Raiders have full squad

Team can fill all 14 weights this season

By Casey Krautkramer

Kraig Underwood, Marathon varsity head wrestling coach, has never had enough grapplers to fill all 14 weight classes–that is until now. Marathon has 21 high school wrestlers this season.

The Red Raiders are led by WIAA Division 3 state qualifier Dylan Dodson. The team has three seniors including sectional qualifier Hector Pintor along with Mason Putnam and Logan Werner.

There are four juniors consisting of Dodson, Derek Vesely, Jacob Smith and Christian Pintor and four sophomores including Levi Krautkamer, Ian Hunter, Juan Gomez and Aiden Lang.

Marathon has 10 freshmen wrestlers consisting of Blake Underwood, Cale Quaintance, Tate Sonnentag, Reed Mc-Cain, Grant Salber, Alex Poppe, Jaden Her, Marcus Sleiter, Korbin Hall and Tyler Dehnel.

Blake Underwood and Cale Quaintance were Marathon’s first ever youth wrestlers, as eighth graders last season, to win individual Wisconsin kids folk style state tournament championships.

Kraig Underwood was the Red Raiders varsity head wrestling coach from 2008-2010 when the school began the wrestling program again. He stepped away from coaching while his two sons, Blake and Taylor Underwood, were born. Kraig Underwood returned to Marathon’s wrestling program and was co-head wrestling coach with Darrin Seubert for three years before becoming the sole varsity head coach again in 2016 when Seubert left. Clint Quaintance has also been a big help as Kraig Underwood’s varsity assistant wrestling coach for the past many years.

Over time, Kraig Underwood has helped Marathon High School’s wrestling program grow into having a large number of student athletes out for the sport like it does today.

“We have a large number of freshmen coming in with a pretty experienced group of upperclassmen,” Kraig Underwood said. “I’m really excited for this team and what they can accomplish this season.”

So far so good for Marathon’s wrestling team in the current 2022-23 season. Marathon took second place behind team champion Shiocton, out of 19 schools competing, in the John Roberts Invite on December 3 in Antigo.

The following four Red Raiders grapplers had 5-0 records to win their individual weight class at the John Roberts Invite: Blake Underwood in the 106-pound weight class, Cale Quaintance at 113, Dylan Dodson at 138 and Hector Pintor at 170. Marathon wrestlers Levi Krautkramer at 120 pounds and Derek Vesely at 145 finished with 4-1 records to place second in their weight classes. Jacob Smith took third place in his weight class with a 3-2 record. Red Raiders grapplers placing sixth in their weight classes with 3-2 records were Reed McCain at 120 pounds, Tyler Dehnel at 132 and Grant Salber at 152.

Marathon beat Marawood Conference opponents Chequamegon, 54-17, and Phillips, 40-35, on December 6 at home.

Red Raiders with pins against their Screaming Eagles opponents were Derek Vesely over Hudson Hilgart in four minutes, 35 seconds at 145 pounds; Hector Pintor over Dalton Schmidt in 36 seconds at 170 and Long Werner over Daniel Wagner in 2:05 at 285.

Marathon wrestlers with competitive wins against the Loggers were Levi Krautkramer pinning Journee Wood in 1:30 at 126 pounds, Dylan Dodson with a 9-0 major decision over Daniel Adomaitis at 138, Derek Vesely pinning Sawyer Kucaba in 48 seconds at 145, Hector Pintor pinning Ethan Upson in 28 seconds at 182, Mason Putnam pinning Christian Boudreaux in 2:26 at 195, Blake Underwood pinning JJ Adomaitis in 1:22 at 113 and Cale Quaintance pinning Maverick Hoogland in 2:42 at 120.

The Red Raiders concluded Thursday’s multi-dual in Crandon with a 2-1 record. Marathon defeated Crandon, 40-29, and Rhinelander, 64-12. Marathon lost to Peshtigo, 51-29.

Marathon grapplers with competitive victories against Crandon were Logan Werner pinning Kolten Keo in 1:21 at 285 pounds, Blake Underwood pinning Mason Dewing in 1:01 at 106, Cale Quintance with an 8-3 decision over Brexden Kane at 113, Levi Krautkramer pinning Riley Johnson in 2:42, Dylan Dodson pinning Ty Dennee in 2:31 at 145 and Derek Vesely pinning Aidan Mueller in 1:13 at 152.

Red Raiders wrestlers with competitive wins against Rhinelander were Levi Krautkramer with a 17-3 major decision over Aiden Ostermann at 126 pounds, Dylan Dodson pinning Sean Boman in 51 seconds at 138, Derek Vesely pinning Dresden Klaver in 36 seconds at 145 and Hector Pintor pinning Logan Schwinger in 36 seconds at 170.

Marathon grapplers with competitive victories against Peshtigo were Cale Quaintance with a 20-4 technical fall over Addison Olson at 113 pounds, Dylan Dodson pinning Zach Sherman in 1:05 at 138, Reed McCain pinning Cole Berth in 1:14 at 160, Hector Pintor pinning Lincoln Nemec in 32 seconds at 170 and Blake Underwood pinning Evelyn Hurley in 11 seconds at 106.