Wrestling: Loaded area teams eye big seasons on mat

Several state qualifiers back
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

SHAWANO — Area wrestling teams head into the season with stacked rosters and big aspirations.

With several impact wrestlers back from last season’s squad that won the Bay Conference, Shawano expects another big season.

Coach Mike Homan’s team will be headlined by seniors and juniors and filled out by incoming wrestlers.

Seniors Keith Tourtillott and Ben Carroll will lead the Hawks, while juniors Nick Kohn, Trace Yeager, Gage Timm, Colten Herm, Reef Anthony, Carter Schmidt and Wyatt Brandt help form a strong core.

Tourtillott posted a perfect record in his conference duals last winter, and eventually represented the school at state. He hopes to have a strong season, which in turn should help the team toward its goals.

“I plan to become one of the best in the state, just as my team plans to become one of the best in the conference,” said Tourtillott. “We’ve all worked very hard over the offseason and are becoming more than prepared to make it another memorable season in Shawano wrestling history.”

Carroll and Brandt also went undefeated in their conference duals last year, while Timm lost just once.

Shawano will likely need repeat performances from those guys, along with a few other guys stepping up, to win a competitive Bay.

“Our team goal is to win another conference title. We should have a full team and I’d really like to be a lot more dominate as a team in our conference and make a statement,” said Carroll, who hopes to make it to state. “I definitely have to set an example for the younger guys on our team. No one will work hard if their team captions (he and Tourtillott) don’t work hard. I’m gonna do my best this year to lead by example.”

Bonduel

While it must replace a state champion (Jacob Giese), Bonduel believes it has enough talent to win the Central Wisconsin Conference title this winter.

Leading the way for the Bears, who are coached by Chris Rank, will be juniors Isaac Banker, Max Sokolski and Luis Lagunes. All three made it to state last year.

“The team this year is feeling very confident about our chances with any team we may face,” said Banker, who hopes to win a state title to cap the season after finishing third as a sophomore.

“Our ultimate goal as a team is to get better every day, both with our moves and matches, and also to establish a true wrestling family throughout the season. If we work hard and put in the time and effort, we believe we can finish atop the CWC for the first time in a while also.”

Also back with plenty of varsity experience are seniors Tristan Tomashek, Alex Garside, Moises Lagunes and juniors Jayson Toellner, Logan Majewski, Jakob Froemming and Kaden Bergsbaken.

Senior Bryce Dittman and freshman Tyson Bogacz figure to help round out the team.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Wittenberg-Birnamwood also expects to be in the hunt for a CWC title with several experienced wrestlers back.

Coach Troy Ostrowski has a pair of state qualifiers back in sophomore Pierson Potrykus and senior Chad Moegenburg.

Potrykus qualified for state as a freshman. Moegenburg placed second at state as a sophomore before being sidelined most of last winter with an injury.

Also back to form a strong core are seniors Allen Uttecht and Will Urquhart, juniors Austin Worzalla and Bryce Zoromski and sophomore Kyle Linke.

Ostrowski is also expecting big things from juniors Dakotah Olson, Wyatt Esker and Larken Betry, sophomores Damien Wudtke and Gavin Esker and freshmen David Gauderman and Mark LaBarge.

“With all of the juniors coming back and some talented freshman coming in, the expectations within the team are set very high,” said Potrykus. “Our goals are to win conference and regional championships.”

Menominee Indian

Menominee Indian heads into the season with a number of new wrestlers on the team, but not a ton of experienced athletes to turn to.

Coach Kirk Bahr said that of the 28 wrestlers participating in the first few practices of the season, 17 are first-year wrestlers.

Senior Hunter Connahvichnah will lead the Eagles on the mat after making it to sectionals last season.

“I can help my younger teammates by encouraging them to never quit; to work as hard as they can because it pays off in the end,” said Connahvichnah, who hopes to end his season at state. “Me and my fellow seniors have told them how important it is to keep grades up and so far we are all doing a very good job. I think this season is going to be great.

Joe Perez and Chad Reiter-Wilber are Menominee Indian’s other two seniors.

Junior Joe Komanekin and sophomores Saswaen Shawanokasic, Gregory Turney, Asenex Turney, Tate Zhuckkohsee and Glen Miller also return with varsity experience.

Clintonville/Marion

The Clintonville/Marion co-op enters the season hoping for improvement under coach John Young.

The co-op was unable to earn a dual win last winter, and things won’t get any easier this season as the North Eastern Conference includes several of the state’s top teams.

Seniors Jetlyn Michonski and Hunter Allender and sophomore Magnum Michonski are the team’s top returning wrestlers.

Junior Beau Tuddenham and freshman Caden Young are other wrestlers that coach Young expects to make impacts.

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