Inside the Relentless Mindset Powering the Silver Knights Into the 2025–26 Season

Walk into the Severance wrestling room this fall, and you feel it before you hear it — the hum of something sharpened, focused, and determined. It’s not noise. It’s purpose. It’s the sound of a team that knows exactly who it is and exactly where it wants to go.

Head coach Sam Dare, entering another season at the helm of one of Colorado’s fastest-rising wrestling programs, doesn’t mince words about the tone inside the room.

“The attitude and focus have been outstanding,” he says with a conviction that feels less like optimism and more like testimony. “They’re coming in early, staying late, doing the little things right. This group is hungry.”

Hungry is one word. Evolving might be another. Because according to Dare, the 2025–26 Silver Knights are fundamentally different from the teams before them.

A NEW LEVEL OF MATURITY — AND A NEW STANDARD

Dare has watched this group grow up — not just physically, but mentally. “The biggest difference this year is maturity,” he says. “They’ve been in the fire. They know what it takes.”

There’s a noticeable shift in the way this roster carries itself. The wrestlers hold each other accountable. The chemistry is stronger. The culture is louder.

“It’s ‘we, not me,’” Dare says. “They take pride in being part of Severance Wrestling.”

That identity — forged in what Dare calls “grit, discipline, and relentless effort” — has become the program’s calling card. Severance may not always boast the biggest roster or the most decorated lineup, but they’ve built a reputation for something harder to defend against:

A refusal to back down.

“We want people to see a team that fights for every point,” Dare says. “Blue collar. Hard-working. Proud.”

LEADERS WHO WALK THE TALK

This year’s leadership core isn’t just vocal — they are visible. They’re the wrestlers setting the pace during conditioning, drilling cleaner, lifting heavier, and finishing stronger.

“Leadership has been incredible,” Dare notes. “The upperclassmen understand that they set the standard. They’ve embraced that responsibility.”

Among them is the most recognizable name on the roster — Drake Vombaur, the two-time defending state champion and recent Minnesota commit. But Dare doesn’t dwell on Vombaur’s accolades.

He talks about his character.

“Drake leads by example every single day,” Dare says. “His work ethic, discipline, focus — he elevates everyone around him. He’s setting a standard not just for this season, but for the future of Severance Wrestling.”

And Vombaur isn’t alone.

The offseason saw Jaxon Felker take third at Preseason Nationals in Iowa — one of the toughest brackets in the country. Tatum Garcia battled his way through the same tournament. And Simon Carter, after a monster summer, made history by becoming Severance’s first-ever Fargo All-American.

Those achievements, Dare says, changed something fundamental inside the room.

“When younger wrestlers see that level of success on a national stage, it gives them belief. It raises the bar for everyone.”

The message?

Excellence isn’t random. Excellence is expected.

DEPTH, COMPETITION, AND A ROOM THAT DEMANDS GROWTH

One of the most noticeable shifts this year is the level of internal competition. Spots aren’t given — they’re earned, daily.

“The competition in the room is intense — and that’s exactly what we want,” Dare says.

“The best teams are built on battles. Our guys are pushing each other.”

Iron sharpens iron, and Severance’s room is a forge.

The offseason attendance wasn’t just good — it was consistent. And in wrestling, consistency is currency.

“Day after day, the guys who showed up got better — stronger, more conditioned, more technical,” Dare says. “That pays off when matches get tough.”

The coaching staff emphasized fundamentals, conditioning, and mindset — with a heavy lean on the mental side.

“You can’t win a state title in November,” Dare says, echoing a mantra his team hears often. “But you can build the habits that get you there.”

A SCHEDULE BUILT FOR FEBRUARY

The Silver Knights aren’t ducking anyone.

Dare constructed a schedule meant to test, expose, prepare, and sharpen.

“We’ll see great competition early,” he says. “We want to know where we stand, and we want to get better from it. Everything builds toward Ball Arena in February.”

The goals this season? They’re ambitious but measured.

“Top finishes at major tournaments. Qualifying and placing as many wrestlers at state as possible,” Dare says. “And beyond that — continuing to build a culture that lasts.”

That culture, Dare emphasizes, is the foundation for the next phase of growth.

“The next step is consistency. Being in the conversation every single year. Developing depth. Raising expectations.”

THE LEGACY THEY WANT TO LEAVE

When asked what he wants this team to be remembered for, Dare doesn’t hesitate.

“Toughness. Unity. Work ethic,” he says. “I want them to be the group that set the tone for future teams — the ones who wrestled hard, respected the sport, and represented Severance with pride.”

And to the community that supports the program?

Dare’s message is simple — and full of gratitude.

“Thank you. Your support means everything. We’re building something special here, and that only happens with the whole community behind us. We’re proud to represent you, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”

THE VERDICT

Severance isn’t just preparing for another season — it’s building a blueprint.

A blueprint for sustainable excellence. A blueprint for accountability. A blueprint for toughness, depth, and tradition.

The wrestlers enter 2025–26 with a sense of purpose. A core of seasoned competitors. A crop of rising underclassmen. A culture rooted in hard work, humility, and relentless effort.

And a coach who believes they’re just getting started.

This season, the Silver Knights won’t just be wrestling opponents.

They’ll be wrestling expectations — their own, and the ones they’ve created by daring to become something more.

And if Coach Dare is right, this team is ready for the fight.