Underhill Brothers Push Each Other On The Mat

Burnsville senior Andy Underhill isn’t resting on his laurels. Even though the Blaze standout wrestler has reached the Class AAA state meet in two straight years, there are ways in which he can improve.

He continues to sharpen his technique, and first-year coach Sam Sand is helping him learn new tactics. But his most important adjustment is mental—he simply needs to believe each time he competes, he’s going to win.

For that lesson, he turns to his brother. Sophomore Billy Underhill has the confidence on the mat Andy Underhill hopes to gain.

“My brother has tons of it,” Andy said. “He’s a crazy wrestler, and he’s really good at it.”

The Underhills have a special situation unraveling this winter. Billy, at 106 or 113 pounds, and Andy at 120, have a chance to reach state together before Andy graduates this spring. To do so, the two lean on each other to get better.

It’s a trend that began five years ago.

As an eighth-grader, Andy said wrestling seemed like a good fit. His younger brother, then in sixth grade, followed in his footsteps and gave the sport a whirl.

Wrestling was a natural activity for both.

From there, the two began feeding off each other.

“I learned from him to keep pushing each other,” Billy said. “He teaches me strength things to keep going, and I teach him my shots. I’m really fast with my shots.”

It paid off for Andy the past two years, as he’s reached the state meet both seasons and finished 30-12 a year ago.

His work ethic and his ability to compete has rubbed off on the Blaze squad, Sand said.

“If we had 12 of him on the mat, we’d be pretty successful,” Sand said. “He hasn’t placed yet, but if he peaks at the right time and puts together a good season, he’ll be one of the top guys in the state in whatever weight class he ends up going.”

To get there, Andy admits he needs to lean on his brother.

“He wrestles really hard out there,” Billy said. “I just think he needs to have more knowing he’s going to win out there instead of knowing, ‘If I go against this good guy, I might lose.’ He’s just got to go out there knowing he’s going to win.”

Andy said he’s getting to that point thanks to Billy’s help.

“We both teach each other,” Andy said. “We’re brothers, and we help each other out.”

Come March, the goal for the Underhills is to both be at the Xcel Energy Center competing for respective individual titles.

They have one more shot, and this time they’re planning to make it happen.

“It would be an honor to be with him, his last year here,” Billy said. “I would like it a lot, especially being a partner, knowing we’ve got each other and helping each other out.”