MEDFORD WRESTLING PREVIEW - Raiders wrestling team turns young in a big hurry

MEDFORD WRESTLING PREVIEW

Things have spun quickly in a new direction for the Medford Raiders’ wrestling program.

In February, the team was riding high off a WIAA Division 2 regional championship and a second straight appearance in a team sectional. Individually the Raiders had 13 total sectional entries, four of whom competed at state and three of whom brought back medals.

Now as the 2024-25 kicks into high gear, the Raiders, for the most part, are starting over.

With some quality veterans choosing not to return and an unfortunate football injury to returning state champion Gage Losiewicz, freshmen and sophomores make up the bulk of this year’s roster. While some of the newcomers have wrestling experience, several do not.

There are still some state hopefuls on the roster, but head coach Brandon Marcis and his staff are starting with scratch with many of the young wrestlers.

“There’s no doubt that a young team is going to have to pay its dues,” Marcis said. “It’s really exciting for growth because the kids are working hard. They have a great attitude. They’ve responded very well so far to everything we’ve done that’s been difficult. They’re going to pay their dues, but if they keep the attitude that they have now, I definitely see good things for these guys. We have so many freshmen and sophomores on the team this year. If they stick together, down the road things will look really good for them.”

The season starts this weekend with what Marcis is calling “a big wrestling field trip.” Based on the team Medford thought it would have, it is entered in the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Coralville, Iowa for the second straight year. The Raiders will still enter seven boys and their girls in the tournament. Girls competition starts today, Thursday, and runs through Friday. The boys tournament is Friday and Saturday.

For those not ready for that type of competition, they’ll soak in the atmosphere, learn a little bit and then compete in the Jeremy Fulk Classic in New London, Iowa.

“I got them floor passes to the Donnybrook,” Marcis said of the new wrestlers making the trip. “They’re going to get the whole experience of what the best in the nation do, how they operate, how they warm up and compete. They’ll see just what that looks like. On Saturday they’re going to the Jeremy Fulk Classic. As far as the learning curve of wrestling, we’re trying to make that curve real fast by going on a big wrestling field trip. We’re going for four days, everybody’s getting the full experience. We’re going to work out multiple times per day and I think as far as getting the kids to where they need to be, it’s the greatest thing we could possibly do.”

The knee injury to Losiewicz suffered in week two of the football season ended his senior wrestling season before it started. Obviously that was a tough blow for the defending Division 2 champion at 157 pounds, who was 49-4 last year.

“Gage is still around,” Marcis said.

“Gage has kind of taken a coaching role this year. Gage has been there, he comes to morning practices. He’s such a great guy to have around. Even though he’s not wrestling, he will definitely be a big contributor to the team.

He’s still a role model for everybody.”

Parker Lissner and Nick Malchow are left as the team’s senior leaders.

Lissner had a strong junior season, finishing 21-11 overall and as a sectional qualifier at 144 pounds. He placed second both in the Great Northern Conference and in the regional meet Medford hosted. He’ll start the year at 157 pounds. Malchow returns to the 113-pound weight class to start the season after earning honorable mention in the GNC and taking fifth in the regional.

“Parker Lissner is focused on going to the state tournament,” Marcis said. “This is his swan song to his wrestling career. He’s wrestled his whole school career. That’s his goal and that’s what we’re going in practice every day, get him closer to that goal. Same thing with Nick.”

Sophomores Jordan Lavin and Ayden Tyznik are back after good first varsity seasons. Lavin is the defending GNC champion at 120 pounds and was a sectional qualifier, finishing 14-18. He’ll wrestle at 120 pounds at this weekend’s Donnybrook. Tyznik won nine varsity matches while filling spots when needed at 106 or 113 pounds. He and Malchow will be at 113 at the Donnybrook.

“I think they’ll both make big jumps,” Marcis said.

Forest Hartl is another returning sophomore. Breaking into the varsity lineup in the top-end weights was tough for him last year with seniors Max Dietzman and Braxton Weissmiller entrenched in those spots. Once he returns from injury in January, Marcis expects he’ll make an impact.

Medford also brings back its two sophomore girls, Avery Losiewicz and Bridget Wesle. Losiewicz’s goal is to win the state championship her older brother won’t be able to get this year. She took third at state last year at 126 pounds and finished with an official record of 36-4. Wesle won a sectional match at 132 pounds, placed fourth and officially finished 6-18.

This year, the girls have their own separate WIAA tournament trail. Medford is entered in the Merrill regional on Friday, Feb. 14 with qualifiers advancing to the Ladysmith sectional on Friday, Feb. 21.

“Avery and Bridget, honestly I think they both can go to the state tournament,” Marcis said. “If Bridget improves as much as she did last year from the beginning to the end, that girl is going to be at the state tournament. Avery Losiewicz is gunning for a state title. She took third last year, she did a lot of summer work, she’s committed to the sport, she also has a great head on her shoulders and I expect nothing but the best from Avery.

She just responds so well to coaching.”

Levi Zuleger (144 pounds), Ashton Noland (190) and Ian Stickney (215) are the freshmen in the Donnybrook lineup.

Those wrestling in the Fulk Classic are freshmen Tyler Kmosena, Preston Lyman, Ahrlen Lekie, Corey McVicker and Jackson Mayer and junior newcomer Domanic Spencer.

Others on the opening-week roster are freshmen Preston Heier, Isiah Szydel and Thomas Austin, who all could fill 106pound slots, Michael Standke and Dominic Anderson and sophomore Alan Scheel.

“Getting these guys up for 6 a.m. practice and putting them through what a high-level high school workout is for wrestling, I’m super optimistic at what they’ve shown me so far,” Marcis said. “Technique-wise we have a lot to learn. There’s no doubt about that. When you’re young you don’t necessarily have that physical advantage that you do when you’re an upperclassman. They are seriously a great group of kids. They are super fun to coach.”

Medford easily won its sixth straight GNC championship last year. It will be interesting to see how much improvement the Raiders can make between now and the GNC tournament at Lakeland on Feb. 8. Currently, there are just two home meets on the schedule, a non-conference dual with the Neillsville Co-op next Thursday, Dec. 12 and a GNC dual with Lakeland on Jan. 16.

Medford will compete in GNC doubleduals at Lakeland on Dec. 19 and Rhinelander on Jan. 23.

Medford won a bid to host the WIAA Division team sectional on Feb. 18. Again, the Raiders won’t have the team they envisioned at the time, but they’ll do their best to create the best team they can by season’s end.

“My beginning wrestlers are going to wrestle a mix of JV and varsity when it’s appropriate,” Marcis said. “We’ll go to some tournaments. I’ll enter a lot of these guys in JV to try to get them matches that they need, the confidence they need. For dual meets we’ll throw together the best team that we can and take everything we can get. We’ll just have to be flexible and see what other teams have and see how we can adjust and go from there.

“Honestly I’m excited for the season. It’s like a clean slate,” he added. “You’ve got a fresh palate and we can kind of paint whatever picture we want. Judging by the kids’ attitudes, I think it’s going to be a good one. We’ll definitely have to pay our dues and do it with a good attitude. Good things come to those who work hard.”

Medford senior Parker Lissner works with freshman Levi Zuleger at the start of the team’s Nov. 21 practice. Lissner was a GNC runner-up and a sectional qualifier for the Raiders a year ago. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS

Avery Losiewicz