Wrestlers create school history

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon best friends and high school wrestling teammates Blake Underwood and Cale Quaintance both won youth state championships when they were eighth graders. On Saturday night, the juniors became Marathon High School’s first state individual wrestling champions.

Underwood won the WIAA Division 3 individual state wrestling championship in the 113-pound weight class to become Marathon’s first state wrestling champion.

“It feels so good,” he proclaimed. “It’s just a relief because I’ve been wanting to accomplish it so bad. I was feeling really happy like holy cow I actually did it. My dream came true. It feels really good because one of my goals was to become the school’s first ever state champion and it happened and it’s so exciting.”

Underwood led 5-0 against Brillion sophomore Parker Spierings at the end of the second period of the finals match. Spierings closed the gap to 5-2 in the third period and appeared to have the upper hand against Underwood, who did whatever he could to make sure that he didn’t get pinned and lose the match.

“I just kept wrestling and I didn’t panic,” he said. “That was the key.”

He gave his father and Marathon varsity head wrestling coach, Kraig Underwood, a huge hug after he won the state championship. Kraig Underwood is Athens’ lone four-time state individual wrestling champion.

“It’s so special because he’s done everything to get me to where I am today and he wanted it just as badly as I did,” Blake Underwood said. “All the hours of film and adjustments at practice all really worked.”

A few weight classes later, it was Quaintance’s turn as he won the 132-pound state championship to become Marathon’s second individual wrestling state champion in school history. He beat Riverdale sophomore Lakota Brewer, 9-1, in the state finals.

“It was just a surreal moment that I’ll never forget,” he said about winning a state championship.

State wrestling fans might have been surprised to see a No. 6 seed like Quaintance win his entire state weight bracket, but he knew that he could do it.

“If you believe in yourself, you can beat anyone,” he said.

After he won the state title, he ran over and gave his father, Marathon varsity assistant wrestling coach Clint Quaintance,

See STATE WRESTLING / page 15

CONFIDENT IN HIS ABILITY TO WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - Marathon junior wrestler Blake Underwood works on finishing off a 5-2 decision win against Brillion sophomore Parker Spierings in the WIAA Division 3 state 113-pound finals match on Saturday night at the Kohl Center in Madison.

PHOTO BY ELLE GAUERKE

NO. 6 SEED SURPRISES EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF IN WINNING STATE TITLE - Marathon junior wrestler Cale Quaintance works on a 9-1 major decision win against Riverdale sophomore Lakota Brewer in the WIAA Division 3 state 132-pound finals.

PHOTO BY ELLE GAUERKE State wrestling

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a huge hug.

“It was probably one of the best moments of my life,” he said. “He got me started in wrestling when I was 3-1/2 years old.”

Blake Underwood was waiting to give Cale Quaintance a big hug before he exited the Kohl Center floor after winning the state title.

“I’m so happy for Cale,” he said. “He’s one of my best friends and all the hours he and I put into this sport really paid off. We just believed in each other and knew that we could do it. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.”

Underwood finished this season with an undefeated 51-0 record. He achieved his 150th career win in his first state match in which he pinned familiar opponent Carson Weiler of Auburndale. Underwood, the No. 1 seed in his state weight bracket, then won a technical fall against Markesan sophomore Gavin Slark to advance to Saturday’s nights finals match which he won. Underwood now has a 113-pound state championship to go with his state runnersup finish at 106 pounds last season and third-place finish at 106 his freshman season.

Quaintance concluded this season with a 44-6 record. He didn’t place in his inaugural trip to state last season. He began this year’s state tournament with a 14-2 major decision win against No. 11 seed Jace Nicklaus of Brillion. Quaintance then won a 13-6 decision against No. 3 seed Rigoberto Tellez of Oostburg. He won a close 15-13 decision against No. 2 seed Izaiah Sanchez of Shiocton in the state semifinals match on Friday night to advance to Saturday night’s state finals against No. 4 seed Brewer which he won. Quaintance and his girlfriend, De Pere senior Brooke Corrigan, 11-0, both won state championships on Saturday night. She won the 100-pound state title after finishing runners-up last season after winning the crown in 2023.

Blake Underwood’s younger brother, Marathon freshman Taylor Underwood, took third place in the state tournament’s 106-pound bracket on Saturday. The top six finishers in each weight class make it on the state podium. He was the No. 6 seed and he won by technical fall against No. 11 seed William Kratochvill in his first state match. Taylor Underwood then won by technical fall against No. 3 seed Gunnar Lambert of Princeton/Green Lake. He lost Friday night’s state semifinals match 4-1 in overtime to eventual state champion Reegan Roy, the No. 2 seed, from Wabeno/Laona. Taylor Underwood capped off his first state tournament appearance with a 12-1 major decision win against No. 5 seed Memphis Burkhalter of Mineral Point. Underwood finishes his first high school season with a 46-5 record.

Marathon senior Levi Krautkramer made the state podium with a sixth-place finish at 138 pounds in his first time qualifying for the state tournament. He concludes this season with a 22-9 record. Krautkramer was a No. 10 seed and lost a tough 6-5 decision to No. 7 seed Austin Hansen of Oakfield in his first state match. Krautkramer then battled through the consolation bracket by winning a 6-4 decision against No. 9 seed Grant Klimek of Independence and a 3-2 win against No. 5 seed Ethan Wusterbarth of Oconto. Krautkramer lost the fifth-place match by a 9-4 decision to No. 3 seed Marshall Hanke of Lomira on Saturday.

Red Raiders junior Swayne Stencil didn’t place in the 144-pound weight bracket in his first time qualifying for the state tournament He finishes this season with a 48-10 record. Stencil was the No. 5 seed in his state weight bracket and he pinned No. 12 seed Racyn Schooley of Pittsville in his first state match. He then lost a 9-2 decision to No. 4 seed Colton Klug of Brillion and was sent to the consolation bracket. He won a 6-3 decision against No. 6 seed Mason Groskreutz of Westfield Area but then lost a 4-0 decision to No. 9 seed and familiar foe JJ Adomaitis to get eliminated from the state tournament.

Stahnke’s state tournament

Edgar junior wrestler Lucas Stahnke didn’t place in his second straight season competing in the 190-pound Division 3 state weight bracket. He ends this season with a 27-14 record. Stahnke was a No. 8 seed in his state weight bracket and he lost a 15-3 decision to No. 9 seed Simon Schwabe of Random Lake and was sent to the consolation bracket. He then lost a 144 major decision to No. 7 seed Colton Hagner of Laconia to end his state tournament.