Category: On The Mat

Girls Conference Tournaments Rundown

What a weekend of girls wrestling conference tournaments! From the Classic 8 to the Southern Lakes and everywhere in between, the mats were hot and the competition was fierce. We saw some dominant team performances, like Neenah in the FVA and Hartford Union in the North Shore, proving that depth across the weight classes really pays off. These conference tournaments set the stage for what’s sure to be an exciting run towards the state tournament. 

Badger Girls Conference

The Milton girls wrestling team captured the Badger Girls Tournament title with 110 points, a victory driven by their strength across multiple weight classes. Dilynn Albrecht (100lbs), Devlynn Albrecht (120lbs), Madi Peach (126lbs), and Jessie Demarasse (132lbs) all secured championships for Milton, contributing significantly to their team score. While other teams had individual successes, Milton’s multiple champions proved to be the difference.

Oregon finished second with 89.5 points, highlighted by Teagan Simpson’s win at 145lbs. Ft. Atkinson took third with 85 points, with Hayli Fletcher taking the championship at 138lbs. Reedsburg finished fourth with 83 points and had a champion in Chloe Roloff (107lbs). Mount Horeb finished fifth with 78 points and had champions in Kyla Drake (120lbs) and amelia soltis (165lbs). Sauk Prairie/Wis. Heights finished sixth with 64.5 points and had champions in Margaret Barrett (107lbs) and Naomi Bermudo (114lbs). Stoughton finished eighth with 55 points and had a champion in Emily Matheny (152lbs). Portage tied for ninth with 46 points and had a champion in Miya Tool-Fukuda (185lbs). Watertown also tied for ninth with 46 points and had a champion in Aliviah Walsh (235lbs).

The Janesville Craig girls wrestling team won the Big 8 Conference tournament with 155 points. Madison LaFollette finished second with 101 points, and Janesville Parker took third with 74. Janesville Craig’s victory was fueled by individual championships from Nadia Fuentes (107lbs) and Madilyn Sanovich (120lbs). Other champions included Teana Anderson of Janesville Parker (100lbs), Emilia Martinez of Madison LaFollette (114lbs), Mara Smith of Madison East (126lbs), Maya Assad Thompson of Madison West (132lbs), Elle Fischer of Madison LaFollette (138lbs), Calli Stewart of Sun Prairie (145lbs), Cierra White of Janesville Parker (152lbs), Sophia Bassino of Sun Prairie (165lbs), Stella Gustafson of Madison West (185lbs), and Leianna Chavez of Madison LaFollette (235lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes. Araceli Merino of Janesville Craig (100lbs), Addison Friedrichs of Janesville Parker (107lbs), Neshia Williams of Madison East (114lbs), Marleigh Ace of Verona Area (120lbs), Niah Holmes of Janesville Craig (126lbs), Zae Keller of Janesville Craig (132lbs), Addison Simon of Janesville Craig (138lbs), Likita Hodges of Madison LaFollette (145lbs), Lily Irvin of Verona Area (165lbs), and Arwen Marse of Verona Area (185lbs) all finished second in their respective weight classes.

Columbus High School won the Capitol Conference girls wrestling tournament with 64 points, a victory largely attributed to their success in the lighter weight classes. Pyper Merfeld (100lbs) and Karissa Schwoerer (107lbs) both earned championships for Columbus, contributing significantly to their team total. Lodi finished second with 48 points, led by individual champions Zoe Licht (126lbs) and Marah Lane (132lbs). Poynette took third place with 40 points, with Emersyn Miller (152lbs) and Naomi Stibbs (185lbs) securing championships.

While other schools had individual successes, such as Julia Schremp of Lake Mills (126lbs), and Adalyn Danz-Grass of Belleville/Mont./New Glarus (152lbs), Columbus’s strength in the early weight classes proved decisive. 

The Mukwonago girls wrestling team dominated the Classic 8 Conference tournament, securing the team title with a commanding 198.5 points. Muskego finished in second place with 122.08 points, followed by Kettle Moraine with 100.5. Mukwonago’s strong performance was bolstered by individual championship wins from Gabby Hartman at 100lbs, Cailyn Whittier at 120lbs, Samantha Wiebelhaus at 132lbs, and Zoe Krause at 152lbs. Kettle Moraine also had champions in Ava Shaikh at 107lbs, Charis Guerra at 126lbs, and Hunter Phillips at 138lbs. Muskego had a strong showing as well with Nina Sanfilippo winning at 145lbs, Brooke Shelley at 165lbs, and Sophia Peterson at 185lbs. Waukesha West’s Elliott Mulloy earned the championship at 114lbs in a close 3-2 decision.

Several other wrestlers earned podium finishes. At 100lbs, Serena Melter of Arrowhead took second place. Sophie Kyne of Mukwonago finished second at 107lbs, while Kettle Moraine’s Brooke Williamson was the 114lb runner-up. Ashantay Robinson of Waukesha South earned second at 120lbs. Brenda Plata-Ascencio of Waukesha South finished second at 126lbs. Tessa Felter of Muskego earned second at 132lbs. Kate Jacobs of Waukesha North was second at 138lbs. Bailey Peterson of Mukwonago finished second at 145lbs. Kaia Jakubowski of Muskego was second at 152lbs. McKenzie Healy of Mukwonago finished second at 165lbs. Lorelei Braatz of Mukwonago finished second at 185lbs. The tournament showcased the talent and competitive spirit of the girls wrestling programs in the Classic 8 Conference.

The Cloverbelt Conference girls wrestling tournament showcased a range of talent across different weight classes. Cassidy O’Connell of Regis/Altoona (107lbs), Brynn Heck of Neillsvill/Greenwood/Loyal (114lbs), Jaelyn Bowe of Regis/Altoona (126lbs), and Lillian Fitzl of Stanley-Boyd (132lbs) all secured first-place finishes in their respective weight classes after round-robin tournaments. Tessa York of Cadott (120lbs), Abigail Moss of Cadott (138lbs), Azariah Hoffman of Spencer/Columbus/Granton (145lbs), Isabella Giza of McDonnell/Elk Mound (165lbs), and Anna Becker of Spencer/Columbus/Granton (285lbs) also earned championships. Kaylee Stai of Cadott was the sole competitor at 152lbs and thus took first place.

Several other athletes earned podium finishes, including McKenzie Simonson of McDonnell/Elk Mound (107lbs), Veronika Leavens of Bloomer/Colfax (114lbs), Romina Perez of Abby/Colby (120lbs), Makenna Herrmann of Abby/Colby (126lbs), Luca Burcaw of McDonnell/Elk Mound (132lbs), Nevaeh Walters of Stanley-Boyd (138lbs), Molli York of Cadott (145lbs), and Hailey Pelkey of McDonnell/Elk Mound (285lbs) who all finished as runners-up. The 100lb and 185lb weight classes did not have results available at the time of this report.

The Winneconne girls wrestling team narrowly won the East Central Conference tournament with 70 points, edging out Berlin who scored 69. Waupun finished third with 45.5 points. Addison Brown of Winneconne (114lbs), Candyce Engel of Waupun (126lbs), Codi Nowicki of Berlin (132lbs), Hannah Bade of Waupun (145lbs), Isabell Fisher of Plymouth (165lbs), and Zariayah Brown of Berlin (235lbs) earned individual championships.

Jezhel Jaimez of Berlin (114lbs), Sybil Gadouas of Kewaskum (126lbs), Nora Last of Winneconne (132lbs), Emileena Neconish of Berlin (145lbs), and Denna Gehrke of Winneconne (165lbs) all finished as runners-up. Results for the 100lb, 107lb, 120lb, 138lb, and 185lb weight classes were not available at the time of this report.

The Campbellsport girls wrestling team took first place at the Flyway Conference tournament with 91.5 points. Laconia finished second with 49.5 points, followed by North Fond du Lac/St. Mary’s Springs with 40. Campbellsport’s victory was driven by individual titles from Irelyn Woolhether (107lbs), Emersen Wissink (120lbs), Abigail Ksioszk (126lbs), Emma Batzler (132lbs), and Mya Schraufnagel (138lbs). Other champions included Harmonie Lange of North Fond du Lac/St. Mary’s Springs (114lbs), Tessa Zoch of Laconia (145lbs), and Aeryona Cronin of Lomira (185lbs).

