On Episode 395 of Airey Bros Radio, we sit down with Coach Mike DeRoehn, Head Wrestling Coach & Director of Strength & Conditioning at Lakeland University (NCAA Division III).Now in his 7th year overall leading the Muskies (3rd in his second stint), Coach DeRoehn has nearly two decades of coaching experience at Lakeland, UW-Platteville, and UW-Oshkosh. He’s built a reputation for rebuilding programs, producing NCAA qualifiers and Scholar All-Americans, and creating the “Muskie Tough” culture that extends across Lakeland athletics.In this conversation we cover:

• Rebuilding Lakeland Wrestling with leadership & stability
  
  
• The “Muskie Tough” S&C system that guides every sport at Lakeland
  
  
• Community-first culture with Headlocking Hunger & Sharpen the Axe
  
  
• Lakeland’s Co-Op program (paid jobs + academic credit for athletes)
  
  
• Recruiting pipelines from Wisconsin, the Midwest & New Jersey
  
  
• Developing Scholar All-Americans & NCAA qualifiers
  
  

👉 Follow Lakeland Wrestling: IG @lumuskiesmenswrestling | lakelandmuskies.com/wrestling
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☕ Presented by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching


Show Notes with Time Stamps
0:00 – Intro: Why ABR spotlights JUCO, NAIA, D2, and D3 programs
• The mission: giving shine to overlooked coaches, programs & athletes
5:15 – Coach DeRoehn’s path to Lakeland Wrestling
• Coaching journey from UW-Platteville finalist → UW-Oshkosh → Lakeland
• What brought him back for his second stint leading the Muskies
12:40 – Rebuilding Lakeland Wrestling
• Taking the program from instability to sustained culture
• Developing Scholar All-Americans & NCAA qualifiers in D3
20:05 – “Muskie Tough” Strength & Conditioning
• Serving as Lakeland’s Director of S&C for all sports
• Training by vector: vertical, horizontal, rotational
• Wrestler staples: trap bar DL, front squat, kettlebells, carries
• Velocity-based training (VBT) vs chasing max loads
32:50 – Culture beyond the mat
• Headlocking Hunger food drive
• Sharpen the Axe leadership initiative
• FISH values: Fight • Integrity • Success-minded • Hardworking
45:30 – Lakeland’s Co-Op Education model
• Paid jobs + academic credit for athletes
• Examples of majors tied directly to career paths
• Why some athletes graduate in 3 years with full résumés built
56:20 – Recruiting & pipelines
• Wisconsin & Midwest roots, expanding into NJ/PA
• Matching athletes to majors & life goals
• Mentorship culture: upperclassmen guiding underclassmen
1:08:15 – Looking ahead
• Goals for Lakeland Wrestling this season
• Long-term vision for the program
• Final advice for recruits & families