Wisconsin 16U Freestyle Team Finishes 5th at National Duals
After finishing runner-up in Greco-Roman, Team Wisconsin came right back and made another strong run at the 16U Freestyle National Duals in Farmington, Utah. Team Wisconsin battled through one of the toughest brackets in the country, picking up big wins over Connecticut, Utah Gold, New Jersey, and Iowa Red on their way to a 5th-place national finish. For Wisconsin wrestling fans, it was another solid showing against elite competition from coast to coast.
Fast Start vs. Connecticut
Wisconsin opened the tournament with a strong 48-24 win over Connecticut. Team Wisconsin controlled the dual from start to finish, winning 12 matches and piling up bonus points throughout the lineup. Big tech falls came from Reed Akkerman, Cayden Podeweltz, Kolten Mueller, Lincoln Swick, Rex Lancaster, Liam Crandall, Gage Gross, Kade Splinter, and Leland Havens.
Strong Second Dual vs. Utah Gold
Wisconsin kept rolling with a 46-30 win over Utah Gold.
Key wins included:
- Isaac Weber (pin)
- Tyler Paulson (tech fall)
- Aspen Tritz (tech fall)
- Liam Crandall (tech fall)
- Gage Gross (pin)
- Kade Splinter (pin)
- Leland Havens (pin)
The upper weights once again carried a lot of the scoring load.
Close Battle with Illinois
Wisconsin’s first real test came against No. 3 Illinois. It was a back-and-forth dual, but Illinois pulled out a 38-34 win, despite Wisconsin winning eight matches. Big wins came from Lincoln Swick, Liam Crandall, Jacob Penzkover, Collin Hamm, Gage Gross, Kade Splinter, Leland Havens, and Kolten Mueller.
Tough Loss to Ohio
Next up was No. 4 Ohio, and Wisconsin fell 40-31. Even in the loss, there were strong moments:
- Tyler Paulson picked up a pin
- Collin Hamm added a tech fall
- Gage Gross and Kade Splinter continued scoring bonus points
- Leland Havens added another key win at heavyweight
That loss moved Wisconsin into the placement bracket.
Huge Win Over No. 1 New Jersey
One of the biggest highlights of the tournament came next. Wisconsin dominated top-seeded New Jersey, winning 50-24. It was a full-team effort with wins from:
Aspen Tritz, Liam Crandall, Jacob Penzkover, Collin Hamm, Gage Gross, Treyton Altuve, Kade Splinter, Reed Akkerman, Cayden Podeweltz, Brodey Lewis, Rex Lancaster, and Tyler Paulson.
It was one of the most impressive dual wins of the entire tournament.
Setback vs. California Gold
Wisconsin then ran into California Gold and dropped a 46-27 dual. Despite strong wins from Gross, Splinter, Havens, Weber, and Crandall, Wisconsin couldn’t quite close enough tight matches to pull it out.
Strong Finish vs. Iowa Red
Wisconsin closed the tournament on a high note with a 41-33 win over Iowa Red to secure 5th place. The dual featured wins from: Collin Hamm, Gage Gross, Kade Splinter, Leland Havens, Kolten Mueller, Lincoln Swick, Isaac Weber, Tyler Paulson, Aspen Tritz, and Liam Crandall.
Standout Wrestlers
- Kade Splinter: One of Wisconsin’s most reliable scorers all week. He consistently delivered bonus points whether at 215 or heavyweight.
- Gage Gross: A major upper-weight force who racked up bonus wins and big dual momentum swings.
- Liam Crandall: One of the team’s most productive wrestlers with multiple tech falls and key wins.
- Leland Havens: Steady and consistent at heavyweight, helping anchor several dual wins.
- Lincoln Swick: A dependable point scorer who came through in multiple big spots.
Final Thoughts
Wisconsin followed up a runner-up Greco finish with a top-5 Freestyle finish, proving once again they belong among the nation’s best teams. Team Wisconsin picked up major wins over Connecticut, Utah Gold, New Jersey, and Iowa Red, and showed they can compete with anyone in the country. From top to bottom, this group showed why Wisconsin wrestling continues to stand out on the national stage.
|
Wrestler |
Record |
TF |
Pins |
Dec |
|
Gage Gross |
7-0 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kade Splinter |
7-0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
|
Leland Havens |
6-0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Liam Crandall |
6-1 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
Kolten Mueller |
4-1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Brodey Lewis |
2-0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Reed Akkerman |
4-3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Tyler Paulson |
4-3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Collin Hamm |
4-3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Isaac Weber |
3-2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Lincoln Swick |
3-4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Aspen Tritz |
3-4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jacob Penzkover |
2-3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Cayden Podeweltz |
2-4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rex Lancaster |
2-5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Everett Zeitler |
1-3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Treyton Altuve |
1-0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Connor Woosencraft |
1-6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Braiden Hale-Toomey |
1-1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Marcus Brezgel |
1-4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ayden Ewing |
0-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Parker Gerber |
0-7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Team Leaders
Most Wins
- Gage Gross (7-0)
- Kade Splinter (7-0)
- Leland Havens (6-0)
Most Technical Falls
- Liam Crandall (5)
- Kade Splinter (5)
- Gage Gross (4)
- Leland Havens (4)
Most Pins
- Tyler Paulson (2)
Combined Greco/Freestyle Records
|
Wrestler |
W-L |
TF |
Pin |
Dec |
|
Kade Splinter |
14-0 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
|
Tyler Paulson |
11-3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
|
Lincoln Swick |
10-4 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
|
Kolten Mueller |
9-3 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
|
Reed Akkerman |
9-5 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
Aspen Tritz |
8-6 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
|
Jacob Penzkover |
7-5 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
Isaac Weber |
7-5 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Everett Zeitler |
6-5 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
|
Treyton Altuve |
5-3 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Braiden Hale-Toomey |
3-6 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Parker Gerber |
3-11 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ayden Ewing |
2-6 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
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