For a decade and a half, Eric Wegner ran an excellent wrestling program at United South Central. Wegner coach many talented wrestlers so it was almost fitting that a former wrestler would return to become the Rebels head coach.

Steven Wood, a former USC standout, has returned to the program as the new head coach.

As the new head coach for USC’s wrestling program, Wood has already held his preseason meeting with the team and Wood told the wrestlers that they should expect short, intense practices with a lot of work being concentrated on technique.

“A lot of times, especially in Minnesota wrestling programs, technique is overlooked,” Wood said. “Our boys try to rely too much on brute strength.”

Coach Wood feels the middle weights for the Rebels will be strong. He is also excited about the junior class because he will be coaching his younger brother Matthew.

“As a team we are really solid through the middle weights,” Wood said. “I am very excited about the team that we have this year, especially our junior class.”

Wood and his family moved to USC school district toward the end of his junior year after growing up and working on his grandparent’s farm for 15 years in the Wabasso area.

Wood was a three-sport athlete at USC back in the day. He ran track in the spring, played football in the fall and grappled through the winter months.

Wood went to state his senior year and finished in third place.

With a record of 142 wins and 41 losses as a varsity wrestler, Wood wrestled all but his seventh grade year at the varsity level.

Wood is excited to be back with the wrestling program at USC after some time away.

“I couldn’t of done it without the support that I have received from coach Wegner and our athletic director,” Wood said.

Wood went to Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D. for his first two years of college.

“I chose Dakota Wesleyan because as a NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) school I could play two sports,” Wood said. “In most other schools I would have had to decided on one sport and I just couldn’t give up either wrestling or football, I loved them both the same.”

After two years of being enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan for Elementary Education, Wood made what he called, “a difficult transfer move.”

Wood was involved as a leader while he was there and had many great connections with players, coaches and other community members.

The new coach that had come to his school didn’t want to see him leave nor did his football coaches, which made the move even harder.

Dakota Wesleyan’s head wrestling coach, Sean Ahrar took the head coach position at St. Olaf College and Wood wanted to follow him there.

“My coach at Dakota Wesleyan made the move to St. Olaf College in Northfield and after seeing what they had to offer there I knew I wanted to make the move,” Wood said.

The difficulty of the transfer was something “only God could work out the details of the move,” Wood said.

Wood spent the next three years in Northfield completing his degree in Social Studies and graduating with his licensure to teach elementary education.

While at St. Olaf, Wood was able to spend his time playing both sports he loves. Wood wrestled at 197 pounds and played at outside linebacker for the Oles.

Wood also was a graduate assistant coach for the wrestling program at St. Olaf as well as serving as the youth director at Emmaus Baptist Church in Northfield for a year.

“My faith is pretty important to me,” Wood said. “I grew up in a Christian home.”

Faith and coaching have important places in Wood’s life. He has tried to keep a good balance of both.

“My coach at St. Olaf was a great example,” Wood said. “His life message was faith, football and family. I really desire to be a positive role model to the students,” Wood said.

Wood is currently working as a substitute teacher in the school district as well as in Alden-Conger and Maple River school districts.