Stratford captures ninth straight Marawood title
Tigers are the tourney champions
By Casey Krautkramer
Wrestling fans thought this might be the season Marathon unseats Stratford as Marawood Conference regular season dual and tournament champions. Stratford took an important first step on Saturday by defending its conference tournament title. Stratford can also keep its conference dual championship streak alive this Friday, Feb. 3, by beating Marathon at the Edgar quad.
Stratford won its ninth straight Marawood Conference tournament championship on Saturday in Marathon’s gym. The Tigers likely would’ve also won the conference tournament title in 2021 had it not been canceled due to COVID. Nonetheless, Stratford will attempt on Friday to capture its 10th consecutive Marawood Conference regular-season dual meet championship.
Stratford will wrestle against Edgar and Marathon will compete against Auburndale at 6 p.m. on Friday in the Edgar High School gym. The headlining dual match between current undefeated conference squads Marathon and Stratford will occur at 7 p.m. on Friday in Edgar to determine the conference regular-season champion. Edgar will wrestle Auburndale at 7 p.m. on Friday in Edgar.
On Saturday, Stratford won the Marawood Conference tournament championship with a team-high 268.5 points followed by runners-up Marathon with 235. Auburndale took third place with 197 points followed bye Phillips in fourth with 173, Chequamegon fifth with 130, Edgar sixth with 97 and Athens last with 36.
Adam Davison, Stratford head wres- tling coach, believed his squad would extend its Marawood Conference tournament winning streak, despite facing a challenge from Marathon this season.
“It was a great day for us with all 14 starters scoring points,” Davison said. “Marathon definitely has a really good team and we knew going in that we needed to have a strong day on the mat if we were going to defend our title.”
“While there were certainly a couple of matches we would like to have back, the effort that we had (both leading up to the meet and on the day of) was great. The boys had heard some people that thought Marathon would beat us but they (especially the seniors) were determined not to lose that streak.”
“There were so many little victories that went into the team title. Brandon Knetter beat a kid from Athens who had pinned him in the dual in December, Cayden Leonhardt took advantage of a roster change by Auburndale and took the title at 132 pounds, Matt Kolb and Mason Oertel both picked up wins and Alex Mueller returned from injury to take second place. Our team captains Carter Lueck, Jackson Ormond and Ryan Becker all took titles. Both Cournoyers fell just short in their title matches, but it took everyone in order to win the team conference tournament championship.”
“It was an awesome win because I have a lot of respect for what coach Kraig Underwood has going over there in Marathon right now. When he and I talked on Saturday we (and other coaches) agreed it was good to see the tournament and duals have more meaning this year. It’s great for the conference and for wrestling in general. We know we have to be sharp on Friday in that dual and we’re excited about that opportunity.”
Stratford sophomore wrestler Cayden Leonhardt (20-13) pinned Auburndale sophomore Tanner Wargowsky (17-19) in the 132-pound championship match on Saturday afternoon in Marathon. Tigers senior Ryan Becker (29-10) won a 9-4 decision against senior James Bruhn (28-9) of Phillips in the 152-pound championship match. Stratford sophomore Carter Lueck (30-6) won the 170-pound championship. Tigers senior Jackson Ormond (32-1) pinned Marathon senior Mason Putnam (13-21) in the 182-pound championship match.
Marathon freshmen best friends Blake Underwood and Cale Quaintance both won Marawood Conference tournament championships in their first attempts this season. Underwood (37-0) won an 11-2 major decision against Auburndale sophomore Derek Godard (38-7) in the 106-pound championship. Quaintance (30-4) won a 6-3 decision against Stratford freshman Colin Cournoyer (29-7).
Red Raiders senior Hector Pintor (33-9) pinned Stratford junior Kaleb Krummel (21-9) in the 152-pound championship.
Auburndale sophomore Colton Weiler (41-4) pinned Marathon junior Dylan Dodson (26-7) in the 138-pound championship to prevent Dodson from winning his third straight Marawood Conference tournament title. Auburndale senior Sloan Welch (40-2) won his third conference championship after pinning Edgar junior Harrison Graveen (19-12) in the 220-pound title.
Marathon junior Derek Vesely took second place at 145 pounds and senior Logan Werner was second at 285.
Hahn Memorial Award
Kraig Underwood of Marathon won the annual Jerry Hahn Memorial Award on Saturday for his outstanding character, pride, determination, unique individuality and contribution to Marawood Conference wrestling. He was honored to receive this prestigious award.
“As far as Jerry Hahn memorial award, unfortunately I never met Jerry but heard many stories from my old coach, Mr. (Jerry) Wagner. He had the utmost respect for him. I’ve coached against his son, Dan, and his grandsons and they are all great men as well.”
“I am humbled to receive this award but this is an award that so many people have a hand in. If we aren’t having success, I’m not sure I get the award and there are so many people in our wrestling family that have helped build this program. My fellow coaches, especially Clint Quaintance, have put in countless hours and our parents and families that dedicate so much time to support their kids and this program. I received the award but it’s a Marathon wrestling family award.”
Many past Jerry Hahn Memorial Award winners attended the Marawood Conference wrestling tournament in Marathon on Saturday including Mark Lacke (1995), Gary Beastrom (2002), Tom Schoenherr (2007), Joe Schwabe (2011), Cliff Ange (2012) and Dale Westfall (2019).
UNDERWOOD WINS JERRY HAHN MEMORIAL AWARD- Marathon varsity head wrestling coach Kraig Underwood displays the annual Jerry Hahn Memorial Award he won on Saturday afternoon at the Marawood Conference tournament in Marathon. Marathon wrestling coaches pictured, from left to right, are Jared Sweno, Dylan Willemssen, Underwood and Clint Quaintance.PHOTO BY SHELLEY PINTOR
