‘Cats want more success this year

By Casey Krautkramer

Last season, no Edgar varsity wrestlers won individual Marawood Conference tournament championships in their weight classes. Also, no Wildcats qualified for the WIAA Division 3 individual state tournament in Madison.

Edgar wrestling alum Andrew Lukasko, now in his 11th season (7 as the school’s head varsity wrestling coach), is hoping the program’s fortunes change this season.

“Our team is highly motivated to go out and compete for individual and team conference championships,” Lukasko said. “We also fully understand that there are a lot of great individual wrestlers and teams within the conference who will be striving for those same goals. Our focus, therefore, is set on the things we can control like our individual daily effort and attitude, and how those two things will determine whether our goals will become a reality. The same philosophy applies to the wrestlers who have their goals set on qualifying for the individual state tournament. We are all working hard and grow9ing through the process of what it takes to be the best we can be each day.”

Edgar’s assistant wrestling coaches are Connor Handrick and Aaron Riemann, now in their seventh season and Tyson Zettler, who is in his second season.

The Wildcats’ returning varsity wrestlers this season are seniors Corey Schilling at 138 pounds, Ethan Telschow at 175 and Harrison Graveen at 285; juniors Austin Schreiber at 150, Jase Apfelbeck at 190, Dakota Ellenbecker at 215 and Corey Koeppl at 285 and sophomores Lucas Stahnke at 215 and Preson Erickson at 165.

“We return nine wrestlers from last season’s roster and we look forward to their leadership with our younger wrestlers in the program, and we will rely heavily on their experience to help us compete on a weekly basis,” Lukasko said.

Edgar’s newcomers to this year’s varsity squad are junior William Hackel at 157 pounds; sophomore Dominic Contreras as 132 and freshmen Jeremy Malouf at 106, Isaiah Kraft at 113, Carlos Zarate at 120 and Tyler Schmidt at 138.

“New to the roster this year are a variety of incoming freshmen consisting of guys who are coming back to the sport after injury and a few brand new wrestlers learning the sport for the first time,” Lukasko said. “We are excited to relay on all of these individuals to contribute to our lineup this year.”

Edgar got off to a great start this season during its home Marawood Conference duals on Dec. 5. Edgar nipped Phillips, 42-41 and then easily beat Chequamegon, 59-18.

The Wildcats finished with a 1-4 record in duals at the Adams-Friendship Invite on Dec. 9. Edgar defeated Fond du Lac, 54-24. Edgar lost four dual matches to tough opponents Appleton West, 4836; Iowa-Grant/Highland, 66-18; Portage, 42-30 and Stevens Point, 40-39.

Edgar ended up with a 2-1 record in duals at the Marathon Quad on Dec. 14. Edgar won matches against Adams-Friendship, 46-18 and Marawood Conference opponent Athens, 57-12. Edgar lost to conference opponent Marathon, 50-24.

The Wildcats finished with a 2-1 record in duals at the Crivitz Quad on Dec. 19. Edgar won matches against Crivitz/ Wausaukee 36-33 and Menominee, Mich., 45-36. Edgar lost to Kingsford, Mich., 34-30.

Edgar will compete in the Northern Badger holiday wrestling tournament this Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29, at River Falls High School.

EDGAR VARSITY WRESTLING- Introducing the 2023-24 Wildcats wrestling squad. Team members pictured, from left to right, in the front row are manager Laura Mucha; wrestlers Isaiah Kraft, Dominic Contreras, Dakota Ellenbecker, Ethan Telschow, Jase Apfelbeck, Corey Schilling and Jeremy Malory and managers Kendra Mucha and Mia Stencil; back row: Head coach Andrew Lukasko; assistant coach Tyson Zettler; wrestlers Tyler Schmidt, Austin Schreiber, Corey Koeppl, William Hackel, Lucas Stahnke, Harrison Graveen and Preston Erickson and assistant coaches Connor Handrick and Aaron Niemann.

PHOTO BY JEREMY SCHREIBER