Schunke brothers help lead Lynx on mats in ’19-’20

No. 1 ranked wrestlers all about healthy competition, mutual support 

 

Brandon Valley High’s wrestling squad has had generations of siblings come through its ranks over the years. In fact, this year, there are three sets of siblings, including Damion and Navarro Schunke, perhaps the team’s most dynamic duo. 

Damion, 16, fills the 182-pound slot for the Lynx, while younger brother, Navarro, 14, takes the mat at 220. Navarro is younger only chronologically, as he actually has an estimated four inches on his “big” brother. 

This is Navarro’s first year as a varsity wrestler, and he’s only an eighth-grader. Damion, a sophomore, also joined the Lynx varsity as an eighth-grader, and captured third place at state that year.

The younger Schunke is taking aim at his first state title this year, and Damion is looking to repeat. Both brothers are currently ranked at the top of their respective weight classes. 

If you ask the Schunkes who’s the better wrestler, they disagree. Each will tell you he’s the better wrestler. 

“You can have 60 pounds on me, and I’d still beat you,” Damion told his little brother, to which Navarro shook his head and smiled. 

Until recently, Navarro actually had even more weight on his big brother. In November, as the Lynx grapplers were readying to start the season, Navarro qualified as a heavyweight. It wasn’t until the team learned senior Sam Lembcke, who mans the 285-pound weight class, was returning that Navarro shed 30 pounds to compete at 220.

The Schunke boys don’t compete against each other, though.

“We will, every now and then, if we’re told to, but we don’t choose it,” Damion explained. 

“One time, I was supposed to wrestle Damion, and I was terrified,” Navarro confessed. “When we were little-little.”

Navarro was about 4, and Damion was 6. Navarro bowed out. 

“I said I wasn’t going to wrestle, because he was actually better than me,” the younger Schunke recalled.

Each has his own unique style and skill set on the mat, according to Lynx head coach, Derek Outland – but they both love to compete.

“Damion has a relentless pace that will often wear out his opponents in matches. He has some explosive offense with leg attacks and upper body throws,” Outland said. “Navarro also keeps a high pace in his matches, especially for a 220-pounder. Navarro can also hit attacks both upper and lower body. His composure in big matches is impressive for an eighth-grader.”

While it’s likely that Damion and Navarro will never agree who’s the better wrestler, they concur that Damion is more passionate about the sport. Navarro says he likes wrestling and football equally. Both brothers suited up for Lynx football at the varsity level in BV’s 2019 state runner-up season.

In the off-season, all three Schunke boys – Damion, Navarro and 12-year-old brother, Elijah – spend most of their free time training, traveling and competing at Legends of Gold in Beresford. 

Both Damion and Navarro traveled to Amsterdam last year to wrestle internationally through Legends of Gold.

“This year, the club is going back to the Netherlands, but we are not,” Damion said. 

The eldest Schunke has been wrestling since he was about 5.

“I don’t remember it, but from what I’m told, my dad would bring me into the high school wrestling room every now and then, and I’d run around with his wrestlers,” Damion said.

Their dad then founded a club, which is where his sons got their official starts.

Both still have their first trophies.

Navarro remembers traveling to Tulsa, Okla., with Damion and their dad, Tony, when he was small. 

The Schunkes moved to Brandon four years ago from Colorado. Tony, a former collegiate wrestling coach, was the boys’ first coach, and he continues to coach yet today at Legends of Gold.

But their dad is quick to credit Jen, their mother, for their athleticism. Jen Schunke had a successful collegiate softball career.

“They get a lot of their mental toughness from her,” the eldest Schunke says.

He coached Damion eight years and Navarro for about six, then decided to turn over the reins. 

“Then we moved here, which is a great move for us – obviously, academically, because Brandon Valley is a great academic school, and it’s just a nice way of life,” Tony said. “And it also gave my sons chances to have other coaches … That way I can be Dad and still help a little bit.”

In addition to the Schunkes, BV’s wrestling program boasts two more sets of brothers – twins Trason and Jordon Oehme, and Sabren and Grayson Bortnem. 

Having multiple sets of brothers isn’t unusual in the wrestling world, Outland said.

“That relationship between brothers is usually a good thing, as they tend to push and support each other,” he said.

Damion and Navarro remain nonchalant about being ranked at the top of their respective weight classes in the AA ranks, and they look forward to what the rest of this promising season for the Lynx brings.

And between the two, it’s a sure bet there will always be a healthy level of competition.

“I just know that I want to compete better than him, and I want to beat him,” Navarro said.