Several wrestlers earned second-place finishes. Savannah Britton of Laconia (107lbs), Shannara Guerra of North Fond du Lac/St. Mary’s Springs (120lbs), Adalynn Last of Laconia (132lbs), Alix Jahnke of Winnebago Lutheran Academy (138lbs), and Deanna Rosas of North Fond du Lac/St. Mary’s Springs (145lbs) all finished as runners-up. The 100lb, 152lb, and 235lb weight classes did not have results available at the time of this report

The Neenah girls wrestling team dominated the FVA conference tournament, taking first place with a total of 193 points. Kimberly finished second with 86 points, followed by Appleton West with 83.5. Neenah’s victory was fueled by individual championships from Ashlynn Scheidermayer (114lbs), Kylee Kurszewski (120lbs), Amari Richard (126lbs), Julia Rangel (132lbs), Ava Armatti (138lbs), and Janet Sorto (145lbs). 

Other individual champions included Lauren Klinger of Oshkosh West (107lbs), Emerson Otis of Kimberly (152lbs), Mackenzie Schiedermayer of Hortonville (165lbs), Kait Lundt of Oshkosh West (185lbs), and Reghan Ziegler of Fond du Lac (235lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes, including Maya Ives of Neenah (107lbs), Annaleah Jacobson of Appleton West (114lbs), Zoey Syms of Oshkosh West (120lbs), Ava Banning of Kimberly (126lbs), Samantha Bryant of Oshkosh West (132lbs), Anastasia Wilondja of Appleton West (138lbs), Mckinley Spalding of Appleton North (145lbs), Claire Gloudemans of Kimberly (152lbs), Sarah Campbell of Kimberly (165lbs), Emma Verbrick of Neenah (235lbs). The 100lb weight class did not have results available at the time of this report.

Unity dominated the Girls Lakeland Conference tournament, securing the team title with 160 points. Their impressive showing was fueled by multiple individual championships. Alyssa Chance (120lbs), Isabelle Holden (138lbs), Jennifer Wallner (145lbs), and Evelyn Fugate (165lbs) all earned first-place finishes for Unity, demonstrating their strength across a range of weight classes. This depth of talent was key to their overall team victory.

Clear Lake finished second with 76.5 points, highlighted by individual titles from Cheyanne Marette (107lbs), Jordyn Perry (114lbs), and Lydia Humpal (126lbs). Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg/Siren also scored 76 points and had champions in Ezibella Savage (235lbs). Turtle Lake/Clayton took fourth place with 46 points and had champions in Ella Moen (132lbs) and Bella Wright (185lbs). Cornell/Gilman/Lake Holcombe finished fifth with 42 points and had a champion in Kaitlyn Madlon (152lbs). Bruce finished sixth with 22 points and had a champion in Shelby Garica (100lbs).

The Milwaukee King girls wrestling team took first place at the Milwaukee City Conference tournament with 182 points, narrowly edging out Milwaukee Ronald Reagan, who scored 176. Milwaukee King’s victory was powered by individual championships from Jai Thornton (126lbs), Neyonda Galloway (138lbs), Ana Carillo (145lbs), and Terryn Mcbride (152lbs). Milwaukee Ronald Reagan had champions in Gemma Vaccaro (120lbs), Simone Ferris (132lbs), Kayla Craig (165lbs), Danna Andrade (185lbs), and Haneen Jaraba (235lbs). Other champions included Geaira Donald of Milwaukee Washington (100lbs), D’Niyah Gaines of Milwaukee Washington (107lbs), and Sharmia Evans of Milwaukee Bay View (114lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes. Khadijah Ahmad of Milwaukee Ronald Reagan (100lbs), Wineishka Medina of Milwaukee King (107lbs), Nadya Scott of Milwaukee Madison (114lbs), Yarelys Santos of Milwaukee Bay View (120lbs), Sarah Biernat of Milwaukee Ronald Reagan (138lbs), Zoe Matamoros of Milwaukee Ronald Reagan (145lbs), Jennesa Ramos of Milwaukee Bay View (152lbs), Christine Cambell of Milwaukee King (165lbs), and Wren Daniel of Milwaukee King (185lbs), and Sydney Harrell of Milwaukee King (235lbs) all finished second in their respective weight classes.

The Hartford Union girls wrestling team decisively won the North Shore Conference tournament with 165 points. Their victory was fueled by a strong showing across multiple weight classes, with several individual champions contributing significantly to their team score. Maya Kirchner (120lbs), Allyson Binder (138lbs), Tatum Boylen (145lbs), Ruby Neitzel (185lbs), and Brooklynn Klebsch (235lbs) all secured first-place finishes for Hartford Union. This depth of talent and success in key weight classes proved to be the deciding factor in their dominant win.

Nicolet finished second with 64 points, with Daisy Altman (100lbs), Zhana Wright (114lbs), and Victoria Jewell (165lbs) taking individual titles. Slinger finished fourth with 40 points and had champions in Tatiana Campos (107lbs) and Brianna Gehring (152lbs). Grafton finished third with 46 points and had champions in Audrey Hanson (126lbs) and Madison Hatfield (132lbs). While other teams had some individual successes, Hartford Union’s multiple champions and overall team strength led them to the conference title.

The Whitewater girls wrestling team captured the Rock Valley Conference tournament title with 136 points, followed by Jefferson in second place with 105 points and Turner in third with 82. Whitewater’s victory was propelled by individual championships from Adalynn Frye (107lbs), A’Lani Ross (126lbs), Atreya Wilson (132lbs), and Marianna Kubicz (235lbs). Jefferson had champions in Alexis Rue (100lbs), Peyton Greving (114lbs), and Mckenzi Coplien (120lbs). Other individual champions included Althea Eckdhal of Monroe (138lbs), Sydney Andrews of Turner (145lbs), Vanessa Hernandez-Reyes of Edgerton (152lbs), Natalia Jesberger of Delavan-Darien (165lbs), and Helaina Sprager of East Troy (185lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes. Isabelle Cantu of Whitewater (100lbs), Ema Aranda of Whitewater (107lbs), Azaria Davis of Turner (114lbs), Mei Lin Yurkew of Turner (120lbs), Grace Grinke of Turner (126lbs), Lily Hansen of Jefferson (132lbs), Vivian Harris of Whitewater (138lbs), Zoe Ruhland of Jefferson (145lbs), Gracie Blue of Delavan-Darien (152lbs), Masame Gresens of Edgerton (165lbs), and Payton Taylor of Whitewater (185lbs) all finished second in their respective weight classes.

The Nekoosa girls wrestling team dominated the SCC tournament, taking first place with 183 points. Wautoma finished second with 90 points, and Westfield was third with 72. Nekoosa’s victory was propelled by individual championships from Rylan Oleson (100lbs), Madison Wagner (107lbs), Amiya Leverance (114lbs), Vanessa Rodriguez (132lbs), Shae-Ella Clark (138lbs), and Paige Howard (145lbs). Other champions included Katrina Murray of Westfield (120lbs), Lydia Hutter of Adams-Friendship (126lbs), Brynlee Vaughan of Wautoma (152lbs), Laynie Vaughan of Wautoma (165lbs), Kimura Hutter of Adams-Friendship (185lbs), and Kylie Burress of Wisconsin Dells (235lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes. Madalynne Gosda of Mauston (114lbs), Lyvia Weiss of Wautoma (120lbs), Amelia Gray of Wautoma (126lbs), Thora Rosholt of Wisconsin Dells (132lbs), Lily Roseberry of Adams-Friendship (138lbs), Isabell Nelson of Westfield (145lbs), Cammie Slater of Mauston (152lbs), and Arianna Weber of Westfield (185lbs) all finished second in their respective weight classes.

Badger’s commanding victory in the Southern Lakes Conference was fueled by their depth and strength across multiple weight classes. Brynn Engel (100lbs), Alexa Thomas (107lbs), and Carley Ceshker (138lbs) led the charge for Badger. Other champions included Kenzey Cook of Waterford (114lbs), Morgan Rutherford of Wilmot Union (120lbs), Melissa Abarca-Cozme of Beloit Memorial (126lbs), Brooke Dummer of Union Grove (132lbs), Maggie Hansen of Burlington (145lbs), Maddison Torres of Westosha Central (152lbs), Ruby Gould of Burlington (165lbs), Carly Corelli of Westosha Central (185lbs), and Faythe Klein of Wilmot Union (235lbs).

