Three Lakes 2026 graduating senior Ethan Potrykus will have quite the month after his High School graduation, which occurred last Friday at Three Lakes High School. Potrykus will travel to Lithuania from June 12 to 14 for the Pankration World Cup after being selected to not only represent the Northwoods but the entire United States to compete against some of the top athletes in the world in this discipline.

Piankration is an ancient Greek combat sport that translates to “all the power”. It combines boxing and wrestling and was said to be the groundwork of modern Mixed Martial Arts.

As an eight-time World Champion already through two World Cup events in previous years, Potrykus is excited to get back on the world stage to compete and show his skills that ninth-degree Grand Master Dave Sixel has taught him. Sixel runs a gym right here in downtown Eagle River.

“I’m most excited to see what these other countries have to offer. Team USA always brings a really solid team, and it’s been very interesting to see our top fighters go against their top fighters. I love the ferocity, speed and skills in these matches most of all,” stated Potrykus.

He said he is fortunate to have the opportunity to compete for a third time and that it still doesn’t feel real that it’s happening. He hopes to represent his Three Lakes community in the best way possible.

“It seems completely unreal that I am fortunate enough to have made the team for a third time and get to compete for my hometown and the country. I love being able to add some more to the history of Three Lakes, and I’m proud to be a part of my hometown,” Potrykus mentioned. “It’s not every day you get to do something like this, and my community has been more than generous in supporting me, and I want to show them that their time, effort, and support have not been wasted.”

Where it all started

Potrykus has been doing karate for about 10 years now and is a third-generation black belt in his family. His grandfather, Neal, and father, Jason, both obtained the rank of black belt under Sixel as well.

“I have been doing karate for around 10 years now, so even though I didn’t know I would be competing at such a high level, that’s where it started,” he stated.

He originally found out that he was once again representing the U.S. about four months ago during the qualifying rounds in Kansas. He is now just a few short weeks away from competing.

World Cup goals

This year’s competition will be slightly different for Potrykus, as he will now compete in the 18 to 21-year-old division. That means he is on the younger side of the division, going up against the more experienced competitors from around the globe. Potrykus will enter this competition with 10 medals in two World Cups. He hopes to add five more gold medals to his collection, but has a tough road ahead of him. Out of everything, he hopes to make his country and community proud, while hoping to qualify for this event many more times.

“I aim to get five gold medals at this year’s World Championship, but I am going to have to really work for it because this is going to be the biggest competition of my life. I am 18 in the 18 to 21-year-old division, which means I have a slight disadvantage going against these adults from around the world,” he explained. “Nevertheless, I aim to make my country and community proud and, of course, bring home five more medals for each category. In the future, I hope I am awarded the honor of qualifying for this team and getting to compete with these superb athletes again.”