Two-time state champ
Drexler obtains back-to-back D-3 individual titles
By Casey Krautkramer
Jeremy Schoenherr, while training at 5 a.m. in the Stratford Fitness Center to become the school’s only fourtime individual wrestling state champion, would look over and see eighth grader Gavin Drexler working just as hard as him.
Schoenherr realized Drexler also had the great work ethic needed for him to someday become a state wrestling champion. It turns out Schoenherr was correct on his assessment of Drexler, because Drexler has now won back-to-back WIAA Division 3 individual state championships.
Drexler had an undefeated record in matches during his freshman high school season, only to suffer his only two losses in a tough sectional tournament and not advance to state. He hasn’t lost a match since then.
His high school career match record is now 116-2 after winning a 15-6 major decision against senior Javis Pintor of Kenosha Christian Life in the 138-pound state championship match on Saturday night in the Wausau East High School gymnasium. Drexler also won the 126-pound state title last season.
“It took a lot of hard work to get to where I’m at right now,” Drexler said while waiting to receive his gold firstplace medal and climb atop the podium in front of the individual state finals crowd. “With having a unique season like this one was, it took a little bit of extra preparation for me to reach my peak wrestling ability at the end of this season without having as many matches as I normally do.”
The WIAA required wrestlers to wear a mask under the chin strap on their head gear during the COVID-19 pandemic, and wrestling teams were limited to the amount of meets they could have this season.
Drexler was eager to begin preparing to win his third straight individual state championship next season, right after he’d just won back-to-back state titles.
“I’ll maybe take the day off on Sunday, but come Monday I’ll be right back at it pushing hard,” he said. “I have my wrestling offseason training already planned as far as competing in tournaments, because I have a lot of aspirations and goals to achieve yet.”
His Stratford junior wrestling teammate, Raife Smart, finished as state runners-up at 195 pounds on Saturday night. Smart lost to undefeated senior wrestler Trett Joles of Boyceville by a 21-5 technical fall in the state finals match.
“I choked in sectionals last season so I’m just glad to have an opportunity to take second place at state this season; hopefully next year I can win a state championship,” Smart said. “I just need to work in the offseason on improving my wrestling technique and be better conditioned and prepared for my matches next year.”
A trio of Stratford wrestlers in seniors Jake Heiden and Logan Rueth, and junior Elijah Lucio each took home fifth-place finishes in their weight classes at the individual state championships on Saturday. Heiden and Lucio were making back-to-back trips to the individual state championships. Heiden placed fifth this season at 152 pounds after taking sixth in the same weight class last season. Lucio didn’t place at state last year.