The Kickapoo/La Farge/Youth In. girls wrestling team emerged victorious at the SWC SWAL Clash Tournament, scoring 94.5 points. While they had only one individual champion, Mariyana Miller at 107lbs, their overall depth and performance across various weight classes contributed to their win. Lancaster finished a close second with 90 points, propelled by Alyvia Bahl’s championship at 132lbs. Prairie du Chien took third place with 85 points, with Rosalie Kossman winning at 100lbs and Irelynd Cejka at 138lbs. Mineral Point finished fourth with 84.5 points, and had champions in Tatum James (114lbs), Dealya Collins (126lbs), and Emily Heisner (185lbs).

Other champions included Aspen Gelo of Prairie du Chien (120lbs), Chloe Larue of Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern (145lbs), Jaycie Davis of Belmont/Platteville (152lbs), Cadence Freymiller of Fennimore (165lbs), and Kalie Davis of Belmont/Platteville (235lbs). The tournament showcased a competitive field, with several teams having strong individual performances, but Kickapoo/La Farge/Youth In.’s consistency ultimately led them to the team title.

The Trailways Conference girls wrestling tournament showcased a number of impressive individual performances. Horicon had a particularly strong showing, with champions in Ruby Brandt (100lbs), LuRae Wenninger (120lbs), Khloe Lindert (126lbs), Hailey Firari (138lbs), and Cyriana Reinwald (185lbs). Other champions included Khia Bearder from Rio/Camb-Fries/Fall River/Randolph (107lbs), Daelin Cody of Princeton/Green Lake (114lbs), Alexis Burback of Hustisford (132lbs), Zoye Hilby of Dodgeland (145lbs), Bailey Staude of Johnson Creek (152lbs), and Sydney Coyne of Parkview (235lbs).

Several wrestlers earned runner-up finishes, including Rayden Lueck of Oakfield (100lbs), Natalia Saier of Horicon (107lbs), Adalyn Raue of Hustisford (114lbs), Serenity Pautsch of Parkview (120lbs), Winnie Culver of Princeton/Green Lake (126lbs), Addison Canella of Princeton/Green Lake (132lbs), Greta Sixel of Johnson Creek (138lbs), and Oliva Downey of Dodgeland (185lbs). The 165lb weight class results were not available at the time of this report. The tournament highlighted the growing talent and dedication within the Trailways Conference girls wrestling programs.

Boys Conference Tournaments Rundown

Wrestling season’s heating up, and last week was a barnburner with all the conference tournaments. We know you’re busy, so we wrangled up the lowdown on who took home the gold – both team and individual champs. It’s tough to put into words just how tough these kids wrestled, but we’re giving you the highlights. These are the wrestlerss and teams to watch as they grind their way to regionals and sectionals. Let’s go!

Interested in a girls conference tournament rundown? Check it out here.

The Reedsburg Beavers clawed their way to the top of the Badger Conference standings, taking home the team title with 237 points. Their victory was a balanced effort, with Braiden Hale-Toomey (106) and Treynor Curtin (113) leading the charge with individual championships. Monona Grove/McFarland finished a strong second with 192 points, highlighted by titles from Joel Karls (144) and Deangelo Clay (285). Beaver Dam landed in third place with 174 points.

Waunakee finished close behind in fourth with 173.5 points, boasting individual champions Gabriel Metzler (150), McCoy Smith (215), and Owen Sjoberg (190). Milton took fifth place with 158.5 points, while Watertown rounded out the top six with 156.5 points. Other individual champions included Aiden Slama of Milton (120), Evan Fahey of Oregon (126), Peyton Oberg of Baraboo (132), Devin Bobzien of Milton (138), Nolan Owen of Baraboo (157), Eli Maier of Mount Horeb (165), Eli Leonard of Mount Horeb (175).

The Oostburg wrestling team won the Big East Conference tournament with a total of 245.5 points. They had individual champions in Rigoberto Tellez (132), Collin Kelly (144), Connor Mentink (157), and Liam Richards (165), and Nash Banko (190). Random Lake finished second with 210 points, boasting titles from Chase Koepp (126) and Dylan Brody (138). Cedar Grove came in third with 191.5 points, including Carsen Voskuil (120).

Reedsville finished fourth with 145.5 points, with Abe Schmidt (113) and Wyatt Voeltz (150) winning titles. Mishicot came in fifth with 122 points, including Owen Schacht (175). Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah/Howards Grove took sixth place with 103.5 points, including Carter McCall (106) and Aaron Schorer (215). Ozaukee finished seventh with 60 points, including Jovan Lopez (285), and Manitowoc Lutheran finished eighth with 23 points.

Janesville Parker claimed the top spot at the Big 8 Wrestling Conference tournament with a total of 237.5 points, edging out Verona Area, who finished a close second with 230.5 points. Janesville Parker’s victory was fueled by individual championships at 120, 126, and 215 pounds, courtesy of Brayden Garey, Dominic McGuire, and Cody Slater. Verona Area, despite falling short of the team title, showcased their strength with multiple individual champions. They secured titles in the 113, 144, 150, 175, and 285-pound weight classes, with victories from Daniel Hernandez, Brennan Ott, Carson Bremmer, Jackson Guenzler-Soda, and Ethan McIntosh, respectively.

Janesville Craig finished third in the team standings with 205 points, followed by Middleton in fourth with 199 points. Middleton also had a successful tournament, grabbing titles at 106, 157, 165, and 190 pounds. Mitchell Springer (Madison Memorial), competing at 106 pounds, was the only non-Middleton wrestler to win in the first four weight classes. Sam Zanton, Finn Grauwels and Reed Falk won the 157, 165, and 190 pound classes respectively for Middleton. Madison East rounded out the top five teams with 190 points.

 

Other notable performances included Landon Colson of Janesville Craig at 138 pounds and Leon Yang of Madison East at 132 pounds, who both secured first-place finishes. The tournament showcased a range of talent, with several matches decided by narrow decisions, falls, and technical falls, highlighting the competitive nature of the Big 8 conference. Sun Prairie finished sixth with 125 points, followed by Madison West (122.5), Madison Memorial (79.5), Sun Prairie West (48), and Madison LaFollette (28.5).

The Lodi Blue Devils dominated the Capitol Conference Wrestling Tournament, taking home the team title with a commanding 261.5 points. Their success was driven by individual championships from Owen Dorshorst (106), Noah Allen (113), Bryer Caves (120), Braedon Dorshorst (150), and Clayton Stenjem (132). Belleville/Monticello/New Glarus finished second with 158 points, boasting titles from Blake Endres (126), Ashlin Mihlbauer (144), Cayson Helwig (165), and Ryker Swenson (175). Cambridge secured third place with 149 points, led by champions Clayton Stenjem (132), Mason Sonnenberg (138), and Sam Incha (285).

 

Lakeside Lutheran landed in fourth place with 136.5 points, while Poynette rounded out the top five with 124.5 points. Poynette’s Ashton Meister took the 157-pound title. Lake Mills finished sixth with 121.5 points, highlighted by championships from Owen Burling (190) and Thomas Cassady (215). Waterloo finished seventh with 102 points, followed by Columbus (37.5), Marshall (30), and Marshall (30). Other individual champions included Sam Incha of Cambridge at 285 pounds. 

The Arrowhead wrestling team took first place at the very large Classic 8 Conference tournament with a total of 215.5 points. They had individual titles from Zahn Beal (113), Collin McDowell (150), and Luke Driedric (215). Oconomowoc finished a close second with 204.5 points, boasting championships from Andreas Monrial (106), Jayden Yauck (138), Kellen Wolbert (144), and Samuel Ganos (190). Mukwonago came in third with 203.5 points, including Hunter Szyszkiewicz (285). Waukesha West finished fourth with 199.5 points, with Bryan Rivera (120) and Isaiah Guerrero (175) winning titles.

Mukwonago Girls finished fifth with 198.5 points, while Muskego finished sixth with 174 points, including Cael Zelinski (132) and Cole Reid (157). Spencer Prado of Kettle Moraine won the 126 pound title, and Mitchell Stigler of Waukesha North won the 165 pound title.

The Cadott Blue Devils emerged as the kings of the Cloverbelt Conference, racking up 246 points to seize the team title. Their charge was led by individual championships from Iszy Sonnentag (113), Kaleb Lodahl (120), Kellen Blanchette (132), and Oliver Sudbrink (138), demonstrating their strength across a range of weights. Neillsville/Greenwood/Loyal took second place with 162 points, with Hudzon Sebesta-Opelt (144) and Jakob Luchterhand (165) leading the way with their victories. Regis/Altoona finished third with 158.5 points.

