Pair are state runners-up
By Casey Krautkramer
Marathon sophomore wrestler Blake Underwood achieved his 100th career match win while also becoming his school’s first ever state finalist during last weekend’s WIAA Division 3 individual state tournament. Stratford junior Carter Lueck also finished as state runner-up in his weight class at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Both wrestlers placed higher this season at state than they did last season. The top six finishers in each weight class make the state podium. Underwood took third place in the 106-pound weight class at state last year and placed second in the same weight this year. Lueck took fourth place in the 170-pound weight class at state last year and he placed second at 175 pounds this year.
Underwood obtained his 100th career match victory against a familiar foe in Stratford senior Roman Schmidt in Friday’s quarterfinal. He scored a 10-4 decision against Schmidt. On Friday night, Underwood avenged his first loss this season in the first-place sectional match the previous week to freshman Braden Johnson of Cumberland. Underwood lost to Johnson in overtime at sectionals, but he held off Johnson in the state semifinal for a 2-0 decision win.
With the win against Johnson, Underwood became the first wrestler in Marathon High School history to advance into the state final. Underwood was the No. 2 seed and he lost a tough 1-0 decision to junior Aidan Gruenenfelde, who was the No. 1 seed, in the 106-pound state championship on Saturday night. Underwood’s only loss last season was a 2-1 setback to Gruenenfelde in the 106-pound state semifinal. Gruenenfelde’s only defeat last season was to undefeated junior Drew Dolphin of Kenosha Christian in the state championship.
Lueck started the state tournament by pinning junior Isaiah Nowak of Coleman in five minutes, 31 seconds in the 175-pound state quarterfinal. He then won an 11-9 decision against Oostburg junior Nash Banko in Friday night’s semifinal to advance into Saturday night’s state championship. Lueck was the No. 3 seed and he lost a tough 7-5 decision to La Crosse Aquinas senior David Malin, who was the No. 1 seed, in the state final. Lueck concludes his third high school wrestling season with a 51-2 match record and a state runners-up finish. He achieved his 100th career match win on Jan. 20 at the Wausau East Lumberjack Invitational.
Trenton Cournoyer takes third
Stratford junior Trenton Cournoyer took third place in the 120-pound weight class on Saturday, after failing to place in the same weight class at state last season. He was a No. 6 seed and he won a 4-3 decision against sophomore Roger Flege of La Crosse Aquinas, who was the No. 3 seed, in the third-place match to avenge a 9-7 decision loss to Flege in Friday’s quarterfinal.
Trenton Cournoyer started the state tournament with a 15-6 major decision win against junior Lakota Brewer of Riverdale in Thursday’s preliminary to advance to face Flege for the first time at state on Friday. After losing to Flege, he battled back through the consolation bracket to take third place. Trenton Cournoyer won an 8-2 decision against Bruce senior Ronan Garcia in the consolation quarterfinal. He then pinned junior Mason Dewing of Crandon in 34 seconds in the consolation semifnal to advance into the third-place match against Flege. Trenton Cournoyer ends this season with a 45-9 match record.
Lucio brings home fourth place
Stratford senior Noah Lucio took fourth place in the 190-pound weight class on Saturday, after not participating in wres-
See STATE WRESTLING/ page 13
BARELY MISSING A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP- Stratford junior wrestler Carter Lueck, the No. 3 seed in the WIAA Divison 3 175-pound weight class, is shown on Saturday night competing against senior David Malin of La Crosse Aquinas, the No. 1 seed, in the state final at the Kohl Center in Madison. Lueck lost a hard fought 7-5 decision to Malin. Lueck placed two spots higher at state this season than he did last year.
STAFF PHOTO/GINNA YOUNG
SO CLOSE TO WINNING A STATE TITLE- Marathon sophomore Blake Underwood is shown wrestling against Pecatonica/Argyle junior Aidan Gruenenfelde in Saturday night’s WIAA Division 3 106-pound state final at the Kohl Center in Madison. He lost a tough 1-0 decision to Gruenenfelde. Underwood took second place at 106 pounds this season after taking third place in the same weight class last year at state.
STAFF PHOTO/GINNA YOUNG State wrestling
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tling since his freshman season. Lucio was the No. 8 seed and he lost a 4-1 decision to Fennimore senior Wyatt Ahnen, who was the No. 5 seed, in the third-place match.
