Eyeing another tournament title

By Casey Krautkramer

SPORTS

Marathon’s varsity wrestling team enjoyed a historic season last year by winning the Marawood Conference tournament championship for the first time in 60 years. Blake Underwood became the first Marathon wrestler to compete in an individual WIAA state tournament finals match.

The Red Raiders would love to create more school history this season. Marathon will compete against Marawood Conference wrestling nemesis Stratford at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 9, for the regular-season conference dual match championship which the Red Raiders have never won. Marathon was overwhelmed by Stratford in last season’s dual meet in Stratford. The Tigers have won 11 straight conference dual meet championships.

Unfortunately for Marathon, it will be without four key wrestlers on Thursday that are needed to beat Stratford. Marathon varsity head wrestling coach Kraig Underwood realizes his team doesn’t have a great chance now of beating Stratford on Thursday but at least he’ll have his full wrestling squad back for the Marawood Conference tournament at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Stratford. The Red Raiders snapped the Tigers’ streak of winning nine straight conference tournament championships last season.

Underwood feels that Marathon has a great dual team this season that was capable of beating Stratford, despite last season’s performance against the Tigers. Now the Red Raiders have their sights set on winning the WIAA Division 3 team sectional to advance to team state for the first time in school history. Marathon took second place behind regional champion Stratford to advance to team sectionals last season in Cadott. Marathon lost, 6112, to Cumberland in a sectional semifinals match. Cumberland then beat Stratford, 42-27, to advance to team state.

“We have a good number of state caliber individuals so we have done better in an individual tournament format but we still have a great dual team,” Underwood said. “We have to fill every weight class and not give up easy points in duals. If we can fill every weight class then we can do some damage.”

Marathon’s top returning varsity wrestler this season is junior Blake Underwood who finished last season as WIAA Division 3 state runner-up in the 106pound weight class. He took third place in the same weight class at state as a freshman. He is wrestling at 113 pounds this season. His father, Kraig Underwood, explains how Blake can become Marathon’s first ever varsity state wrestling champion this season.

“Blake achieved 100 match wins before the end of his sophomore year which is pretty cool but we need to find a way for him to win a state championship,” he said. “He has put in the time during summer and works so hard to continue to improve every day which will get him to where he wants to be at the end. It’s not about being a state champion as much as it is being better every day. The rest will take care of itself.”

Junior Swayne Stencil, who is wrestling at 144 pounds this season, is another top returner this season. He took sixth place at state in the 132-pound weight class last season. Junior Cale Quaintance was an individual state qualifier last season at 113 pounds who is competing at 126 this season.

“Cale and Swayne have put in a ton of time as well this summer and fall and are poised for great seasons,” Kraig Underwood said.

See MARATHON WRESTING/ page 11

MARATHON VARSITY WRESTLING TEAM - Introducing the 2024-25 Red Raiders varsity boys and girls wrestling squad. Team members pictured, from left to right, front row: Taylor Underwood, Ripley Skrzypchak, Lindsay Putnam and Taylor Schulz; second row: manager Leah Schulz; Jaden Her, Marshall Venske, CC Kasza, Dylan Behnke, Blake Underwood, Juan Gomez and manager Miles Handrick; third row: manager Danica Staus; wrestlers Levi Krautkramer, Will Tourtillott, Cameron Pestka, Darrin Vesely, Tyler Seefeldt and Swayne Stencil and manager Riley Werner; back row: assistant coach Hector Pintor; head coach Kraig Underwood; Grant Salber, Jace Ostrowski, Reed McCain, Mason Lawrence, Alex Doty and Tate Sonnentag and assistant coaches Clint Quaintance and Logan Werner.

PHOTO BY STACY STUBBE Marathon wrestling

Continued from page 9

Junior Reed McCain took fourth place at sectionals last season to barely miss going to state. He is wrestling in the 175-pound weight class this season.

Other Marathon top returning wrestlers this season are senior Levi Krautkramer (138); juniors Tate Sonnentag (157), Grant Salter (165) and Alex Poppe (285) and sophomore Jace Ostrowski (190).

Newcomers to the varsity wrestling squad this year are junior Will Tourtillott (150) and freshmen Taylor Underwood (106) and Dylan Behnke (132).

Kraig Underwood is looking for big things from his youngest son, Taylor, in his first varsity season.

“Taylor has expectations as a freshman to come and compete at a high level,” he said. “He placed third last year at youth state but he knows that youth only translates to high school success if you keep working. He worked hard in summer and fall so I’m excited for him.”

