Perry senior Kaleb Olejniczak will continue his wrestling career for the University of Northern Iowa, the Bluejay standout announced Friday.
Olejniczak will make it official with a signing ceremony Thursday in the Brady Library at PHS 1 p.m.
Last season Perry was bumped to Class 3A in wrestling, a move which eventually pitted Olejniczak in the 126-pounds finals against Fort Dodge star Brody Teske, a Penn State recruit. Teske became the 26th four-time state titleist as Olejniczak placed second.
The Perry standout was 48-6 as a junior and is 133-19 overall as he chases Zach Thompson’s PHS record for all-time wins (174). Olejniczak was fourth as a sophomore at 113 and qualified for state as a freshman as well. The Bluejays have returned to Class 2A this year, making Olejniczak the favorite for the state title.
“Had he run into anybody but Teske he would be the champ,” Perry head coach Mark Weber said after the state tourney. “I have no doubt he will end his career as a state champion.”
Olejniczak will — happily, he admitted — bump up to wrestle at 138 in his final prep season. He expects to compete at 141 pounds at the college level.
UNI head coach Doug Schwab and his team won a recruiting battle that included Iowa State and New York City-based Ivy League school Columbia.
“I just really liked the fit there, the atmosphere,” Olejniczak said of his visit to UNI. “It felt like family and I know I will be happy there.”
He admitted family ties weighed in his decision, as sister Emma is a sophomore pitcher for the Panther softball team.
“I already knew quite about the school, the campus and what to expect,” he said. “It is close to home and Emma being there was a factor, but those weren’t the only ones.”
Father Jason is a former defensive back for the University of Iowa and helped prepare his son for the recruiting process.
“He helped me with what to look for, what to expect, the kind of questions to ask — those kind of things,” Kaleb said. “He also said I would know it when I found the best fit for me and he was right.”
Olejniczak is a multi-sport standout at Perry. His 101 tackles this season is tied for the most in Class 3A. He is a leader on the baseball team and has appeared in several events at the state track meet as well.
But the senior is also a stellar scholar, with many of his teachers saying he is one of the brighter students they have every had. That academic prowess has regularly led to academic honors in numerous sports, and helped assure a series of financial benefits at UNI.
“UNI does not really have a ‘pre-med’ program, but that is what I want to do,” Olejniczak said. “I will probably major in biology and then look for a medical school.”
In both the classroom and the wrestling room the addition of Olejniczak is clearly a win for the Panthers.
