Since its founding in 1952, the Badger Conference has built a proud and enduring tradition of excellence in wrestling. That legacy is reflected in 44 combined team state appearances and 147 individual state champions. While honoring its storied past, the conference continues to thrive today, boasting 31 state-ranked wrestlers, including four ranked No.1 and four ranked No.2 in their respective weight classes.
Individual State Champions:
- Baraboo – 8
- Beaver Dam – 2
- DeForest – 11
- Fort Atkinson – 4
- Milton – 18
- Mount Horeb/Barneveld – 4/2
- Oregon – 2
- Portage – 10
- Reedsburg – 15
- Sauk Prairie/WH – 3/5
- Stoughton – 55
- Watertown – 4
- Waunakee – 4
The Badger Small has 2 front runners with Reedsburg going 6-0 and Mount Horeb 5-1 in that same stretch. The Beavers have had the most consistent line-up winning their own dual tournament and placing high in several strong individual tournaments. Mount Horeb has been battle tested winning the 70+ ever-so-tough Bi-State Classic and scoring enough points to be the 2nd high WI finisher at Cheesehead featuring some of the nation’s best talent. Since it came down to criteria on December 12th in a 38-38 tie with the edge to Reedsburg, there is no front-runner with these two and it will be decided on who can get more bonus points in matches in the backside of the bracket.
In the large school division, Waunakee enters conference action undefeated at 6–0, with Watertown close behind at 5–1. The two heavyweights already met earlier this season, with the Warriors edging the Goslings 37–33 in a tightly contested dual. While those two sit at the top, Beaver Dam shouldn’t be overlooked. The Golden Beavers have been right there in both of their losses, falling to Watertown 41–37 and Waunakee 37–33, showing they can compete with anyone in the field.
All signs point to a three-team race as the tournament unfolds, though conference history suggests nothing is guaranteed. A year ago, Monona Grove/McFarland entered with a .500 record at 3–3 but caught fire down the stretch and finished second overall. If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that momentum matters much more than record once February rolls around.
Ranked Teams:
- #8 Mount Horeb/Barneveld D2
- #9 Reedsburg D2.
Individual Weight Class Preview: Projected contenders at each weight class.
Name/school/year/#Grappler ranking/record/(2025 conference placement)
106 lbs.
- Brody Lewis – Milton – 9, #2, 29-3
- Bryce Madden – Mount Horeb/Barneveld – 9, #3, 31-9
- Max Schroeder – Sauk Prairie/WH – 11, #5, 32-2 (2025 Runner-up at 106)
Brody Lewis’s national accomplishments at the youth level translated well to high school as he quickly propelled himself near the top of the Grappler Rankings board. At 29-3 and all of his losses coming to out-of-state wrestlers, he is the favorite in this class. Top contenders to Lewis are #3 ranked in D2 Bryce Madden of MH/B and #5 ranked in D1 Max Schroeder of SP/WH. Max has a 14-1 major decision over Bryce at their dual on January 29th. Max has wrestled most of the season at 113 and recently moved down to 106 winning the TKO in dramatic UTB fashion!
113 lbs.
- Kolten Mueller – Milton – 9, #7, 32-4
- Carter Solt- Sauk Prairie/ WH 9 Watch List 33-7
- Tristan Bancroft- Monona Grove/ McFarland 9, NR, 26-13
Kolten Mueller is the second freshman for the Redhawks who is favored to win a Badger Conference title. Kolten had a TF win over top contender Tristan Bancroft earlier in the season. Carter Solt is on the rankings “watch list” and has to find his way at 113 after making room for Max Schroeder moving down to 106.
120 lbs.
