Dominating Marawood duals
By Casey Krautkramer
Stratford’s varsity wrestling team has an opportunity during the Marathon quad at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 9, to win its 12th consecutive Marawood Conference regular- season dual meet championship. Stratford will wrestle against Edgar and Marathon because it has already beaten Auburndale this season.
Athens currently holds the Marawood Conference’s longest conference wrestling dual meet championship win streak with 13 in a row. Athens also holds the conference record for winning the most consecutive wrestling conference tournament championships with 20 in a row. Marathon halted Stratford’s nineyear conference tournament title run last season.
Adam Davison is in the midst of his fifth year as Stratford’s varsity head wrestling coach. Assistant wrestling coaches Joe Schwabe and Kane Krummel return this season. Davison explains why Stratford’s wrestling team has had so much success winning Marawood Conference dual meet championships each year.
“It starts with being able to fill all 14 weight classes, which we are almost always able to do and our team loves dual wrestling,” Davison said. “It’s just a different atmosphere and the success of one kid will feed the next guy up. We had some issues with injuries down the stretch and we certainly didn’t wrestle our best tournament last year at the Marawood meet, but hats off to Marathon there. They had kids step up and win big matches throughout the day and got it done.”
Stratford won its 10th WIAA Division 3 regional championship in the last 11 years last season. Stratford won seven consecutive regional titles before finishing as runners-up to Cadott in 2021. Stratford has since won three straight regional titles.
The Tigers beat the Shell Lake Lakers, 53-27, in last season’s WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinals match. Stratford then lost to Cumberland, 42-27, in the sectional championship to miss qualifying for team state.
Division 3 powerhouse wrestling schools Fennimore and Coleman move up to Division 2 this season because of the WIAA’s tournament performance factor. Fennimore has won three straight Division 3 state championships and Coleman was state runners-up in two of the last three years. Stratford wouldn’t have needed to face Fennimore and Coleman before reaching team state anyway this season, but it still needs to advance past another tough Cumberland squad in sectionals. Davison outlines what needs to happen for Stratford to get back to team state this season.
“We need to be healthy and have a good match when it matters,” he said. “I don’t want to make excuses for our team but we were definitely hampered by injury and illness last year and we didn’t put in our best effort. It’s certainly not any easier to qualify this year in the northwest because Cumberland does return a lot of the roster that stopped us last year and you still have other strong teams like Cadott, Glenwood City, Marathon and an Aubunrdale team that you shouldn’t look past.”
Stratford’s top returning varsity wrestlers this season are senior Trenton Cournoyer competing at 126 pounds, junior Colin Cournoyer at 132, sophomore Aaron Knetter at 138, junior Lucas Forrest at 144, junior Mathias Kaiser at 157, senior Brandon Knetter at 165, senior Jack Tubbs at 175, senior Carter Lueck at 215 and junior Drew Gage at 285.
Davison explains the top newcomers to this season’s Tigers varsity squad.
“He isn’t necessarily a newcomer but we’re excited to have Cayden Leonhardt back for this senior season,” he said. “Cayden suffered an injury his junior year playing football but was a wrestling conference champion as a sophomore and had consistent varsity matches during his first two years of high school. I’m not 100 percent sure where everyone falls yet at the end of the year but Cayden is wrestling at 150 pounds to start the year. A couple of freshmen are looking to crack the lineup in our lighter weights in Jayden DeFoe (120) and Joey Cable (120). Both of them have impressed me with their energy and willingness to learn.” “I’m also super excited to have three girls out for wrestling as girls wrestling has seen explosive growth in the state the last few years. Hailey Fecker is battling back from an injury but we’re hoping by the end of the year she will be on the mat competing. Both Dakota Knetter and Wynn Schoenherr have worked hard since deciding to wrestle. All three of them are new but we’re excited to see where it goes and hopefully continue to grow our girls wrestling program.”
Stratford senior Carter Lueck finished last season as WIAA Division 3 individual state runners-up at 175 pounds after placing fourth at 170 as a sophomore. Davison explains how Lueck can win a state championship in his final high school season, and whether he plans on wrestling in college next year.