Marathon has three girls wrestlers this season including juniors Lindsay Putnam (114) and Taylor Schulz (120) and sophomore Ripley Skrzypchak (145).

“The girls are all pretty new to the sport but they have been making big strides early this season and I’m excited for them to make their mark and be part of the first official Marathon High school varsity girls wrestling team,” Kraig Underwood said.

John Roberts Scramble

Marathon took fourth place among 16 teams competing at the the season-opening John Roberts Scramble on Dec. 7 in Antigo.

Taylor Underwood took second place at 113 pounds, Blake Underwood placed first at 120, Cale Quaintance placed second at 132, CC Kasza placed 12th at 132, Dylan Behnke placed ninth at 138, Cameron Pestka placed 21st at 138, Swayne Stencil placed first at 144, Korben Hall placed eighth at 144, Will Tourtillott placed sixth at 150, Jaden Herr placed fourth at 150, Tate Sonnentag placed first at 157, Alex Doty placed eighth at 157, Tyler Seefeldt placed 22nd at 165, Grant Salter placed third at 165, Mason Lawrence placed 11th at 175, Jace Ostrowski placed 10th at 190, Juan Gomez placed 11th at 215, Alex Poppe placed seventh at 285 and Darrin Vesely placed ninth at 285 varsity reserve.

Chequamegon Quad

Marathon wrestled in the Chequamegon Quad on Dec. 10. Marathon beat Chequamegon, 58-17. Red Raiders with competitive match wins against the Screaming Eagles were Taylor Underwood winning a 19-4 technical fall against Ethan Humphrey at 120 pounds, Dylan Behnke pinning Noah Siegmann at 138, Will Tourtillott pinning Skylar Otteson at 150 and Tate Sonnentag winning a 23-8 technical fall against Aiden McFaddenat 157.

Marathon defeated Phillips, 56-24. Red Raiders with competitive match wins against the Loggers were Cale Quaintance pinning Caiden Boudreaux at 132 pounds, Swayne Stencil with a 4-3 decision against JJ Adomaitis at 144, Tate Sonnentag with an 18-3 technical fall against Sawyer Kucaba at 157, Grant Salber pinning Maccoy Deleasky at 175 and Alex Poppe pinning Storm Heizler at 285.

Tomah Scramble

Marathon took second place among 18 teams competing at the Tomah Scramble on Dec. 14. Marathon tallied 390.5 team points, just short of champion Eau Claire Regis/Altoona with 395.5.

Taylor Underwood took first place at 113 pounds, Cale Quaintance placed first at 132, Dylan Behnke placed eighth at 138, Swayne Stencil placed second at 144, Tate Sonnentag placed first at 157, Grant Salber placed second at 165, Mason Lawrence placed seventh at 175, Jace Ostrowski placed ninth at 190, Juan Gomez placed 12th at 215 and Alex Poppe placed fourth at 285.

Hodag Scramble

Marathon won the Hodag Scramble championship on Dec. 20 with 207.5 points. D.C. Everest was runner-up with 200.5 points.

Taylor Underwood took first place at 113 pounds, Blake Underwood placed first at 120, Cale Quaintance placed first at 132, CC Kasza placed 18th at 132, Dylan Behnke placed ninth at 138, Cameron Pestka placed 15th at 138, Swayne Stencil placed second at 144, Jaden Herr placed eighth at 150, Will Tourtillott placed 12th at 150, Tate Sonnentag placed third at 157, Grant Salber placed third at 165, Reed McCain placed ninth at 175, Jace Ostrowski placed eighth at 190, Mason Lawrence placed 11th at 215 and Alex Poppe placed 10th at 285.

Northern Badger

Marathon took second place among 15 teams competing in Division 2 at the Northern Badger on Dec. 27-28 in River Falls. Marathon scored 245.5 points. Division 2 champion St. Croix Falls tallied 341.5 points and runners-up Cumberland had 258.5.

Wrestlers compete against opponents from all divisions during the Northern Badger holiday tournament. Taylor Underwood took first place at 106 pounds, Blake Underwood placed first at 113, Cale Quaintance placed second at 126, Dylan Behnke placed eighth at 132, Swayne Stencil placed third at 144, Tate Sonnentag placed third at 157 and Grant Salber placed eighth at 165.

MARATHON YOUTH WRESTLING TOURNAMENT REFEREE - Marathon varsity junior wrestler Blake Underwood volunteers as a referee at Sunday’s Marathon youth wrestling tournament. He is shown refereeing one of Marathon’s wrestlers Clare Martin’s matches in the new gym. Underwood will attempt to win his first individual WIAA state wrestling championship this season.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER