Dewey Krueger was on a mission since the start of the 2014-15 season to notch his second WIAA Division 2 state wrestling title.
On Saturday, the 152-pound Oconto Falls High School senior reached his goal with a 6-1 decision over Sheboygan Falls’ Sean Mattek (47-3) in the championship match.
“It felt amazing,” said Krueger (42-0), who won the 132-pound title as a sophomore but finished second last year at 145. “Last year really woke me up. It really pushed me to be the best.”
Two other Panthers also earned spots on the podium at the Kohl Center in Madison. Sophomore Nate Trepanier finished third at 145 pounds, and senior Sam Konitzer placed fifth at 126 pounds.
Krueger, who was making his fourth trip to state, tried to calm Trepanier and Konitzer, who were in the finals for the first time.
“They were a bit nervous, so I set them aside and talked them up a bit,” Krueger said.
Oconto Falls co-coach Marc Kinziger said Krueger was under a lot of pressure throughout the tourney, especially Saturday during the long wait for the evening matches to begin.
“As the day was going by, the pressure was mounting,” Kinziger said. “But when he got the win, I could see the relief on his face.”
Krueger said he tried to maintain his composure.
“I was trying not to make it as a stressful as possible,” Krueger said. “Having to wait four or five hours before the next match, you tend to get in your head and start thinking. It was about keeping my head straight and focused and not think about anything else.”
Krueger drew a first-round bye, won his first match Friday night, a 10-0 decision over Medford’s Tucker Peterson (41-6), and followed up with a rapid pin (54 seconds) of Willie Vandenlangenberg (24-9), of Wisconsin Dells, in the semifinals.
Kinziger also was impressed with Trepanier’s performance in Madison.
Trepanier defeated Garrett Davies (26-17), of Cedar Grove/Belgium, on a technical fall with a shade over 30 seconds remaining, then lost 2-1 in the quarterfinals to Sparta’s Brock Polhamus (46-5).
In the consolation bracket, Trepanier defeated Kolten Hanson (40-8), of Medford, 3-0, and Austin Kueler (43-8), of Chilton/Hilbert, 7-2, setting up a rematch with Polhamus for third place. Trepanier avenged his earlier loss, with a 4-2 decision.
“That is a heck of an accomplishment in that weight class, especially as a sophomore,” Kinziger said.
Konitzer was battling flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to the state tournament. After a first-round bye, he lost his quarterfinal match, 7-2, to Evansville/Albany’s Chase Katzenmeyer (37-8), but battled back to defeat Jensen Langer (51-7), of Marshall, 2-0, in consolation round one. He then defeated Ryan McGinnes (35-17), of Sheboygan Falls, 12-9, and lost 5-1 to John Riddick (46-5), of Sparta.
“All things considered, he did an exceptional job,” Kinziger said. “We were happy where he placed.”
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