“Carter has taken some visits and he is leaning toward wrestling in college but he
See STRATFORD WRESTING/ page 16
STRATFORD VARSITY WRESTLING - Introducing the 2024-25 Stratford varsity wrestling squad. Team members, pictured from left to right, front row: Alberto Garcia, Kaden Ostricki, Lucas Forrest, Mathias Kaiser, Colin Cournoyer, Trenton Cournoyer, Carter Lueck and Austin Niehaus; back row: Hailey Fecker, Lucas Sauter, Dakota Knetter, Chaz Wagner, Jayden DeFoe, Tyler Budtke, Jaegar Ormond, Aaron Knetter, John Mews, Drew Gage, Jack Tubbs, Wynn Schoenherr, Cayden Leonhardt, Matt Kolb, Joey Cable, Walker Weis, Kolton Haupt, Brandon Knetter and Owen Lueck. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Stratford wrestling
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is not yet committed,” Davison said. “I think the biggest thing for him is just to relax and wrestle. He has the knowledge and skill and to me it is a similar situation to Raife Smart a few years ago. I don’t want Carter to feel like it’s ‘title or bust’ this season. I don’t worry about his work ethic or taking things for granted. He has a great attitude toward the season and I think he’ll let his work on the mat speak for itself.”
Tigers senior Trenton Cournoyer took third place at 120 pounds in Division 3 last year. He has committed to wrestling at Division 3 UW-Eau Claire next year.
“Trenton will indeed be a Blugold next year,” Davison said. “The guy has worked his tail off this season and I think that will pay dividends for him this year. Trusting his technique is a big part of what will take him to the next level. He can get in trouble when he tries to bully people with just physicality, but when he trusts his technique and wrestles he’s super dangerous. I’m hoping to see him take that step that he’s just willing to outwrestle and outwork everyone on the mat. He showed a lot of grit last year down at state by coming back to beat the Aquinas kid in the third-place match the he had lost to earlier in the tournament.”
Stratford also has individual state wrestlers Colin Cournoyer, Mathias Kaiser and Aaron Knetter back this season.
“Aaron was actually a medalist at state last year as a freshman by taking sixth place, but he was only a single takedown away from making the finals,” Davison said. “Believe it or not, there is another level that I think he can get to if he trusts himself and his ability to score. Mathias was fighting a knee injury down the stretch last year but he’s another kid who has taken some insane steps forward as a wrestler, working out with different clubs and technicians and really taking it upon himself to find mat time. He’s gotten a little bigger this year but he’s trained a good bit with Carter and I think you’ll see some of that matter on the mat. For Colin, it is just about finishing. He was winning each of his last two matches last year at state before getting pinned. The kid is dangerous and is very different style wise from his brother Trenton.”
Drew Gage and Walker Weis should be even hungrier this season to qualify for their inaugural individual state tournaments, after both of them placed fourth at sectionals last season to narrowly miss a trip to state.
“Drew is off to a great start this year and I am excited to see when the competition level rises what he will look like,” Davison said. “Walker does seem more motivated this year than in the past and he currently has only wrestled a little on the varsity side because he is stuck behind Carter for a vanity spot but that will change when Carter goes up to 190 pounds. Walker will have to fight every week just to keep a varsity spot because we are insanely deep at 215 pounds with another senior, Matt Kolbe, having plenty of experience and a couple of underclassmen as well. Nothing is given but Walker proved last year that when he is in the lineup he is capable of big things.”
Schoenherr Duals
Stratford won its annual home Schoenherr Duals to open this season on Dec. 7. Stratford beat DePere, 59-10; Crandon, 60-16; Wausau East, 72-8; Southern Door, 76-3 and Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 50-23.
Tigers individual wrestler results included Joey Cable taking first place at 106 pounds, Kolton Haupt first at 113, Jayden DeFoe first at 120, Trenton Cournoyer first at 126, Lucas Forrest second at 144, Cayden Leonhardt second at 150, Matthias Kaiser first at 157, Jack Tubbs second at 175 and Drew Gage first at 285.
Auburndale Quad
Stratford wrestled in the Auburndale Quad on Dec. 12. Stratford beat Athens, 77-0. Tigers winning their competitive matches against the Bluejays were Aaron Knetter with a 7-0 decision against Evin Passehl at 144 pounds, Cayden Leonhardt with a 15-2 major decision against Kian Ellenbecker, Matthias Kaiser pinning Shaylon Blake in one minute, 26 seconds at 157, Kolton Haupt with a 15-3 major decision against Garrett Frahm and Lucas Forrest pinning Dale Felix in 29 seconds.
Stratford defeated Auburndale, 47-29. Tigers winning their competitive matches against the Eagles were Matthias Kaiser pinning Wyatt Malsin in 5:50 at 165 pounds, Jack Tubbs with a 9-7 decision against Carter Grassl at 175, Jaeger Ormond pinning Russell Tesla in 4:56 at 190, Carter Lueck pinning Alex Becker in 3:01 at 285, Trenton Cournoyer with a 16-8 major decision against Zade Grassel at 126, Colin Cournoyer pinning Coleman Becker in 1:23 at 132, Lucas Forrest pinning Brennen Welch in 3:57 at 138 and Aaron Knetter with a 10-1 major decision against Conner Johnson at 144.