Lucio began the state tournament by pinning Markesan senior Noah Hanefeld in three minutes, eight seconds in Thursday’s preliminary. He then lost a 12-2 major decision to sophomore Tyson Martin, who was the No. 1 seed, in Friday’s quarterfinal. He fought through the consolation bracket by pinning Shiocton junior Elijah Sanchez in 3:47 and winning a 4-3 decision against Waterloo senior Trevor Firari to advance into the third-place match. Lucio concludes his final high school wrestling season with a 41-9 match record.
Knetter, Stencil place sixth
Stratford freshman Aaron Knetter, a No. 11 seed, took sixth place in the 126-pound weight class at state after losing a 4-3 decision to No. 3 seed junior Rigoberto Tellez of Oostburg in the fifth-place match on Saturday. Knetter took the final spot on the state podium at 126 pounds and he ends his first high school wrestling season with a 36-17 match record.
Knetter began the state tournament with a 7-0 decision win against senior Danny Finley of Parview/Albany in Thursday’s preliminary. He then won a 5-4 decision in overtime against Tellez in Friday’s quarterfinal. Knetter lost a 1-0 decision to No. 2 seed sophomore Brody Miess of Riverdale in Friday night’s semifinal to drop down into Saturday’s consolation bracket.
Marathon sophomore Swayne Stencil, a No. 10 seed, took sixth place in the 132-pound weight class at state after losing a 4-1 decision to No. 8 seed senior Gunnar Wopat of Royall/Wonewoc in the fifth-place match on Saturday. Stencil took the final spot on the state podium at 132 pounds and he concludes his first season wrestling for Marathon with a 47-14 match record.
Stencil began the state tournament with a 7-4 decision win against senior Brady Shepard of Wabeno/Laona in Thursday’s preliminary. Stencil was pinned by No. 2 seed sophomore Hunter Stevens of Iowa-Grant/Highland in three minutes, 20 seconds in Friday’s quarterfinal. He won an 8-2 decision against a familiar foe in Stratford sophomore Mathias Kaiser in the consolation quarterfinal. Stencil was pinned by No. 5 seed sophomore Gabe Gerber of Ladysmith in four minutes, 40 seconds in the consolation semifinal.
State participants
Stratford senior Roman Schmidt won his first individual state tournament match, a 10-4 decision against sophomore Lincoln Beyer of Westfield Academy in Thursday night’s 106-pound preliminary. He lost his next two state matches and failed to place in his one and only state tournament berth. He finishes his final high school season with a 32-14 match record.
Tigers sophomore Colin Cournoyer won his first individual state tournament match by pinning sophomore Sam Peterson of Lena in four minutes, 55 seconds in Thursday night’s 113-pound preliminary. He lost his next two matches and failed to place in his second straight trip to the individual state tournament. He concludes this season with a 40-11 match record.
Marathon sophomore Cale Quaintance competed in the individual state tournament for the first time this season. He lost his first match, an 8-2 decision to junior Mason Dewing of Crandon, in Thursday night’s preliminary and was out of the tournament. He ends this season with a 42-10 match record.
Stratford sophomore Matthias Kaiser won a 10-6 decision against Marshall senior Tucker Cobb in the 132-pound state preliminary on Thursday night. He then lost his next two matches and didn’t place at state. Kaiser finishes this season with a 32-14 match record.
Marathon senior Dylan Dodson made his third trip to the individual state tournament last weekend. He won a 10-6 decision against sophomore Waylon Hargrove in the 138-pound state preliminary on Thursday night. He then lost his next two matches to exit the tournament. He concludes his final high school season with a 21-6 match record.
Stratford senior Kaleb Krummel lost a 9-3 decision to Lomira junior Marek Lisiecki in the 150-pound state preliminary on Thursday night to exit the tournament. He finishes his last high school season with a 34-12 match record.
Edgar sophomore Lucas Stahnke and senior Harrison Graveen both made their first trip to the individual state tournament this season. Stahnke was pinned by Fennimore senior Wyatt Ahnen in one minute, 35 seconds in the 190-pound state preliminary on Thursday night to exit the tournament. He finished this season with a 17-9 match record. Graveen was pinned by Kewaunee sophomore Mitchell Border in five minutes, 14 seconds in the 285-pound state preliminary on Thursday night to exit the tournament. He concludes his final high school wrestling season with a 38-7 match record.
