Can the Raiders derail theTigers?

By Casey Krautkramer

Last year, Marathon’s varsity wrestling team gave Stratford its stiffest test in the Marawood Conference dual meet season. The Red Raiders attempted to dethrone the Tigers from their reigning conference supremacy, but they fell just short. Thus, Stratford won its 10th consecutive regular season conference dual championship.

Stratford finished last season with a 6-0 record in the Marawood Conference and Marathon was alone in second place with a 5-1 record. The Red Raiders’ lone conference loss was to the Tigers.

Marathon head wrestling coach Kraig Underwood said his team is determined to win the Marawood Conference championship this season. The conference title race will be decided when Marathon wrestles against Auburndale and Stratford beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at Stratford High School.

“I’m not sure if we have ever won a conference championship and that’s definitely the goal,” Underwood said. “Stratford is tough again and Auburndale is very strong as well. I think we will definitely be in the mix as long as we can stay healthy. That’s a big key to any team’s success. You need everyone to be there to grind every day and to have everyone stay healthy all season to compete for a postseason run.”

He said Marathon’s wrestlers this season are seniors Dylan Dodson at 138 pounds, Derek Vesely at 150, Jacob Smith at 157 and Christian Pintor at 215; juniors Levi Krautkramer at 126, Juan Gomez at 190, Ian Hunter at 215 and Aidan Lang at 165; sophomores Blake Underwood at 113, Cale Quaintance at 120, Tate Sonnentag at 144, Reed Mc-Cain at 175, Grant Salter at 165, Swayne Stencil at 132, Jaden Her at 138, Korben Hall at 138, Alex Poppe at 285 and Nick Falkowski at 144 and freshmen Jace Ostrowski at 190, Mason Lawrence at 175 and Darrin Vesely at 215.

“I’m excited for our freshmen newcomers who are working hard and fitting in great,” Underwood said. “Swayne Stencil is a new varsity face who worked hard in the offseason and we are looking for him to perform at a high level.”

Blake Underwood fell short of winning a WIAA Division 3 individual state championship in his first high school season last year. He suffered his only loss of the season at the state tournament, a 2-1 decision to sophomore Aidan Gruenenfelder of Pecatonica/Argyle who was also undefeated at the time. Gruenenfelder finished the tournament as state runners-up in the 106-pound weight class. Blake Underwood wrestled through the consolation bracket to win the third-place match with a 5-3 decision against La Crosse Aquinas freshman Roger Flege. Blake Underwood concluded last season with a 48-1 match record. His father, Kraig Underwood, said his son is now even more determined to win a state championship this season.

“Blake was definitely dissatisfied with the end of last year,” Kraig Underwood said. “He had a great year and he was proud of his accomplishments but he definitely wasn’t satisfied, so he worked hard this fall by getting extra time on the wrestling mat. I think him wrestling in the King of the North and Who’s the Big Cheese events against the best kids in the state has helped him. He wanted to wrestle against the best to prepare him for this season.”

Dodson came up short of winning his third straight individual Marawood Conference championship last season. He was pinned by Auburndale sophomore Colton Weiler in the 138-pound conference title match. Weiler concluded last season with a 52-5 match record after a state runners-up finish at 138 pounds.

Dodson qualified for the individual state tournament for the second straight season last year. He failed to place at state while wrestling at 113 pounds in 2022 in which he finished with a 38-10 match record and at 132 pounds last season in which he finished with a 34--11 match record. Kraig Underwood believes Dodson will have another great wrestling season which is his last year in high school.

“Dylan Dodson lost to the state runners- up in the conference championship last year but he can definitely be a a three-time conference champion this year which is a great accomplishment,” he said. “There are a lot of milestones and career records for Marathon that he can accomplish this year. He can achieve 100 career match wins and potentially set the school’s career match wins record. A third straight appearance See MARATHON WRESTLING/ page 16

MARATHON VARSITY WRESTLING- Introducing the 2023-24 Red Raiders wrestling squad with the first place trophy after winning the John Roberts Scramble in Antigo on Dec. 2 to begin this season. Marathon wrestlers picured, from left to right, front row: Juan Gomez, Korben Hall, Blake Underwood, Jaden Her, Swayne Stencil, Levi Krautkramer and Cale Quaintance; second row: Aiden Lang, Alex Poppe, Reed McCain, Darrin Vesely, Grant Salber and Derek Vesely; third row: Manager Leah Dodson and wrestlers Jace Ostrowski, Tate Sonnentag, Mason Lawrence, Nick Falkowski and Jacob Smith and manager Brigitte Salber; back row: Assistant coaches Clint Quaintance, Dylan Willemssen, Logan Werner, Hector Pintor and Jared Sweno and head coach Kraig Underwood.

PHOTO SUBMITTED Marathon wrestling

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at the state tournament would also be a school record, but most importantly, he wants to stand on the state podium in Madison this year.”

Cale Quaintance and Derek Vesely each took fourth place in their weight classes at the individual sectional tournament last year to just miss qualifying for the state tournament. Only the top three wrestlers in each sectional weight class advance to state. Kraig Underwood said these two wrestlers are bound and determined to reach the individual state tournament this season.

“Cale and Derek had really great years last season and being a match away from the state tournament is definitely a driving force for them,” he said. “Derek is a senior so he has one more shot and you can definitely see his desire to get to state this year. Cale took advantage of extra opportunities to keep improving in the offseason and he’s a great example of how hard it is to even get to state. I believe he should’ve been at state last year but it just wasn’t in the cards. Knowing Cale, he is just that much hungrier this year.”

Marathon won the John Roberts Scramble in Antigo on Dec. 2 to start the season. Marathon then beat Marawood Conference opponents Chequamegon, 71-6, and Phillips, 55-15, at the Edgar quad on Dec. 5. The Red Raiders then won two duel matches at the Pittsville triangular on Dec. 7. Marathon defeated Hillsboro, 57-12, and Pittsville, 48-28.

The Red Raiders beat their arch-rival Edgar, 50-24, at its home quad on Dec. 14. Marathon also defeated Athens, 726, and Adams-Friendship, 72-3.

Marathon’s assistant wrestling coaches this season are Clint Quaintance and Dylan Willemssen, along with volunteer assistants Hector Pintor and Jared Sweno.