Spencer/Columbus/Granton finished a close fourth with 157.5 points, boasting titles from Jakob Soback (190) and Wyatt Karl (215). Stanley-Boyd finished fifth with 115.5 points, highlighted by Willy Graham’s championship at 285 pounds and Tristen Smazal of Abby/Colby at 126 pounds. Bloomer/Colfax took sixth place with 106 points, followed by Abby/Colby (74.5), Thorp/Owen-Withee (28.5), and McDonnell/Elk Mound (20).

The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau/Melrose-Mindoro wrestling team won the Coulee Conference tournament with a dominant 367 points. They had champions in Koda Purney (113), Colton Koss (120), Layne Fry (138), Jayce Stetzer (144), Gunnar Johnson (157), Braden Peterson (175), and Aaron Dunigan (215). West Salem/Bangor finished second with 345 points, boasting titles from Teghan Moore (106), Jackson Roesler (132), Justice Elam (150), Evan Smith (165), and Trevor Arentz (190). Arcadia took third place with 192 points.

Westby’s Jayden Geier won the 126-pound title, and Black River Falls’ Keanau Goldsmith won at 285. Black River Falls finished fourth with 108 points, Viroqua fifth with 66.5, and Westby sixth with 50. The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau/Melrose-Mindoro team’s depth was a key factor in their victory.

The Weyauwega-Fremont wrestling team proved their mettle at the CWC Conference Tournament, amassing a hefty 292 points to claim the championship title. Their winning formula included individual victories from Jaydon LeNoble (106), Josue Azuara (113), Riley Scherg (120), Jake Buss (126), Carter Birdyshaw (138), Aiden Marquette (144), Collin Hamm (150), and Connor Johnson (157). Shiocton gave chase and secured a solid second-place finish with 227.5 points, boasting titles from Izaiah Sanchez (132) and Isaiah Carton (190). Wittenberg-Birnamwood took third place with 183 points.

Bonduel finished fourth with 118 points, led by champions Colin Fischer (165) and Evan Wilcox (215). Amherst finished fifth with 96.5 points, followed by Pittsville in sixth with 92.5 points, including champions Caden Behselich (285). Other individual champions include Bryson Schmid of Wittenberg-Birnamwood (175). Rosholt, Menominee Indian, Manawa, and Tri-County rounded out the standings.

The Kewaskum wrestling team took first place at the East Central Conference tournament with a total of 215.5 points. They had a strong showing with individual titles from Ethan Immel (138), Brayden Loehr (144), Bryston Scoles (150), and Xane Kleinke (175). Winneconne finished a close second with 209.5 points, boasting championships from Ryden Jezwinski (106), Briar Vroman (113), JJ Mavroff (120), Brady Marks (132), and Trey Zemke (157), and Jason Wiedmeyer (285). Waupun came in third with 160 points, with Grant Braskamp (126) and Kyler Sanders (165) winning titles.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran finished fourth with 146 points, while Plymouth took fifth place with 104.5 points, including Sawyer Dailey’s victory at 190 pounds. Berlin finished sixth with 72.5 points, with Jakob Martin winning at 215 pounds, and Ripon finished seventh with 44 points.

The Chilton Tigers roared to victory at the Eastern Wisconsin Conference Tournament, amassing 261 points to capture the team championship. Their success was fueled by individual titles from Gregory Hellendrung (106), Ayden Daul (113), and Drayk Nolan (138). Kiel finished a strong second with 225.5 points, boasting champions Logan Schad (120), Brady Kienbaum (144), Mason Schaefer (150), Edward LeMieux (175), and Ben Kienbaum (215). Valders took third place with 198 points, with Jack Wendling (126) and Brayden Lenz (157) taking home individual titles.

Brillion finished fourth with 172.5 points, led by Ethan Hoyer (132) and Weston Schmidt (165). Two Rivers landed in fifth place with 143.5 points, highlighted by Gavin Glaser (190) and Max Matthias (285). Sheboygan Falls finished sixth with 142.5 points, followed by New Holstein in seventh with 53 points.

The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts dominated the FVA Conference Tournament, amassing 292.5 points to secure the team title and set a new record for most point scored at the tournament. Their impressive performance featured individual championships from Trenton VanSchyndel (106), Nick Jenkins (113), Andy DiPiazza (120), Liam Crook (175), Brady Sprangers (190), and Nehemiah Lendobeja (285), demonstrating their strength across multiple weight classes. Hortonville finished a respectable second with 192.5 points, boasting titles from Cash Botting (132), Nolan Skebba (150), and Austin McHugh (215). Neenah claimed third place with 185.5 points.

Kimberly and Oshkosh West tied for fourth place with 151.5 points each. Oshkosh West celebrated an individual championship from Edwyn Schroeder (138), while Appleton North’s Jackson Esser took the 126-pound title and Appleton West’s Ben Hilbert won at 144 pounds. Neenah’s Declan Koch won at 157 pounds, and Jacob Herm won at 165 pounds. Appleton North finished sixth with 99.5 points, followed by Appleton West (68.5), Fond du Lac (37), Appleton East (30), and Oshkosh North (20).

The Tomahawk wrestling team chopped down the competition at the GNC Tournament, amassing 457 points to claim the team championship. Their victory was powered by individual titles from Tyler Waller (106), Jack Derleth (132), Walter Horabik (138), Zander Zehner (144), Fletcher Baumann (150), Hudson Evans (165), Blake Younker (190), and Nathan Norman (215). Mosinee finished in second place with 319 points, led by champions Jordan Feit (106), Kory Resheske (113), Jackson Nechuta (120), Andrew Beatty (132), and Chris Strejc (157). Medford Area secured third place with 289 points.

Lakeland/Mercer took fourth place with 245 points, while Rhinelander finished a close fifth with 243 points, boasting individual titles from Reid Schultz (285). Antigo rounded out the standings with 230 points, highlighted by Jayson Arrowood’s victory at 150 pounds and Paxton Rothmeier of Medford Area at 175 pounds.

The Germantown wrestling team won the Greater Metro Conference tournament with a total of 243.5 points. They had individual champions in Isaac Weber (113), Owen Becker (126), Ryan Lesnik (132), Eli Rabideau (165), and Derek Rukamp (190). West Allis Nathan Hale finished second with 217 points, boasting titles from Tristan North (144), and Brody Sardina (215), and Thomas Medley (285). Sussex Hamilton came in third with 184 points, with Reece Moore winning at 120 pounds.

Brookfield East finished fourth with 179 points, while Menomonee Falls came in fifth with 125 points, including Michael Daleiden (138) and Beckham Staus (150). Wauwatosa West/East took sixth place with 115 points, with Markus Fletcher winning at 175 pounds. Brookfield Central finished seventh with 112.5 points, and Marquette University High School finished eighth with 85.5 points. Colin Seifert of Brookfield East won the 106 pound title. Ryan Michalski of Germantown won the 157 pound title.

Saint Croix Falls reigned supreme at the Heart O’ North Conference Tournament, amassing a dominant 277.5 points to capture the team championship. Their impressive performance featured individual titles from Kaiden Hahn (113), Carter Ridgeway (120), Drake Petersen (165), Griffin Marko (175), Joe Petherbridge (215), and Logan Bockman (285), demonstrating their depth and strength across the weight classes. Cumberland earned a solid second-place finish with 209.5 points, fueled by the victories of Braden Johnson (126) and Logan Peterson (157). Northwestern claimed third place with 183 points, showcasing their talent with champions Lucas Brown (106) and Logan Jones (138).

Chetek-Weyerhaeuser/Prairie Farm landed in fourth place with 179 points, thanks to the first-place finishes of Brady Gesler (132) and Trig White (150). Hayward/Northwood rounded out the top five with 168.5 points, celebrating titles from Trenton Kirkland (144) and Deangelo Sardina (190). Ladysmith took sixth place with 79.5 points, followed by Spooner/Webster (63), Superior (62), Cameron (61.5), Ashland (48), and Barron (32.5).

The Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg/Siren wrestling team emerged victorious at the Lakeland Conference Tournament, accumulating 166 points to secure the team title. Their championship performance was powered by individual wins from Christian Greener (120), Riley Cummings (126), and a number of strong finishes. Turtle Lake/Clayton put up a valiant fight, finishing a close second with 164.5 points, and boasting champions Luke Moen (106), Owen Anderson (144), Brandon Wright (165), and Cain Casarez (285). Unity took third place with 151 points, with individual titles from Easton Baxter (113), Adrien Olson (150), and Alex Holden (175).

Shell Lake finished fourth with 128 points, led by champions Tanner Bandoli (138) and Brock Naessen (190). Clear Lake rounded out the top five with 93.5 points, celebrating victories from Brennon Colbeth (132) and Magnum Moggo (157). Cornell/Gilman/Lake Holcombe finished sixth with 62 points, highlighted by Taydyn Angell’s championship at 215 pounds. Flambeau scored 49.5 points for seventh place, followed by Bruce in eighth with 16 points.

The Milwaukee Ronald Reagan wrestling team won the Milwaukee City Conference tournament with a total of 203.5 points. They had individual champions in Simon Baker (144) and Yusof Ahmud (157). Milwaukee King finished second with 173.5 points, boasting titles from Quavon Fletcher (106), Emanuel Kenner (132), and Michael Galloway (150), and Torsten Thiel (165). Milwaukee Bradley Tech came in third with 123.5 points, including Christian Wright (190).

 

Milwaukee Hamilton finished fourth with 114 points, with Elijah Knox (113) and Sam Lambert (120) winning titles. Milwaukee Riverside came in fifth with 103.5 points, including Imran Clark (175). Milwaukee Bay View took sixth place with 95.5 points, including Emaurie White (126) and Melvin Lewis (138). Milw. Pulaski/Carmen SE finished seventh with 67.5 points, including Atavion Hooker (215) and Elijah King (285). Milwaukee Washington finished eighth with 41.5 points, Milwaukee Madison ninth with 38.5, and Milwaukee Morse Marshall tenth with 0.

The Hartford wrestling team won the North Shore Conference tournament with a total of 220 points. They had individual champions in Gavin Wolters (113), Lincoln Flayter (126), Parker Neu (132), Caleb Pekrul (165), and Ayden Grulke (285). Port Washington finished second with 178.5 points, boasting titles from Carter Melichar (157) and Garett Kawczynski (215). Slinger came in third with 156 points, including Samuel Gehring (144) and Elijah Terrell (175).

Homestead finished fourth with 133.5 points, with George Jones (138) and Guy Fraley (190) winning titles. West Bend West finished fifth with 131.5 points, including August Lubinski (106) and Ethan Bast (120). Nicolet took sixth place with 93 points, West Bend East seventh with 86.5, Grafton eighth with 76, Cedarburg ninth with 75.5, and Whitefish Bay tenth with 43.

The Shoreland Lutheran wrestling team captured the Pacer Premier team title with a total of 221 points. Their victory was propelled by individual championships from Keegan Eickmeyer (106), Zeke Adams (157), Adam Haas (165), Nathan Rathje (190), and Gabe Laitinen (285), showcasing their strength across various weight classes. Lake Country Lutheran finished in second place with 181 points, with Sam Buchholz (138) and Nate Grooms (215) leading the charge with their victories. Racine St. Catherine’s/Lutheran took third place with 144 points.

Martin Luther finished fourth with 136.5 points, while Ken. St. Joseph Cath. Ac. claimed fifth place with 116 points, boasting individual titles from Co`ji Campbell (126), Yamanni Tellez (132), Javier Gomez Atilano (120), and Dylan Hood (175). Watertown Luther Prep School finished sixth with 112 points, followed by Kenosha Christian Life (89.5), Living Word Luth. (85), St. John’s NW Ac./Chest./Un. Lake (59), Kingdom Prep Lutheran (49), and Catholic Central (26).

The Evansville wrestling team captured the Rock Valley Conference Tournament title with a total of 239.5 points. Their victory was fueled by individual championships from Collin Frey (106), Kolten Bollig (113), Tom Heiser (150), Danny Heiser (157), and Tanner Zastoupil (285), demonstrating their strength across a range of weight classes. Monroe finished second with 179.5 points, while Whitewater took third place with 178.5 points, boasting titles from Jarvis Porcaro (120) and Connor Friend (144).

Jefferson finished fourth with 164 points, and Delavan-Darien rounded out the top five with 153.5 points, including champions Brody Nichols (175), John Fusco (190), and Dylan Beighton (215). East Troy took sixth place with 126.5 points, with Landen Bogard (126) and Brady Collins (132) winning titles. Turner finished seventh with 119 points, followed by Clinton (118.5), Big Foot/Williams Bay (101.5), Edgerton (61), and Brodhead/Juda (59.5). Garrett Minder of Monroe won the 138 pound title. Carter Ries of Big Foot/Williams Bay won at 165 pounds.

The Mauston wrestling team dominated the SCC Tournament, taking first place with a total of 292 points. They had a very strong showing with individual titles from Preston Seebecker (106), Landynn Miller (113), Jayden Vanderhoof (120), Brekk Peterson (126), Espyn Sweers (175), Jaren Hansen (190), Hayden Gyllin (215), and Austin Hunter (285). Nekoosa finished second with 214 points, with Sawyer Ostrum (132), Gavin Tritz (138), and Brandon Wintlend (165) winning titles. Westfield took third place with 145.5 points, including MASON GROSKREUTZ (150).

Wautoma came in fourth with 134 points, with Brady Abitz winning at 157. Adams-Friendship finished fifth with 95.5 points, with Boede Wallner winning at 144. Wisconsin Dells finished sixth with 55 points. Mauston’s depth across the weight classes was a key factor in their dominant victory.

The De Soto wrestling team emerged victorious at the Scenic Ridge & Rivers Conference tournament, accumulating 193 points to claim the team title. Their championship run was highlighted by individual titles from Trenton Baldwin (157) and Seth Greeno (175). Royall/Wonewoc Center finished a close second with 189 points. Ithaca/Weston took third place with 132 points, featuring individual champions Ashtin Bennett (150), Nolen Waldner (165), and Kayden Coleman (190).

Brookwood finished fourth with 87 points, led by Drew Powell’s victory at 138 pounds. Kickapoo/La Farge took fifth place with 73 points, including individual titles from Bennett Coder (285). Other champions include Dalton Lein of New Lisbon (106), Jaren Grimsled of North Crawford/Seneca (113), Aidan Gruenenfelder of Pecatonica/Argyle (120), Lukas Orloff of Pecatonica/Argyle (126), Kaden Mickelson of Cashton (132), Thomas Sprosty of North Crawford/Seneca (144), and Ryan McCoic of Hillsboro (215).

The Oak Creek wrestling team won the SEC Varsity Conference tournament with a total of 261.5 points. They had individual champions in Joah Rivas (120), Ben Wiza (157), and Jackson Villarreal (190). Kenosha Indian Trail Academy finished second with 220 points, boasting titles from Alex Martin (106), Ezequil Dominguez (138), Athan Hammerbeck (150), Sullivan Ramos (165), Kenny Vaughn (175), and Brendan Grabot (285). Kenosha Tremper took third place with 185 points, with Nathan Hines winning at 144 pounds and Thomas Reilly of Kenosha Bradford won the 215 pound title..

Franklin came in fourth with 167.5 points, including Gavin Seay (113) and Nicholas Kazmierczak (132). Kenosha Bradford finished fifth with 154.5 points. Racine Horlick/Park took sixth place with 97 points, and Racine Case finished seventh with 70.5 points.

The Burlington wrestling team captured the Southern Lakes Conference tournament title with a total of 224.5 points. Their victory was fueled by individual championships from Camden Rugg (106), Patrick Skrundz (126), Landon Jacobs (138), Ben Guerra (144), Porter Tiedt (165), and Kade Boyd (175), demonstrating their dominance across multiple weight classes. Wilmot Union finished in second place with 173.5 points, boasting titles from Thiago Guardiola (120) and Jason Patterson (150). Westosha Central took third place with 167.5 points.

Union Grove finished fourth with 151.5 points, including Cole Dummer’s victory at 157 pounds. Waterford finished fifth with 118 points, while Elkhorn Area took sixth place with 117 points, highlighted by Nathaniel Langdon’s victory at 285 pounds. Badger finished seventh with 113 points, with Yandel Flores winning at 215 pounds, and Beloit Memorial finished eighth with 98 points, including Miguel Martinez (113) and Owen West (132).

