Hornets crowned Regional champs, send 12 on
Champion is a word the Cadott wrestling program is very familiar with and Jan. 30 showed that in spades. The Hornets had a couple weeks off, in order to stay healthy for Division 3 Regional action at Edgar, and it paid off.
Not only did the team see six individuals crowned as champions in their weight class, but the Hornets also were hailed as Regional team champions.
“It was a very exciting day,” said coach Josh Spaeth. “The kids have been working so hard and it is great to see their hard work paying off. We have been so close in recent years, and just have not been able to win the Regional in the past few years.”
On the individual side, winning as champion in the 113-pound bracket, was junior Logan Harel over Brooks Kraus, of Athens, after Harel received a bye, then won over Marathon’s Tommy Renard.
Sophomore Brayden Sonnentag (120) also claimed championship status, winning over Mason Putnam, Marathon, by fall in 1:37. Sonnentag moved through the bracket after defeating Cecilia Defoe from Stratford, along with a bye.
Nick Fasbender, sophomore (132), was another to come away as champion, after getting a first-round bye, then defeating Stratford’s Ashtyn Kuehn. Fasbender then went up against Marathon’s Jared Sweno in the finals, earning the win by fall in 4:00.
Sophomore Tristan Dier (145) also wrestled his way to victory, first with two rounds of byes, then taking out Elijah Lucio, from Stratford, with a 6-5 decision.
Competing in his last Regionals, senior Nelson Wahl went out on a high note, receiving two byes, before he was crowned as the 160-pound champion, over Ryan Becker, Stratford, in a 5-0 decision.
Junior Gavin Tegels (220) also got in on the winning action, with his victory over Stratford’s Cole Marten, in a 1:33 fall, after two byes.
“It was truly a team effort,” said Spaeth.
Receiving second place finishes and advancing on to Sectional competition, were Lukas Simenson (106); freshman Ashton Bremness (126); junior Kaleb Sonnentag (138); sophomore Cole Pfeiffer (152); sophomore Dawson Webster (182); and freshman Axel Tegels (195).
Finishing third and just shy of advancing, were sophomore Peter Weir (170); and sophomore Kane Mengel (285).
“I am extremely proud of our athletes’ determination and fighting spirit,” said Spaeth.
As the Hornets move on to Sectional action, a change from previous years, will be that the highest scoring team will qualify for team State.
“So, each and every wrestler will need to score points in the coming weekend’s sectional in St. Croix Falls,” said Spaeth.