- Jayden Vanderhoof – Reedsburg – 11, #4, 29-2
- Isaiah Neitzel – Watertown – 9, #5, 34-1
- Mason Spear- Waunakee 12, WL, 23-8 (2025 3rd at 120)
At 120 pounds, the bracket is shaping up to an intriguing battle, especially since the top three contenders have yet to square off. Isaiah Neitzel hasn’t dropped a match since his quarterfinal loss at the OTW, going on an absolute tear that included a title at the always-grueling Duffy Invitational. Vanderhoof is rounding back into form after missing some time, but his recent championship run at the River Valley Invitational shows he’s finding his rhythm at just the right moment. Add in unranked but dangerous returning state qualifier Mason Spear, and this weight class suddenly feels wide open.
126 lbs.
- Braiden Hale-Toomey – Reedsburg – 10, #2, 30-4 (2025 1st at 106)
- Brayden Breider – Stoughton – 9, #5, 29-10
- Dezmen Severson – Baraboo – 12, #6, 20-7 (2025 4th at 120)
With wins over both Severson and Breider earlier in the season, Hale-Toomey (3rd place state medalist) is the lead dog at 126. Breider has 10 losses on the year, but when you dig into it he has lost to some of the best from both in and out of state and he has been competitive in those losses including a 5-9 decision to Hale-Toomey. After missing out on a trip to state by 1 spot each of the last 3 seasons, Severson is hungry to make his mark and with all 3 of these wrestlers in the same sectional, this tournament will give an indication as to who has the leg up for a trip to the Kohl Center.
132 lbs.
- Evan Fahey – Oregon – 12, #4, 33-2 (2025 1st at 126)
- Bryson Busler – Watertown – 11, #6, 28-3 (2025 2nd at 113)
- Maxton Stevens – Mount Horeb/Barneveld – 9, #8, 26-15
Fahey and Busler competed at different weight classes when the two schools met in the opening week of the season, but that changes here. Both wrestlers have state medals hanging on the wall and a résumé filled with quality wins. The edge goes slightly to Busler, however, based on what’s on the loss column. At the Duffy Invitational on January 9, Busler pushed two-time state champion William Du Chemin to the brink, falling only in the tiebreakers in the finals.
138 lbs.
- Sam Timlin – Reedsburg – 11, #12, 21-7 (2025 3rd at 126)
- Logan Steffens – Oregon – 11, #14, 30-7
- Ben Logan – Watertown – 12, NR 22-11(2025 4th at 126)
At 138 pounds, the storyline is simple: who wants it most. No weight class in the bracket feels more wide open than this one. Timlin and Steffens are on the top end of the rankings, while Logan has bounced in and out of the rankings at different points in his career. Rankings may make for good conversation, but championships are decided on the mat, and this is a weight class that could just as easily be won by someone outside the current top three contenders.
144 lbs.
- Cade Aaberg – Oregon – 11, #2, 34-2 (2025 2nd at 138)
- Braylon Davenport- Waunakee 11 WL, 23-11
- Bradley Rupnow – Watertown 12 , 20-10 (2025 3rd at 138)
Just in case you were wondering, Cade Aaberg is very good! His two 3rd place state finishes have led to his commitment to the Badgers. His two losses this season have been to nationally ranked Kellen Wolbert of Oconomowoc and he had highly contested match with #1 ranked at 157 Sam Zanton of Middleton. Of the other top two contenders Braylon Davenport has a pin over Bradly Rupnow.
150 lbs.
- Hunter Stevens – Mount Horeb/Barneveld – 12, #1, 33-2
- Hudson Jablonski – Reedsburg – 11, #7, 31-5 (2025 2nd at 144)
- Caden Schwartz – Oregon – 10, #12, 25-8 (2025 3rd at 132)
All three of our top contenders at 150 have been to the state tournament with Stevens having a 5th and 3rd place medal. Jablonski and Schwartz have Badger Conference medals while, as a senior, Hunter will be wrestling in his first Badger tournament. Stevens has been well tested wrestling in college opens last year, winning the Bi-State Classic in December and then placing 5th at the Cheesehead.
157 lbs.
