Hornets are improving each week on the mat

By Ginna Young Cadott is seeing some success on the mat, for the boys wrestling program, with a full week behind them.

Jan. 8 vs. Abottsford-Colby (W 63-18) Heading to Abbotsford, Cadott was on the money, taking the dual win, 63-18. Earning the victory for the Hornets, was senior Kellen Blanchette (132 pounds) over Alix Colby, by technical fall, 17-1, while freshman Oliver Sudbrink (144) won over Eyan Cortista, by fall, in 31 seconds.

Also winning, was sophomore Owen Fasbender (157) over Christian Saley, with a 16-1 technical fall, as well as sophomore Brenton Faber (165), who got the win over Gilbert Sundermeyer, by fall, in 1:26. Freshman Aiydan Sonnentag also won his match over Izaac Sundermeyer, by technical foul, 17-1.

Winning by forfeit, were freshman Ryker Moskiewicz (106), junior Iszy Sonnentag (114), senior Kaleb Lodahl (120), sophomore Jon Phelps (150), junior Mitchell Reineke (215) and junior Anthony Glenz (285).

Jan. 11 Home Invitational It was then time to host their annual invitational tournament, with the best teams in the area coming to call. At the end of the day, Cadott claimed third place out of the 16 other schools competing.

“Our team wrestled well this weekend,” said coach Josh Spaeth. “All wrestlers showed great improvement and most wrestled way above their seed.”

Placing first for the Hornets, was Lodahl, who won his final match over Glenwood City’s Preston Arvey, in an 18-3 decision. Fasbender also showed “grit,” earning second place over Cameron’s Conner Carlson, in a 25-6 decision.

Coming up with third, were Blanchette over Memphis Demain, Hayward, in a 16-2 major decision; Phelps over Shell Lake’s Briar Naglosky in a medical forfeit; and Glenz over Lee Zagorski, of Cornell-Lake Holcombe-Gilman, by fall. Placing fourth, were junior Steven Williams (126), who dropped his match to Hayward’s Eric Fish; and Sudbrink, who dropped his match to Glenwood City’s Zeb Holden.

Moskiewicz placed fifth, winning over Westfield’s Jeremy Zanotti, as did junior Monte Lodhal (138), winning over Menasha’s Dylan Johnson, as well as Faber, who won over Whitehall’s Broc Coburn.

“This team is young and is making constant improvements each week,” said Spaeth.

Senior Kellen Blanchette (132 pounds) wrestled an exciting match for his Cadott fans, as he was down, 10-3, with only 1:14 left to go in the match, Jan. 11, at home, but managed to get the win, with a pin over his opponent.

Photo by Ginna Young