By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The most successful wrestler in St. Cloud High history will continue his career at the University of Wisconsin.

Frank Cousins Jr., owner of back-to-back Class 2A 160-pound state championships, selected the Badgers after considering offers from North Carolina, North Carolina State and several other Division I programs.

“It’s the Big Ten, and it is the best place for me both for athletics and academics,” Cousins, who owns a 4.0 GPA, 4.73 weighted, said before he signed the national letter of intent at the high school recently.

At Wisconsin, located in Madison, Cousins will spend practice time competing against 2010 NCAA 165-pound champion Andrew Howe. The Badgers finished fourth overall at the national tournament under Coach Barry Davis.

Cousins said he looks forward to working with associate head coach Donny Pritzlaff and assistant coach Jared Frayer.

“Coach Frayer still competes; he’s on the mat every day, and that shows how committed he is to the sport, and helping his wrestlers get better,” Cousins said. “I pretty much knew I wanted to go there before I made my trip (April 9), and after I got back I was sure. It’s an up and coming program. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

St. Cloud Coach Matt Milton said Cousins left an unmatched legacy at St. Cloud, home to several individual champions as well as the 2002 Class 3A team championship.

“I had a lot of firsts coaching Frank; he was my first state champion, my first two-time state champion and the first to have an unbeaten season (52-0),” Milton said. “He’s the kind of kid you wish everyone could be like, not so much in winning the state championships, but in the intensity and enthusiasm he brings to the program.”

Frank Cousins Sr., a former Gateway High state qualifier, said his son went through many options before making a decision.

“He is going to a very successful program where he’ll have an opportunity to compete with the best in the nation,” Cousins Sr. said. “It offers great academic opportunities, which was important to Frank.”

Cousins Jr. hasn’t decided what his major will be.

He is St. Cloud’s all-time career wins leader (184-32) and a three-time state qualifier. He defeated Oviedo’s Erin O’Dell for the state championship at the Lakeland Center.

Cousins Jr. joined Osceola High’s Levi Clemons, Joe Locksmith, Alex Eggers and Javier Maldonado as two-time state champions from Osceola County.