Tigers take back Marawood
By Casey Krautkramer
Stratford’s varsity wrestling team wasn’t happy to have its nine consecutive Marawood Conference tournament championship streak snapped by Marathon last season in Phillips. Stratford senior Carter Lueck earned his 100th career pin in his 190-pound finals match against Phillips junior Ayron Deleasky on Saturday at home to ensure the Tigers returned to winning the conference tournament title this season.
“We knew that we were the better team, and although we didn’t wrestle great last week we knew that if we cleaned up some mistakes then we’d take the conference tournament championship back,” Lueck said.
Stratford finished the Marawood Conference tournament with 277.5 points which was 51 points more than runner-up Auburndale with 226.5. Marathon took third place with 181.5 points followed by Edgar in fourth with 128, Phillips in fifth with 105, Athens in sixth with 74.5 and Chequamegon in last with 33.
Lueck, 35-1, and Auburndale senior Colton Weiler, 46-0, became four-time Marawood Conference wrestling champions on Saturday. Weiler was voted the Marawood Conference tournament MVP. Marathon junior Blake Underwood, 38-0, became a three-time Marawood Conference champion. All three of these wrestlers finished as runner-up in their respective weight classes at the individual state tournament last season.
Marathon junior Grant Salber, 30-14, and Auburndale junior Zade Grassel, 34-6, became two-time Marawood Conference champions.
Five Stratford wrestlers won Marawood Conference championships on Saturday including Lueck, senior Trenton Cournoyer, 43-2, at 120 pounds; sophomore Aaron Knetter, 37-8, at 132; senior Jack Tubbs, 28-9, at 175 and junior Drew Gage, 36-7, at 285.
The top four wrestlers that placed in each weight class made the podium in Stratford’s gym. Six Stratford wrestlers finished as runners-up at the Marawood Conference tournament including junior Colin Cournoyer, 35-4, at 126 pounds; junior Lucas Forrest, 29-12, at 138; junior Mathias Kaiser, 33-7, at 150; senior Brandon Knetter, 10-10, at 157; sophomore John Mews, 13-13, at 165 and senior Matt Kolb, 15-8, at 215.
Stratford sophomore Kolton Haupt, 2610, took third place at 106 pounds. Tigers freshman Jayden DeFoe, 16-18, placed fourth at 113 pounds and senior Cayden Leonhardt, 22-18, was fourth at 144.
More goals to obtain
Straford will win its 12th consecutive Marawood Conference regular-season dual meet championship if it beats Chequamegon and Phillips at their home quad at 6 p.m. this Thursday, Feb. 6. Lueck also hopes to add to his career pins total in hopes of breaking Matt Bauman’s Stratford wrestling school record of 105 career pins by the end of this season.
Lueck’s other goal besides breaking the school career pins record is to win the WIAA Division 3 individual 190-pound state championship this season. He took fourth place at individual state as a sophomore wrestling at 170 pounds and second place at state last season as a junior wrestling at 175 pounds. He knows what needs to happen for him to bring home the gold this year.
“I just need to go out and wrestle, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “I don’t need to complicate things because I am the better wrestler.”
Wrestlers’ dreams of winning an individual state title begin with the WIAA Division 3 regional starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Edgar High School.
School wins record broken
Blake Underwood has broken Marathon’s school career wins record this season that was previously held by Luke Fitzsimmons with 135. Blake Underwood currently has 138 career wins following Saturday’s Marawood Conference tournament in Stratford.
“Honestly I didn’t even know that I was that close to the record,” he said. “Dad (Kraig Underwood) just told me on Monday morning, ‘hey you beat the school record in wins,’ and I said that’s pretty cool. One of my goals was to break the school wins record so it feels good and I’m happy about it!” He is confident in his ability to win his first WIAA Division 3 individual state wrestling championship this season.