The Mineral Point wrestling team took the top spot at the SWC/SWAL Clash with a total of 208 points. Their victory was fueled by individual championships from Memphis Burkhalter (106), Liam Carey (120), and Kade Rule (175). Fennimore finished a close second with 190.5 points, led by champions Tristan Steldt (165). Iowa-Grant/Highland came in third with 168.5 points, including titles from Tyson Imhoff (157) and Gavin Hinderman (190).

Prairie du Chien took fourth place with 151.5 points, while Belmont/Platteville finished fifth with 123.5 points, boasting champions Briggs Weigel (126) and Dylan Weigel (138). Dodgeville came in sixth with 111 points, with Shane Rochon winning the 113-pound title and Haakon Peterson winning at 144. Darlington/Black Hawk finished seventh with 102.5 points, followed by Riverdale in eighth with 96 points, including champions Lakota Brewer (132) and Grant Mathews (285). Owen Seffrood of Darlington/Black Hawk won the 150 pound title. Blake Thiry of Prairie du Chien won the 215 pound title.

The Markesan wrestling squad claimed the top spot at the Trailways Conference Meet, racking up 195.5 points to secure the team championship. Their victory was propelled by individual titles from Gavin Slark (113), Treston Eckstein (175), and Jabin Lawson (285), along with strong performances across the weight classes. Pardeeville finished a close second with 169.5 points, showcasing their strength with champions Karrsen Bussan (138), Kingston Galetka (144), Caleb Mackey (157), and William Becker (190). Princeton/Green Lake took third place with 158 points, boasting victories from Gunnar Lambert (106), Caleb Krause (120), and Brendan Shurpit (132).

Horicon earned fourth place with 134 points, while Deerfield rounded out the top five with 111 points, led by Bryce Eickhoff (165). Parkview finished sixth with 90.5 points, highlighted by Wesley Egan’s championship at 215 pounds and Luke Hartz of Johnson Creek at 150 pounds. Palmyra-Eagle took seventh place with 66 points, followed by Rio/Camb-Fries/Fall River/Randolph (61.5), Hustisford (57.5), Dodgeland (54), Oakfield (41), Wayland (40.5), Montello (33.5), Johnson Creek (33), and Lourdes Academy/Valley Christian (13).

The Campbellsport wrestling team took first place at the Wisconsin Flyway Conference Tournament with a total of 235.5 points. They had a strong showing with individual titles from Logan Knoeck (106), Conner Sitzberger (165), Porter Klotz (175), and Brock Bentz (285). Lomira finished second with 194.5 points, boasting championships from Jordan Lisiecki (113), Marshall Hanke (138), and Marek Lisiecki (150). Omro came in third with 190.5 points, led by Mason Malnory (120), Mason Boerner (126), Cade Sowls (132), and Dylan La Kosh (157).

Laconia finished fourth with 187.5 points and had champions Grahm Lemmenes (144), Colton Hagner (190), and Diego Soto (215). St. Lawrence Seminary finished fifth with 115 points, North Fond du Lac was sixth with 102 points, Winnebago Lutheran Academy seventh with 94.5 points, and Mayville eighth with 43 points.

The Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln wrestling team dominated the Wisconsin Valley Conference tournament, amassing 220.5 points to secure the team championship. They had a strong showing with individual titles from Jackson Freeman (106), Landyn Freeman (120), Aspen Tritz (126), Carter Freeman (138), and Kailar Tritz (190), and Tanner Gormanson (285), demonstrating their strength across various weight classes. Marshfield finished second with 178 points, boasting champions Grayden Rode (157), Haiden Carlson (165), and Caleb Dennee (175). D.C. Everest took third place with 159 points, including Deakin Trotzer’s victory at 144 pounds.

Wausau West finished fourth with 157 points, while Stevens Point came in fifth with 149 points, featuring Logan Seavers’ win at 150 pounds. Merrill took sixth place with 138 points, including Remington Skic (132), and Wausau East finished seventh with 64 points, with Elmer Heard winning the 215-pound title. Samuel Volm of Wausau West won the 113 pound title.

The Pewaukee wrestling team emerged as the champions of the Woodland Conference Meet, accumulating 184 points to take the team title. While they had several strong performances, only Caleb Cady (157) secured an individual championship. Brown Deer/Messmer/Shorewood finished a very close second with 181 points, fueled by titles from Anthony Strong (106), Maximus Hay (126), Cole Lejon (144), and Makhi Rodgers (285). West Allis Central claimed third place with 157 points, with individual champions Amadi Cameron (138) and Caleb Huber (150).

Greenfield took fourth place with 153.5 points, boasting titles from Kenny Jerzy (165) and Gavin St. John (175), and Vladimir Boyko (215). New Berlin West/Eisenhower finished fifth with 140 points, highlighted by Anthony Caravella’s victory at 190 pounds. Wisconsin Lutheran came in sixth with 124 points, led by Amos Ebeling (132). Whitnall/Greendale finished seventh with 112.5 points, followed by South Milwaukee (74.5), Cudahy/St. Francis/Thomas More (45), Milwaukee Lutheran (41), and Pius XI Catholic (22).

Girls Multi Duals Preview

For a quick recap of last week, there were not many big tournaments after the Christmas tournaments the week before. The biggest one in the state was the Clash National Girls Duals in La Crosse.

Holmen was the lone Wisconsin competitor. Holmen is ranked 4th in Wisconsin and went 2-2 in their duals and placed 5th. Here are their results:

Holmen 30 – #3 Andrew, IL 39
Holmen 36 – #6 Hastings, MN 35
Holmen 34 – #5 Central Cass, ND 42
Holmen 42 – #3 STMA, MN 36
 
With only one Wisconsin team, I don’t want to do a big breakdown of the duals. My largest takeaway is that the top girls teams in Wisconsin can compete with the top teams from other states. We know our hammers in Wisconsin can compete with anyone (see 14U and 16U national duals), but it’s also nice to see our high school dual teams competing well too.
 
Now onto the preview of the multi-duals! We could call this event the “Unofficial Girl’s State Duals.”
 
First, the growth of this meet is incredible! Two seasons ago, there were four teams, with one team being a mash up of multiple schools. Last season featured eight teams. This year, there are fifteen schools and sixteen dual teams. (Holmen has two teams entered).
 
The duals have the top seven ranked teams in the state, along with numbers ten and fourteen!
 
Another interesting fact is three former college teammates at UW-Oshkosh are coaching on the top half of the bracket: David Rosenau of Chilton-Hilbert, Zachary Mueller of Menasha, and myself, Carl DeLuca of Holmen. If a dual between Menasha and Holmen happens, Zach and I have a bet of 100 burpees for the losing coach!
 
On the top side of the bracket is #1 seed, Holmen. Holmen has won the duals the past two seasons. While Holmen don’t have as many state place winners as some other teams, they are solid from top to bottom without any true holes and have a full lineup. They return four state qualifiers in Aini Anderson at 100, Allison Weiss at 120, Alexa Szak at 138, and Sophia Walter at 185, and state place winner Kaytlynn Lambries at 107.
 
Next up is #16 seed Chilton-Hilbert, they should be able to move around and fill 8-9 weight classes. Their best wrestler appears to be Olivia Hoefner at 165, who is 16-5 and will likely match up vs. Holmen’s 12-8 Avalee Euler, who has beaten some ranked opponents this season.
 
Bonduel (ranked #11 and seeded 8) features some absolute hammers, which is obvious considering there were the unofficial state champions last season! Kroening, the Berg sisters and 2023 state champion Madalyn Sokolski mean they are not an easy out, even without a full lineup.
 
In the 9th seed spot are Bi-State Champions Bay Port (ranked #5). They have a state place winner with Dakota Athey (3rd) and five ranked wrestlers. Olivia Konshak at 185 is a Bi-State champ and Autumn King at 235 was third. They can earn five or more wins against almost every team they would dual against.
 
Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards are the 5th seed and ranked 6th in WI. Brooke Thurber does an incredible job there filling a whole lineup in a small school. They placed 6th at Bi-State with four girls placing in the top six.
 
Nekoosa takes on #12 seed Kimberly. If these duals are anything like the NCAA basketball tournament, don’t count out the twelve seed. Kimberly is one of only three teams, along with Holmen and Wausau West, to be at these duals all three seasons.
 
Tomahawk is the #13 seed. They have 25+ girls and are coached by Wisconsin women’s legend Alyssa Lampe. I expect them to  compete hard and fill a full team. The are a dark horse team to rise in the state rankings in the next few years.
 
Menasha (ranked #3) comes in as the four seed. They are a similar team to Bay Port, in that they are loaded with hammers. They have a “death row” from 120-138 and again from 165-235. Lilliana Banks is a returning state champ, freshman Taya Johnson has beaten state champion Emjay Neumann this season, and at 235, Allison Abel placed 6th at state last season.
 
I’m not going to make many predictions, considering I’m writing about my own team. I do expect the seeds to hold true in round one. After that, Holmen, Menasha, Bay Port, and Nekoosa all have a chance at the semis and any one of those four could make the finals! There is not a clear favorite.
 
The only other prediction I’ll make is that if Holmen wrestles Menasha, expect the score to be 72-0 in favor of Holmen 😉
 
Zach Mueller, mentioned above, will preview the bottom half of the bracket.
 

– Carl DeLuca, Holmen Women’s Wrestling

Coming in as the #3 seed is perhaps the biggest team in the state, Badger, who have over 30 girls listed on their roster. Anyone who knows girls’ wrestling in our state knows Carley Ceshker is the dominant force on their team, but two stud freshmen in Bryn Engel at 100 and Alexa Thomas at 107 give the bottom of their lineup an edge over most teams they’ll wrestle. The question is, can their other 9 girls do enough to get past some of the other tough teams in the duals?

Taking on Badger in the first round will be Holmen’s reserve team. As reserves, they likely won’t have enough firepower to get past one of the top teams in the state, but they’ll still have a full lineup and will certainly pick up plenty of wins throughout the night.

Next up in the bracket is a rematch from earlier in the season and what I think might be the best opening round dual of the night: 11th seed Shawano vs. 6th seed Neenah. Neenah is the #7 ranked team in the state and looks to be the favorite in this rematch. They won their first dual back in December 36-15 and have three former state qualifiers in their lineup: Joelle Reay, Kylee Kurszewski, and Amari Richards. They also had an impressive win over Bay Port in a dual earlier in the year too, but don’t count Shawano out of this one. They’ve got a full lineup and a couple tough under-the-radar wrestlers in Gwyn Hermann and Jenna Moede who may help them pull off an upset!

The next dual in the first round is another intriguing one, with #10 Eau Claire North taking on Pulaski, a team that came into the season ranked #6 but has since dropped out of the team rankings. Pulaski certainly has the bigger names in state champion Harlow Skenandore and state qualifier Leah Kapla, but without state finalist Ava Peters in their lineup yet this season they might be hard-pressed to keep up with a more well-rounded, complete team like Eau Claire North who just had a respectable showing at Bi-State, finishing in the top 10. This might end up being the closest dual in round one!

Kickapoo/La Farge/Youth Initiative has great numbers (especially given the schools’ small enrollment), but comes in at the 15 seed. Their best wrestlers are probably Lucca Grosse at 100 and #14 Mariyana Miller at 107, and they’ll look to lead Kickapoo’s Pink Army to some major upsets Friday night!

Last but not least is the current #1 in the state, Wausau West. While they may not have any state champions in their lineup, they probably have the deepest, most solid lineup from top to bottom in the entire state. With three wrestlers ranked in the top ten (Aaleeh Le, Lana Borchardt, and Christiana Nordstrom) and no real weak spots, the Warriors are my pick to make it to the finals from this side of the bracket!

No matter what happens, this will be a great night for Wisconsin Girls’ Wrestling!

-Zach Mueller, Menasha Girls Wrestling

Girls Pre-Holiday Tournament Recap

There were several competitive tournaments that took place just before the holiday break, starting with the Wrightstown Lady Tiger Invite on Friday night. Tomahawk brought 24 girls to the tournament and came away with the team championship, followed closely by Winneconne and Southern Door. At 132 pounds–the deepest weight class in the tournament–a freshman standout from Brillion, Sevanna Hoyer, pulled off an upset victory over #10 Madeline Faulkner of Xavier before ultimately falling in the finals to #5 Chesney Bartoszek of Wrightstown. Another freshman making a name for herself early this season, Freedom’s Stella Pettit, rounded out the top three.

On Saturday, the Menasha Girls Royal Rumble was marked by a few major upsets and a tight team race that came down to the very last match. Wausau West took home the crown in the end, winning by just eight points over the host school, Menasha. Bay Port had a strong showing and finished in 3rd as a team. Two unranked wrestlers pulled off wins over top-5 opponents in the finals. At 120 pounds, Menasha’s Eve Rausch notched a first period pin over #4 Dakota Athey of Bay Port, a 3rd place finisher down in Madison last year. And at 235 pounds, unranked Autumn King of Bay Port pinned #5 Allison Abel of Menasha to take home the title. The toughest weight class at the tournament, though, was at 165 pounds with five wrestlers ranked in the top 10. New London’s 3-time State Champion Hailie Krueger bumped up from 152 for the day and still dominated, pinning/teching her way through the tournament, including a pin over returning state medalist Mackenzie Schiedermayer in just 50 seconds in the finals.

The other major girls’ tournament that Saturday was the Badger State Invite down at the Alliant Center in Madison, which hosted some of the best girls’ teams in the state. Milton only had five girls compete but still came away the team champions over #2 Badger, #8 Eau Claire North, #10 Neenah, and #12 New Berlin. There were a crazy number of highly-ranked individual matches, but here are a few that stood out: Milton’s Carla Jauch (#8 @ 114) dropped to 107 and beat defending State Champion Ava Gardner of Marshfield decisively, 9-3. At 132, #1 Madi Peach made quick work of the #1 126-pounder and returning state finalist, Dealya Collins, pinning her in just over a minute. And Amelia Poplawski of New Berlin dominated recent Fargo All-American Franky Groom of North Crawford/Seneca, building an 11-0 lead before pinning her in the third.

Wrestler Spotlight: Chesney Bartoszek–Wrightstown, 132 lbs.

Next time you’re at a tournament where Wrightstown is wrestling, make sure to pay attention to the 132 bracket. Bartoszek has been on an absolute tear recently and has already hit the 30-win mark on the season. In just the past two weeks she has wins over #2 Hailey Berg, #9 Stella Pettit, #10 Madeline Faulkner, #13 Audrey Hanson, #14 Addisen Olsen, and #15 Sevanna Hoyer. She did take two losses at Bi-State, but both were to the same wrestler (Franky Groom), and both were as close as can be: a 16-13 match in the quarters that had to have been worth the price of admission, and a 7-6 decision in the 3rd place match. I’m sure she’ll be seeking revenge for those down in Madison come February!

Bi-State: Girls Tournament Recap

The team race was tight the whole tournament! I don’t want to say Bay Port came out of nowhere because they are a good team, but going in, I had defending champions Holmen, Wausau West, Badger, and South St. Paul, MN as the favorites.

Bi State Team Scores
1Bay Port198
2Badger180.5
3Bonduel175.5
4Wausau West172
5Holmen159
6Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards154
7Hudson143
8Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Southland140
9Eau Claire North125
10Fort Atkinson120.5
11Neenah116

#1 Bayport put together an amazing tournament and now should find themselves high in the team rankings.  They were especially dominate at #185 and #235 where Autumn King (3rd) and Olivia Konshak (1st) combined to lose only one match. 

#2 Badger, with champs Brynn Engel (100) and Carley Ceshker (132), and 3rd place Alexa Thomas came in second. Alexa and Brynn are two of the best freshmen in the state, regardless of weight class. Brynn dominated her way through the bracket. Alexa teched two time state place winner, Kylie Klum, in the third place match. 

#3 Bonduel doesn’t have high numbers, but they sure have hammers! Five of their seven entries placed in the top eight. 

#4 Wausau West is as well-rounded as any team in the state. Their freshman 107,  Aaleeh Le, impressed by placing 5th. They also put two in a row in the finals – Lana Borchardt at 152 and Christiana Nordstrom at 165.

#5 Holmen had six girls in the top 12. Last season, Holmen won the tournament with 140.5 points. They actually scored more points this year with 159, came in 5th! All the top teams really improved and brought it this year.

Individual Standouts and Big Matches

#100

  • Bryn Engel was my vote for outstanding wrestler. She was dominate and her closest match was a 13-3 match in the semis over #7 at 107 McKenzie Simonson.

#107

  • #3 Ava Gardner looked every bit like a returning state champion. Her 10-0 win over Badger’s #1 Alexa Thomas in the semis was especially impressive. 

#126

  • Marshfield’s #8 Erika Slezinkow pinned or teched her way through the bracket and could have been another good pick for outstanding wrestler. 

#132

  • This bracket was absolutely stacked and the deepest in the tournament. #1 Carley Ceshker pinned state runner up  #4 Natalie Klavetter of Hudson in the finals. Every semi-finalist was a returning state place winner.

#138

The top four weights all had a dominant champion who pinned/teched her way through the bracket.  

#152 

#165

#185

  • Unranked Evie Stine of Fort Atkinson pulled some upsets to reach the finals, where she fell to Bayport’s Olivia Konshak by pin. 

#235

  • State runner-up and #2 Kalie Davis of Belmont/Platteville looks like a contender at state this year. I could see her beating two-time defending state champion Maddie Burns at state!

Preview of The Clash Girls Tournament

The Clash One of the best girls wrestling dual tournaments in the country is January 3rd and 4th in La Crosse!

Here are the returning teams from last season, including four of the top five:

  • Champion: Raccoon River, IA 
  • 2nd place: Apple Valley, MN
  • 4th place: Holmen, WI
  • 5th place: St. Michael – Albertville, MN
  • 10th place: Batavia, IL

Hastings, MN, Badger, WI, Andrew, IL, Central Cass, ND, and Milaca, MN are new to this year’s tournament. 

All teams and their rankings:

  • Apple Valley, MN #1 (13th Nationally)
  • Badger, WI #1 Wisconsin
  • Batavia, IL
  • Central Cass, ND #5
  • Hastings, MN #6 
  • Holmen, WI #5
  • Milaca, MN
  • Raccoon River-Northwest, IA #2 2A (37th nationally)
  • St. Michael-Albertville, MN #3

The teams are separated by pools on day one. They wrestle every team in their pool. Based on their standings in the pools, they are re-bracketed on day two into more pools to determine the final placing. The top pool will place 1-3 and the next pool is 4-6, etc. 

Pool A

  • Apple Valley. MN
  • Central Cass, ND
  • Holmen, WI

Pool B

  • Badger, WI
  • Andrew, IL
  • St. Michael-Albertville, MN

Pool C

  • Raccoon River-Northwest, IA
  • Milaca-Faith Christian, MN
  • Hastings, MN
  • Batavia, IL

Predictions

Apple Valley, St. Michael-Albertville, and Raccoon River-Northwest win their pools. Apple Valley is loaded with nationally ranked wrestlers and doesn’t have a weak weight. They avenge their loss to Raccoon River-Northwest from last year’s Clash and win the event. Championship pool final standings:

  1. Apple Valley
  2. St. Michael-Albertville
  3. Raccoon River-Northwest

Badger, Hastings, and Holmen are second in their pools. Badger is loaded with some top end talent. Holmen and Hastings don’t have the same amount of hammers, but also have less weaker weights. Holmen wins a close one in a ranked WI match up over Badger. Holmen flips an earlier-season loss to Hastings. Badger narrowly defeats Hastings. Division two pool finals standings:

  1. Holmen
  2. Badger
  3. Hastings

Final stop six prediction:

  1. Apple Valley
  2. St. Michael-Albertville
  3. Raccoon River-Northwest
  4. Holmen
  5. Badger
  6. Hastings

Other Girls Wrestling Events this week:

1/3/25 Golden Eagle Invite in Mauston

  • 21 teams entered. St. Croix Falls and Kickapoo are the top teams

1/3/25 Girls Lancer Invitational at Brookfield Central

  • 30 teams entered Fort Atkinson,  New Berlin West/Eisen are top teams. 

1/4/25 Shiocton Girls Wrestling Tournament

  • 11 teams entered. Pulaski and Shawano the top teams.

2024-25 Wrestling Season Rule Changes Explained

Big Changes for the ’24-25 Wrestling Season

The NFHS has implemented some key rule changes for high school wrestling, impacting everything from scoring to referee signals. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

  • Out of Bounds: Wrestlers will now be considered inbounds with just one point of contact touching the mat or boundary line. This should make calls more consistent and easier to understand. This isn’t only for takedowns; it will effect reversals and escapes as well as pinning situations.
  • Near-Fall Points: The scoring system for near-falls has been simplified. Wrestlers will earn between 2-4 points based on the duration they hold their opponent in a near-fall position. This rewards sustained dominance and encourages working towards a pin.
  • Takedown Power: Good news for offensive wrestlers! Scoring a takedown will now earn a wrestler three points instead of two.
  • Farewell 10-Foot Circle: The previously used 10-foot circle is no longer mandatory.  Wrestlers be encouraged to “stay in the center of the mat” instead of “within the 10-foot circle.”
  • Universal Time-Out: Referees will now use a standard hands-to-chest signal for timeouts, aligning with other sports.

These changes aim to improve clarity, consistency, and encourage a more offensive style of wrestling. Be sure to check out the official NFHS website for a complete breakdown of the new rules. Each state has the autonomy to decide which rule changes from NFHS gets adopted to ensure sports are governed in a way that is appropriate for their specific state and the needs of their member schools. You can review the WIAA’s summary here.

What are your thoughts on these rule changes? How do you think they will impact the upcoming Wisconsin high school wrestling season? Share your comments below!

Summary of Rule Changes for the Upcoming Season

Hey there, Wisconsin wrestling fans! Some rule changes are coming your way for the 2023-24 season. Here’s a run down of what to expect.

But first, some background…

The NFHS, or the National Federation of State High School Associations, plays a crucial role in overseeing high school sports across the United States. It is a nonprofit organization composed of 51 member state associations (including the District of Columbia) that are responsible for regulating interscholastic sports at the high school level. When it comes to rule changes, the process is thoughtful and inclusive. Typically, each year, the NFHS rules committee for each sport reviews and discusses potential rule changes. They consider input from coaches, officials, and state associations. These committees analyze the impact of proposed changes on the sport, athlete safety, and the overall high school sports environment.

After thorough discussions, the committee proposes rule changes that they believe will benefit the sport and its participants. These proposals are then voted on by the NFHS member state associations during their annual meeting. If a majority of the member associations approve a rule change, it is implemented and becomes part of the NFHS rulebook for the upcoming season.

The goal of changing rules is to continually improve the sport, enhance safety, and adapt to the evolving needs and challenges of high school sports. By involving a wide range of stakeholders in the decision-making process, the NFHS ensures that rule changes are well-considered and serve the best interests of high school athletes and the sport as a whole.

Let’s dive into the rule changes:

  1. Representation Rules (1-4-3): To avoid overloading wrestlers, wrestlers can only wrestle in one weight class per meet and have a match limit of 6 per day.
  2. Rest Time Between Matches (1-4-4): The minimum rest time between matches has been reduced to 30 minutes, ensuring wrestlers have enough time to recover and perform at their best.
  3. Match Limit in Two-Consecutive Day Period (1-4-7): Wrestlers can’t participate in more than 10 matches over two consecutive days. The limit prevents overexertion and maintains the wrestler’s well-being during multi-day tournaments.
  4. Referee’s Uniform (3-1-1): Referees can wear black or white striped short-sleeved shirts, with flexible options for shoes. This opens up more comfortable footwear options for referees.
  5. Wrestlers’ Uniform (4-1-1a, 4-1-1b): Wrestlers can ditch the singlet and wear full-length tights with form-fitted options, enhancing comfort and mobility. Shorts designed for wrestling should have a minimum 4-inch inseam. Confession— we love this rule for the ladies! Uniforms should never be a barrier to competition.
  6. Facial Hair and Hair Control (4-2-1): Wrestlers can keep their facial hair as long as it doesn’t hinder skin checks, and they have the option to wear a legal hair cover for hair control. Sorry to the Teague’s of the world—no bandanas allowed.
  7. Forfeit/Medical Forfeit (5-13, 10-2-4, 10-2-5): The term “medical forfeit” clarifies that the forfeit was due to an injury or illness during the tournament, and it won’t count against the wrestler’s record. It’s considered a forfeit when an opponent fails to appear.
  8. Inbounds Rule (5-15-2a): Wrestler’s feet are now considered usual points of support on the mat, providing clarity and consistency during near-fall situations.
  9. End-of-Match Procedure (6-5-2): Officials will no longer be required to physically touch wrestlers during the post-match procedure to declare a winner.

There you have it, wrestling fans!