Stratford beat Abbotsford/Colby, 69-6. Tigers winning their competitive matches were Cayden Leonhardt pinning Ryan Cortista in 1:01 at 150 pounds, Brandon Kaiser pinning Christian Satey in 53 seconds at 165, Jack Tubbs pinning Gilbert Sundermeyer in 42 seconds at 175, Jaeger Ormond with an 18-3 technical fall against Isaac Sundermeyer at 190, Drew Gage pinning Aiden Burt at 285, Trenton Cournoyer with a 15-1 major decision against Tristen Smazal at 132 and Aaron Knetter pinning Alix Colby in 2:41 at 144.
Weyauwega-Fremont Duals
Stratford traveled to the Weyauwega-Fremont Duals on Dec. 14. Stratford won matches against New London, 61-12; Omro, 65-10 and Oostburg, 45-25. Stratford lost matches against tough opponents Mineral Point, 40-25 and Weyauwega-Fremont, 43-30.
Weyauwega-Fremont was a WIAA Division 3 state qualifier last season and it is ranked No. 1 the Wisconsin Grappler Division 3 team rankings this season.
Pre-Holiday Scramble
Stratford won the Stanley-Boyd Pre-Holiday Scramble on Dec. 20 with a high team score of 219.5 points.
Joey Cable took second place at 106 pounds, Kolton Haupt placed second at 113, Jayden DeFoe was third at 120, Trenton Cournoyer first at 126, Colin Cournoyer first at 132, Aaron Knetter second at 138, Lucas Forrest first at 144, Cayden Leonhardt second at 150, Matthias Kaiser first at 157, Brandon Knetter sixth at 165, Jack Tubbs first at 175, Jaeger Ormond third at 190, Carter Lueck first at 215, Walker Weis second at 215, Matt Kolb third at 215, Drew Gage second at 285 and Owen Lueck third at 285.
Dakota Knetter took first place in the girls 126-pound weight class and Wynn Schoenherr placed third in the girls 132pound weight class.
Bi-State Classic
Stratford competed in the always tough Bi-State Classic between Wisconsin and Minnesota high school wrestling teams on Dec. 27-28 in La Crosse. Stratford took fifth place in Division 3 with 176 points, followed by Auburndale in sixth with 173.5. Chatfield, Minn. won the Division 3 Bi-State Classic team championship with 257 points.
Wrestlers competed against opponents from schools in all divisions at the Bi-State Classic. Kolton Haupt took eighth place at 106 pounds, Trenton Cournoyer placed fourth at 120, Colin Cournoyer failed to place at 126 but he achieved his 100th varsity win, Aaron Knetter placed 12th at 132, Lucas Forrest didn’t place at 138, Cayden Leonhardt didn’t place at 144, Matthias Kaiser didn’t place at 150, John Mews didn’t place at 165, Jack Tubbs didn’t place at 175, Carter Lueck placed second at 190, Walker Weis didn’t place at 215 and Drew Gage placed 12th at 285.
Fred Lehrke Invitational
Stratford took second place at the annual Fred Lehrke Invitational on Saturday at D.C. Everest. Stratford scored 557 points, just behind champion Weyauwega-Fremont with 661.
Joey Cable took sixth place at 113 pounds, Kolton Haupt placed eighth at 113, Trenton Cournoyer placed first at 120 while earning his 150th varsity win, Colin Cournoyer placed first at 126, Aaron Knetter placed first at 132, Lucas Forrest placed sixth at 138, Cayden Leonhardt placed fifth at 144, Mathias Kaiser placed second at 150, John Mews placed fifth at 165, Kaden Ostricki placed 14th at 165, Jack Tubbs placed fourth at 175, Jaegar Ormond placed ninth at 175, Carter Lueck placed fourth at 190, Tyler Budtke placed eighth at 190, Matt Kolb placed fourth at 215, Walker Weis placed fifth at 215, Drew Gage placed second at 285 and Owen Lueck placed third at 285.
LEONHARDT CONTROLS HIS OPPONENT - Stratford senior wrestler Cayden Leonhardt is shown competing against Ellsworth freshman Knox Hines on Dec. 20 at the Stanley-Boyd Pre-Holiday Scramble. Leonhardt eventually pinned Knox on his way to a second-place finish in the 150-pound weight class.
PHOTO BY AMY COURNOYER
TRYING FOR A TAKEDOWN - Stratford senior wrestler Matt Kolb is shown battling against Eau Claire Memorial senior Daniel Cotton on Dec. 20 during the Stanley- Boyd Pre-Holiday Scramble. Kolb eventually pinned Cotton on his way to a third-place finish in the 215–pound weight class. Stratford senior Carter Lueck took first place at 215 pounds and Stratford senior Walker Weis finished second.
PHOTO BY AMY COURNOYER
