State Champions Lead the Way
This year's 16U team has already had a ton of High School success in their young careers.At 106 lbs, Brodey Lewis of Milton is fresh off of winning a State title his freshman year - where he defeated nationally ranked AJ Woerple in the State Finals. He remains down at 106 and looks to anchor Wisconsin's lower weights.At 165 lbs, Nationally Ranked Sophomore Collin Hamm of Weyauwega-Fremont is fresh off of winning his first state title. Hamm has stayed busy this spring - notching a 4th place finish at NHSCA Nationals and winning both Freestyle State and Northern Plains Titles. The 2x State Finalist is an experienced freestyler and looks primed for a great showing for Team WI.Another Milton Red Hawk State Champion joins the squad at 190 lbs, Gage Gross. Gross, who won his state title down at 165 lbs during the season, is now up two weight classes for the summer and looks to be a key factor for Team Wisconsin.
Elite Talent in the Lower Weights.
Our lightweights look to do serious damage. This group is tough and talented, Wisconsin will need them to dominate in order to repeat as National Champions.At 106 lbs, we have the already mentioned State Champion Brodey Lewis, down at his in-season weight. Look for Brodey to have a big weekend.At 113 lbs, we have another Milton Red Hawk - Freshman Kolton Mueller. Like his teammate Lewis, Mueller remains at his in-season weight and looks to continue his great year. Mueller was a State Qualifier for Milton this year and followed that up with a 2nd Place finish at Freestyle State and a third place finish at Northern Plains.At 120 lb, Lincoln Swick from Oconomowoc is a returning member from last year's National Championship team. Team Wisconsin will rely on Swick and his dominance in order to win another National Championship. During his freshman season, Swick posted a 45-6 individual record and a 3rd place finish at the state tournament - where his only loss was to the next guy on our list - Rex Lancaster. Swick has stayed busy this spring winning Freestyle and Greco State Championships, as well as a Northern Plains Greco Championship and a runner-up finish in Freestyle at Northern Plains.At 126 lb we will see Rex Lancaster from Holmen. Lancaster is fresh off a runner-up finish at the State Tournament this past year as a sophomore - where he defeated Swick in the semifinal. Lancaster won his Freestyle State bracket with impressive wins over fellow state placers Bently Nowak and Braiden Hale-Toomey.
Upper weight Anchors….
Looking at this lineup, the talent in the upper weights has to catch headlines. In addition to the State Champions already mentioned - Hamm and Gross - this group is loaded!As previously mentioned, Sophomore State Champions Collin Hamm and Gage Gross will look to be anchors for Team Wisconsin in the Upper-Middle weights. Returning Fargo All-American, Kade Splinter will man the 215 lb spot. Splinter, who just finished his Freshman year at Stoughton, is one of the best young prospects in the country and will look to have a dominant performance this weekend. Splinter finished his freshman season with a 50-4 record and 3rd at the State Tournament - losing in the semifinals by way of a 4-1 decision to senior Garett Kawczynski (Port Washington).Manning the spot at heavyweight is Leland Havens from Mount Horeb. The freshman finished 5th in the state tournament last year - losing in the quarterfinals also by way of a 4-1 decision to senior Max Mathias (Two Rivers). Havens is a very experienced freestyle wrestler; having been on multiple National Dual Teams in the past and posting a 3-2 record at Fargo last summer.
Young guys looking to make some noise.
At 88 lb, Reed Akkerman of Wisconsin Rapids kicks off the lineup for Team Wisconsin. Akkerman was a Folkstyle State Runner-up this year as an 8th grader, and followed that up by winning Freestyle and Greco State Championships this spring. In addition, he had an impressive showing at Northern Plains - securing a third place finish in freestyle.At 94 lb, Cayden Podeweltz from Weyauwega-Fremont makes his first National Team appearance. Cayden was a 4th place finisher in Folkstyle this past season, before winning both Freestyle and Greco State Championships this spring.At 100 lb, Connor Woosencraft from Pulaski is a returning member from last year's National Championship team. Woosencraft had a good freshman season, coming up just short of qualifying for the state tournament. He's been busy this spring - Winning a Freestyle State Championship and posting a 6th place finish at the PNL Freestyle Championships.
Strength and Depth Throughout the Middle Weight
At 138 lb, Tyler Paulson from Aquinas makes his return from last year's National Championship team. Interesting note, Paulson was injured during warm-ups last year and was unable to compete during the duals. Paulson will make a serious impact and be a huge contributor to Wisconsin's effort to repeat as National Champions. Paulson remains down at his in-season weight of 138, where he posted a 3rd Place Finish at the WIAA State Tournament. This spring Paulson won both Freestyle and Greco State Titles - while adding 2nd and 4th place finishes in Freestyle and Greco at Northern Plains. At 144 lb, Aspen Tritz from Wisconsin Rapids joins the lineup after winning both Freestyle and Greco State Championships this spring. Aspen was a 5th Place finisher at the State Tournament this year as a sophomore, and is a returning Fargo All-American in Greco. Team Wisconsin will need a strong performance from Tritz if they look to go back to back.At 150 lb, Liam Crandall from Evansville is fresh off a 5th place finish at the State Tournament during his freshman campaign. Crandall won his Freestyle State Championship over 8th grade standout - Everett Zeitler - by way of a 6-4 decision. Zeitler also joins the team as a backup and exhibits some impressive accolades as well. This spring he racked up All-American honors at the US Open in Freestyle and Greco, while adding a Runner-up finish at Folkstyle Nationals - Zeitler adds some serious depth and firepower to the middle weights. Jacob Penzkover from Aquinas, locks down the 157 lb weight class for Team Wisconsin. Jacob was a member of the State Championship Team for Aquinas this year and followed that up by winning Freestyle and Greco State Championships this Spring. In addition to his impressive in-state performances, Jacob also had great success at Northern Plains against out-of-state competition - winning a Greco Championship and posting a Runner-up finish in Freestyle.
What to watch for...
Can the lightweights get rolling?This group has had great national-level success together over the years, with their lowest finish in Freestyle being a 4th place finish two years ago in the 14U division. The last few years, the young guys in the lower weights have struggled to get their hands raised. Can these young guns flip that script and find more success?
Will the State Champions and All-Americans do the job? Wisconsin will look to Lewis, Tritz, Hamm, Gross, and Splinter to be bonus point machines if they hope to repeat as National Champions.
How will our depth show? In addition to our State Champions and AA’S, this team is littered with state placers and qualifiers. Will guys like Mueller, Swick, Lancaster, Weber, Paulson, Crandall, and Havens find the success we are accustomed to seeing? If yes, this team will be tough to beat.
Team WI, by the numbers…
Milton leads the way with three athletes representing Team WI. Followed by Aquinas, Wisconsin Rapids, and Weyauwega-Fremont each with two. Richland Center, Pulaski, Oconomowoc, Holmen, Reedsburg, Germantown, Evansville, Gillet-Suring, Shawano, Sussex-Hamilton, Stoughton, and Mount Horeb/Barnevold all are represented by one athlete - respectively.
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