The more I learn about Luverne wrestling coach Craig Schneider, the more I admire him.When Luverne Activities Director Todd Oye told me he felt fortunate to find an enthusiastic young man fresh out of college to take charge of the wrestling program last summer, I was intrigued.After watching this young man handle his duties last year, I now believe the Luverne school system made a great choice when they hired Schneider as a teacher-coach. He has a tireless work ethic and holds high standards for his athletes on and off the mat.In Schneider, LHS found a man who truly is committed to making the wrestling program better.The Wisconsin native took the job knowing that sagging participation numbers were working against the wrestling program, so he set out to do something about it.Instead of leaving the responsibilities of conducting the Blue Mound Wrestling Club (Luverne’s youth wrestling program) to others, Schneider decided it would be best to play a more involved role in developing the future of his program.So, along with the help of assistant coach Brad Petersen and former LHS wrestler Jeremy Kopp, Schneider is now in charge of coaching a youth program he plans to turn into a feeder system for high school teams in years to come.The decision to take control of the BMWC forced Schneider to sacrifice the few free nights he has off during the wrestling season, but he feels that’s a fair exchange.Besides, if he had any more free time, Schneider would spend it working on the other projects he has created to benefit the wrestling program anyway.Some of his projects include making a team poster that was on display in area businesses and creating a wrestling Christmas card he sent to families with children competing in the wrestling program.Of all his projects, my personal favorite is the wrestling Web site he created that can be found on the school’s Web site (www.isd2184.net).I can’t imagine all the hours Schneider and 2006-06 team members Kelsey Petersen and Chris Klay put into creating this site, but I do know anyone who has wrestled at LHS in the past will enjoy taking a look at it.Along with describing Schneider’s goals for the program, the site includes career and individual accomplishments compiled by every wrestler and coach in the history of LHS wrestling.Three things grabbed my interest when I pored over the site.I didn’t know current LHS girls’ hockey coach Dave Siebenahler was a wrestler in high school, and that the overall big loser of Big Loser II, Kyle Oldre, won 11 matches during his career. Something I also found interesting was the fact that Tom Serie, Luverne’s first individual state qualifier in 1961, compiled a 12-15 record as head coach of the program during the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons.If you think wrestling is out of Schneider’s mind now that summer vacation is here for the students, think again.Along with opening the weight room for athletes three nights each week during the summer, Schneider will introduce the Eagle Extreme Wrestling Camp in the high school practice room one week from today.Since February Schneider has been working on this project, which brings some members of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestling program to Luverne.The UW-La Crosse has a strong wrestling program that has produced nine national champions and 55 All-Americans in the past, and some of the current program members will be teaching skills and techniques to local kids June 29-July 1.The Eagle wrestlers will work with students in kindergarten through fifth grade from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on June 29 and 30, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on July 1. Students in grades 6 through 12 will take the mat from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the 29th and 30th, and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on July 1.Along with teaching the kids wrestling fundamentals, the Eagles will reinforce some of the beliefs Schneider has instilled into his program and will remain in his teachings for years to come."I don’t care if our kids become state champions or not. I’m more interested in them achieving the three goals of our program, which are to succeed academically, to grow to become better people individually, and to become the best wrestlers they can be," he said.That type of thinking leads me to believe LHS officials did the right thing in bringing Schneider to this community, and the Cardinal wrestlers are lucky to have such a virtuous leader.