“The biggest thing I’m going to need to
See WRESTLING/ page 18
JERRY HAHN MEMORIAL AWARD WINNER SHOUTS INSTRUCTIONS TO KOLB - Stratford varsity wrestling assistant coach Kane Krummel won the 2025 Jerry Hahn Memorial Award at the Marawood Conference tournament on Saturday in Stratford. He won the award based on his outstanding character, pride, determination, unique individuality and contribution to Marawood Conference wrestling. His daughter, wrestling manager Gracie Krummel, sits next to him recording Stratford senior wrestler Matt Kolb’s eventual pin against Marathon sophomore Mason Lawrence in 215-pound semifinals match on Saturday. Stratford wrestling manager Avery Skaya is sitting next to Gracie Krummel. Kolb ended up taking second place at 215 pounds to help Stratford win the Marawood Conference tournament this season. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
Carter Lueck
Blake Underwood Wrestling
Continued from page 12
do to win a state title this season is to continue to believe in myself and believe that I can beat anyone,” Blake Underwood said. “I need to continue down this last three-ish week stretch to keep pushing my teammates and myself. The last thing is I need to keep my weight in check and not make the cut too hard while also taking it one match at a time and not looking ahead.”
Blake Underwood was one of three Marathon wrestlers to win Marawood Conference championships on Saturday in Stratford. His younger brother, freshman Taylor Underwood, 37-3, won the 106-pound conference championship and Grant Salber won the 165-pound title.
Marathon junior Swayne Stencil, 39-7, took second place at 144 pounds at the conference tournament. Five Red Raiders placed third at conference including senior Levi Krautkramer, 10-5, at 138 pounds; junior Tate Sonnentag, 32-5, at 157; senior Juan Gomez, 14-14, at 190; sophomore Mason Lawrence, 16-14, at 215 and senior Alex Poppe, 16-19, at 185.
A pair of Marathon wrestlers placed fifth at conference including junior Will Tourtillott, 22-21, at 150 pounds and sophomore Jace Ostrowski, 16-16, at 175.
Stahnke wins conference
Edgar junior Lucas Stahnke, 1910, won the 215-pound Marawood Conference championship on Saturday in Stratford. Senior Corey Koeppl, 16-9, placed second at 285 pounds.
Four Wildcats took third place at conference including sophomore Isaiah Kraft, 22-11, at 120 pounds; freshman Brendan Imhoff, 3-5, at 126; freshman Landon Lukasko, 1411, at 132 and senior Austin Schreiber, 14-17, at 150.
A pair of Edgar wrestlers placed fifth at conference including senior William Hackel, 4-12, at 157 pounds and freshman Ethan Myszka, 3-12, at 165. Sophomore Tyler Schmidt, 1015, placed sixth at 144 pounds.
Passehl wins conference
Athens junior Evin Passehl, 32-12, won the 138-pound Marawood Conference championship on Saturday in Stratford. Sophomore Garrett Frahm, 26-13, placed third at 113 pounds.
Three Bluejays placed third at conference including sophomore Dale Felix, 5-21, at 126 pounds; junior Gavin Frahm, 4-9, at 132 and junior Shaylon Blake, 21-16, at 150.
Athens sophomore Kian Ellenbecker, 14-13, placed fifth at 144 pounds and sophomore Jeffery Draper, 7-15, placed sixth at 157.
Queen of the Mat tourney
Edgar’s varsity girls wrestling team took fifth place among 32 teams in all divisions competing at Saturday’s Queen of the Mat tournament in Marshfield. Wildcats sophomore Blaynne Crawford, 24-5, won the 120-pound championship.
Wildcats freshman Adeline Peterson, 17-11, took fourth place at the Marshfield tournament. Senior Alyson Kolano, 10-14, placed fifth at 152 pounds and freshman Vanessa Czech, 9-13, was fifth at 235. Freshman Ashley Krause, 8-8, didn’t place at 114 pounds and neither did sophomore Alyssa Kolano, 9-14, at 132.
Athens freshman girls wrestler Jendry Cruz-Perez, 6-21, took sixth place at 100 pounds. Bluejays junior Taylor Hein, 8-17, didn’t place at 120 pounds.
Marathon girls wrestler Lindsay Putnam, 2-15, didn’t place at 107 pounds. Stratford varsity girls wrestlers didn’t compete in this tournament.
SEMIFINAL WINNERS - At top, Athens sophomore Garrett Frahm has his arm raised by the wrestling official to signify his pin against Gage Casey of Phillips in the conference consolation semifinals 113-pound match on Saturday in Stratford. To the left, Edgar senior Corey Koeppl eventually pinned Storm Hiezler of Phillips in the conference semifinals 285pound match.
STAFF PHOTOS/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER
