Cadott advances seven on to State, Spaeth looks to repeat as champion
Making school history, the Cadott wrestling program is sending seven Hornets to the State individual wrestling tournament.
During Sectional action at Edgar Feb. 22, freshman Brayden Sonnentag (106 pounds), junior Nelson Wahl (152) and senior Brady Spaeth were crowned Sectional champs.
Spaeth is no stranger to State competition, as he won last year’s 160-pound championship. This year, he’s moved up in weight and comes into the tournament undefeated, at 43-0.
“The boys wrestled great this weekend,” said coach Josh Spaeth. “They wrestled with a lot of heart and determination.”
Coming in as runners-up and also qualifying for State, are freshman Tristan Drier (132), freshman Cole Pfeiffer (138), senior Steven Pfeiffer (182) and senior Ethan Tegels (220).
“It was a great day to be a Hornet,” said J. Spaeth. “We had the best fans in Edgar, and our wrestlers fed off of our crowd’s energy.”
Sonnentag won his place at State with a 5-2 decision over St. Croix Falls’ Luke Thaemert, while Wahl took on Stratford’s Jacob Heiden for a 4-3 decision. B. Spaeth earned a 19-2 technical fall over Blake Flach, Shell Lake, in 5:20.
Drier lost to Stratford’s Max Schwabe in the first place match, but rebounded in the second place match to take the win over Clear Lake’s Matthew Anderson in a 4-2 decision. C. Pfeiffer also lost in the first place match to Stratford’s Elijah Lucio, but came back in the second place match to take one from Ira Bialzik, Boyceville.
S. Pfeiffer also saw the championship go to his opponent (Trett Joles, Boyceville), but S. Pfeiffer struck back with the second place match, earning the win over Glenwood City’s Tucker Lagerstrom. Tegels saw the same thing – falling in the champhionship, but bouncing back in the second place match, with an 11-1 major decision over Milan Monchilovich, Cumberland.
Unfortunately, some Hornets didn’t make the cut. Sophmore Logan Harel (113) fell in the first round, as did freshman Nick Fasbender (126). Sophomore Kaleb Sonnentag (120) lost in the semi-finals and so did senior Josh Briggs (285), who ends his high school wrestling career.
“We are excited for the opportunity to have seven wrestlers represent our community at the WIAA State tournament,” said J. Spaeth. “Our goal is to have all seven wrestlers to place in the top six and have as many of our wrestlers in the State finals as possible.”
Cadott will now prepare for the State tournament Feb. 27-29, and, to wish the Hornets well, the public is invited to a send-off, at 8:10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, in the high school gym.
Drier, C. Pfeiffer, S. Pfeiffer and Tegels are set to wrestle in Thursday’s preliminary round, at approximately 7 p.m. B Sonnentag, Wahl and B. Spaeth will wrestle in Friday’s quarterfi nals, at approximately 11 a.m.
“These kids all have the ability to compete with the state’s best,” said J. Spaeth.
Tristan Drier
Cole Pfeiffer
Steven Pfeiffer
Brayden Sonnentag
Brady Spaeth
Ethan Tegels
Nelson Wahl