- Gabriel Metzler – Waunakee – 12, #5, 33-1 (2025 1st at 150)
- Michael Kowalski- Portage – 12 D2 WL 34-6
- Joe Logan – Watertown 12, 24-9, NR (2025 3rd at 144)
Gabriel Metzler has wrestled like a man on a mission ever since falling one match short of the podium in last year’s blood round at state. Since then, he’s been relentless, suffering just one loss all season—and that came at the hands of #1-ranked Sam Zanton of Middleton at the Badger State Invite. Without looking too far ahead, if Metzler sits at #5 in the rankings, just imagine the absolute chaos waiting at 157 pounds when the lights come on at the Kohl Center at the end of February. Joe Logan is not currently in the rankings but was as high as #5 at one point in the season.
165 lbs.
- Easton Kammerud – Mount Horeb/Barneveld – 9, #2, 10-1
- Gage Gross – Milton – 10, #6, 36-3
- Dominic Manno- Waunakee- 9, NR, 19-15.
As a freshman at a higher weight class, Gage Gross came on the high school scene and drew a lot of attention with some “upset” wins last year. It is safe to say that Easton Kammerud has done the same as a freshman. Kammerud has 0-1 loss to #2 ranked and unbeaten JD Minder-Broeckaert of Hudson, and Gross was competitive with #1 ranked D1 commit Declan Koch of Neenah. What this means folks is that you are in for one heck of a final at 165!
175 lbs.
- Eli Maier – Mt. Horeb/Barneveld – 11, #1, 37-3 (2025 1st at 165)
- Nolan Owen – Baraboo – 12, #6, 20-3 (2025 1st at 157)
- Nolan Kemp- DeForest – 10, WL , 31-4 (2025 4th at 165)
Eli and Nolan wrestled on December 13th with Maier winning 9-5. That was a long time ago but since then, Maier has had higher success at Bi-State where Eli beat Hindererman of IGH 15-7 and Nolan lost to him in SV.
190 lbs.
- Eli Leonard – Mt. Horeb/Barneveld – 12, #1, 39-0 (2025 1st at 175)
- Landen Grow – Beaver Dam – 12, #4, 34-4 (2025 2nd at 175)
- Sawyer Ellis- Waunakee- 11, WL, 28-10
Eli Leonard is on a different level! Just look at the trail of state and nationally ranked wrestlers he left on the mat at the Cheesehead. 6th place state medalist Landon Grow is a stud and we love his gritty/hard-nose style of wrestling, yet Leonard has a TF over him. Our advice, sit back and watch greatness on the mat when you see it.
215 lbs.
- McCoy Smith – Waunakee – 12, #1, 35-2 (2025 1st at 215)
- Kade Splinter – Stoughton – 9, #4, 36-2
- Leland Havens – Mt. Horeb/Barneveld – 9, #5, 29-5
Although ranked #4 in a Goliath of a weight class in D2, Kade Splinter, with 2 wins over the number #1 ranked McCoy Smith in D1, as well as a 2-0 win over Havens, is the favorite at 215. Smith and Havens have not wrestled, but here is the breakdown if it means anything. Havens lost to Splinter by less points, but Smith beat a common opponent in Kleinschmidt of DCE that Havens lost to.
285lbs.
- Gatlin Empey – Stoughton – 12, #2, 32-1 (2025 2nd at 215)
- Deangelo Clay – MGM – 11, #3, 34-5 (2025 1st at 285)
- Curtis Hankins – Sauk Prairie/Heights – 12, #13, 29-10
DeLo got hot at this time last year and gave us one of the most entertaining finals matches of the conference finals. He then kept his foot on the gas pedal right on through to a 3rd place state finish. Standing in his way is a mountain of a man, Gatlin Empey who ran his way through the Cheesehead and has had only 1 blemish on his record since placing 4th at state last year. There is no leaving early at this tournament with these two great athletes wrapping up the finals.
