but properly defines it.
“That is happening and it is happening fast. They are buying into the system. I consistently alter the goals I have for them, but what’s more important is that they are starting to set standards for themselves and the program,” said Blyveis, who spent one year as an assistant coach at Gaylord helping the Blue Devils to the state semifinals before he was assistant coach at Fowlerville.
The first year G-A wrestling coach adds recently when he discussed lineup options for dual meets with the team and weight classes each individual could wrestle at, the team was on board 100 percent with doing what it takes individually to succeed as a team.
Even in some cases if it meant a wrestler was willing to wrestle up a weight class to put a competitive lineup on the mat.
“They are already on a solid path. As for the goals I have for them, that is changing on a weekly basis, and for the better, said Blyveis, who also was an assistant coach with the Battle Creek Lakeview wrestling team.
Each new coach brings their own coaching style and Blyveis said building a culture of success and the expectations required that come with it is something he will emphasize.
He often refers to the ARC’s of wrestling - Aggressive, Relentless, Controlled.
“They are getting it and it is working. How quickly they can implement it, time will tell,” said Blyveis.
He adds at the suggestion of one of his assistant coaches he is starting to add another C, for Conviction, to his ARC’s theory, which he said can mean a wrestler shouldn’t give up on a wrestling move if it doesn’t work immediately.
“We teach a system and one move sets up another. You have to believe in your training and trust that what you want to do will work,” continued the G-A coach.
Blyveis said based on practices so far, he’s seing unity and conviction in the new processes and technique has been accepted.
“The attitude of the majority of our wrestlers is absolutely the most impressive aspect of what I have seen. They are not afraid to work hard, and they are welcoming the fact that they are learning what hard work looks and feels like,” said the first year G-A coach.
Blyveis will have a roster mixed with returners and first time wrestlers on the varsity squad.
Returners include Colton Robertson (144-pound weight class), Jaxsen Ray (138), Jonah Ranes (175), Ayden Maine (190), Nathan Ellis (190), Owen Cowles (126), Lincoln Hawes (126), Zac Herring (132), Kendall Hunter (132), and Kameron Prince (HWT).
New wrestlers include Ashton Dingee (157), Zac Charlton (113), Tyler Rabb (138), Jaxson Kasten (120), Jace Stevenson (190), James Taylor (138), Nicklas Stevens (132), Donaven Tiffany (126), and Breckin Vickery (113).
G-A Girls Wrestling
G-A currently has six members on the girls wrestling team.
They are freshman Addyson Coleman (105), sophomore Addison Walden (125), and seniors Alexis Thomas (145), CJ Valadez (170), and Shayleigh Simonds (190).
Currently the girls are scheduled to compete in six tournaments on the schedule, beginning December 5 at East Jackson at 5 p.m.
G-A Wrestling Profile
Head Coach: Sam Blyveis - 1st year
Volunteer assistant: Tim Ray, Dan Ellis, Mike Walden, Blake Hoffman.
Middle School Coach: Shawn Klinger
Returning Boys: Colton Robertson 144; Jaxsen Ray 138; Jonah Ranes 175, Ayden Maine 190, Nathan Ellis 190, Owen Cowles 126, Lincoln Hawes126, Zac Herring132, Kendall Hunter132, Kameron Prince; HVY
New wrestlers: Ashton Dingee 157, Zac Charlton 113, Tyler Rabb 138, Jaxson Kasten 120, Jace Stevenson 190, James Taylor 138, Nicklas Stevens 132, Donaven Tiffany 126, Breckin Vickery 113.
G-A Girls Wrestling Team: Freshman Addyson Coleman (105), Addison Walden (125), Rainey Butcher (155), senior Alexis Thomas (145), senior CJ Valadez (170), senior Shayleigh Simonds (190).
G-A Wrestling
A Look Ahead
12/5 East Jackson Womens Tourn. 5 p.m.
12/6 G-A Ind. Tourn. Home 9 a.m.
12/10 SAC Tri At Parchment Vs. Gobles & Parchment 6 p.m.
12/12 Eau Claire Girls Tourn. Away TBD
12/13 Eau Claire Tourn. Away TBD
A Look Ahead
12/5 East Jackson Womens Tourn. 5 p.m.
12/6 G-A Ind. Tourn. Home 9 a.m.
12/10 SAC Tri At Parchment Vs. Gobles & Parchment 6 p.m.
12/12 Eau Claire Girls Tourn. Away TBD
12/13 Eau Claire Tourn. Away TBD
G-A Girls Basketball
A Look Ahead
12/11 Holland Black River (JV) Home 5:30 p.m.
12/12 Holland Black River (Var.) Away 6 p.m.
12/18 Martin (JV) Away 5:30 p.m.
12/19 Martin (Var.) Home 6 p.m.
A Look Ahead
12/11 Holland Black River (JV) Home 5:30 p.m.
12/12 Holland Black River (Var.) Away 6 p.m.
12/18 Martin (JV) Away 5:30 p.m.
12/19 Martin (Var.) Home 6 p.m.
G-A Boys Basketball
A Look Ahead
12/5 Saugatuck (JV), 5:30 p.m.
12/5 Saugatuck (Var.) Home 7:30 p.m.
12/11 Holland Black River (JV) Home 7 p.m.
12/12 Holland Black River (Var.) Away 7:30 p.m.
12/16 South Haven (JV) Home 5:30 p.m.
12/16 South Haven (Var.) Home 7 p.m.
A Look Ahead
12/5 Saugatuck (JV), 5:30 p.m.
12/5 Saugatuck (Var.) Home 7:30 p.m.
12/11 Holland Black River (JV) Home 7 p.m.
12/12 Holland Black River (Var.) Away 7:30 p.m.
12/16 South Haven (JV) Home 5:30 p.m.
12/16 South Haven (Var.) Home 7 p.m.
