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MADISON – Three local wrestlers will battle for state championships after winning semifinal matches Friday night at the second day of the 2025 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the Kohl Center.
Marshfield’s Ava Gardner will go for her second-straight girls state title, and Auburndale’s Colton Weiler and Stratford’s Carter Lueck are in the finals again after earning big semifinal victories.
Gardner (36-2) won an 8-0 major decision over Alexa Thomas of Lake Geneva Badger in a girls 107-pound semifinal. Gardner, who won the 100-pound title last year, will take on Lily Baker (48-3) of Freedom in the 107 finals on Saturday night.
Both Weiler and Lueck lost the Division 3 championship matches last year and the seniors will get one more chance at a state title.
Weiler remained undefeated, moving to 56-0 with a 16-0 technical fall victory over Markez Lisiecki of Lomira in a 150-pound semifinal. Weiler will take on Collin Hamm (55-3) of Weyauwega-Fremont in the championship match.
Lueck (47-1) dominated his 190-pound semifinal as well, pinning Gavin Hinderman of Iowa-Grant/Highland in 3:14. Lueck will take on William Becker (53-1) of Pardeeville in the championship match Saturday night.
A number of local wrestlers will also compete in consolation bracket matches starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with hopes of earning third- through sixth-place medals. The championship finals begin at 5:30 p.m.
Marshfield’s Grayden Rode (37-9) stayed alive for fifth place at 157 pounds in Division 1, while teammate Caleb Dennee (49-3) suffered a 4-1 sudden victory loss to Eli Leonard (48-0) of Mount Horeb/Barneveld in a 175-pound semifinal and will wrestle for third place on Saturday afternoon.
Stratford’s Trenton Cournoyer (55-4) and Auburndale’s Derek Godard (48-11) both lost Division 3 120-pound semifinals Friday and will wrestle each other for third place.
Auburndale’s Zade Grassl (45-7) also lost a 126-pound semifinal and will go for bronze on Saturday.
Auburndale’s Carson Weiler (47-12 at 113), and Stratford’s Colin Cournoyer (46-7 at 126), Aaron Knetter (48-9 at 132), Mathais Kaiser (43-10 at 150) and Drew Gage (45-10 at 285) are all still alive in the consolation brackets as they shoot for fifth place.
Marshfield’s Erika Sleznikow (33-1) suffered her first loss of the season in a girls 126-pound semifinal to unbeaten Madi Peach (40-0) of Milton by pin in 1:22. Sleznikow will wrestle for third place Saturday.
2025 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament
Feb. 27-March 1, at Kohl Center, Madison
Friday, Feb. 28
Boys
Division 1 Consolation Preliminaries
126: Jon Sternweis (27-6), Marshfield, won by major dec. over Mason Techmeier (35-13), Muskego, 17-13.
285: Hunter Szyaskiewicz (43-13), Mukwonago, def. Brok Carolfi (25-19), Marshfield, 7-0.
Division 1 Consolation Quarterfinals
126: Alois Schlumpf (46-5), Bay Port, won by major dec. over Jon Sternweis (27-7, Marshfield, 14-1.
157: Grayden Rode (37-9), Marshfield, def. Devin Johnosn (30-12), Hartland Arrowhead, 9-5.
157: Carson Kempf (40-7), D.C. Everest, pinned Mason Taylor (36-11), Pulaski, 0:59.
Division 1 Semifinals
175: Eli Leonard (48-0), Mount Horeb/Barneveld, def. Caleb Dennee (49-3), Marshfield, 4-1 (SV-1).
Division 3 Consolation Quarterfinals
106: William Krelochvill (37-17), Lancaster, pinned Kolton Haupt (35-14), Stratford, 3:39.
113: Carson Weiler (47-12), Auburndale, won by technical fall over Brendan Rick (38-17), Royall/Wonewoc-Center, 18-0.
126: Colin Cournoyer (46-7), Stratford, won by technical fall over Parker Mlsna (45-11), Cashton, 20-4.
132: Aaron Knetter (48-9), Stratford, def. Rigoberto Tellez (40-5), Oostburg, 8-3.
150: Mathias Kaiser (43-10), Stratford, won by technical fall over Joe Beavers (40-14), Hustisford, 20-1.
157: Connor Mentink (50-5), Oostburg, pinned Brandon Knetter (18-17), Stratford, 1:22.
175: Owen Schacht (51-7), Mishicot, won by technical fall over Carter Grassl (32-18), Auburndale, 18-0.
285: Drew Gage (45-10), Stratford, pinned Brian Ortega (25-15), Kenosha St. Joseph, 3:33.
Division 3 Semifinals
120: Braden Johnson (49-1), Cumberland, won by technical fall over Trenton Cournoyer (55-4), Stratford, 16-0.
120: Aidan Gruenenfelder (58-0), Pecatonica/Argyle, won by technical fall over Derek Godard (48-11), Auburndale, 21-5.
126: Co’ji Campbell (53-0), Kenosha St. Joseph, won by technical fall over Zade Grassl (45-7), Auburndale, 22-6.
150: Colton Weiler (56-0), Auburndale, won by technical fall over Marek Lisiecki (48-6), Lomira, 16-0.
190: Carter Lueck (47-1), Stratford, pinned Gavin Hinderman (38-8), Iowa-Grant/Highland, 3:14.
Girls
Consolation Preliminaries
138: Jasmine Herbert (41-14), Auburndale, pinned Irelynd Cejka (35-9), Prairie du Chien 3:34.
Consolation Quarterfinals
138: Madeline Faulkner (46-10), Xavier, pinned Jasmine Herbert (41-15), Auburndale, 4:46.
235: Kyla Braiser (16-16), Green Bay West/East/Southwest pinned Anna Becker (30-10), Spencer/Columbus Catholic/Granton, 3:58.
Semifinals
107: Ava Gardner (36-2), Marshfield, won by major dec. over Alexa Thomas (31-3), Lake Geneva Badger, 8-0.
126: Madi Peach (40-0), Milton, pinned Erika Sleznikow (33-1), Marshfield, 1:22.
Saturday, March 1
Boys
Division 1
Consolation Semifinals
157: Grayden Rode (37-9), Marshfield, vs. Nolan Owen (44-9), Baraboo.
Third-place match
175: Caleb Dennee (49-3), Marshfield, vs. Ryland Schneider (45-6), Oshkosh West.
Division 3
Consolation Semifinals
113: Carson Weiler (47-12), Auburndale, vs. Jared Grimsled (49-9), North Crawford/Seneca.
126: Colin Cournoyer (46-7), Stratford, vs. Tyler Paulson (37-11), La Crosse Aquinas.
132: Aaron Knetter (48-9), Stratford, vs. Clayton Stenjern (45-12), Cambridge.
150: Mathias Kaiser (43-10), Stratford, vs. Brock Hindeman (29-8), Iowa-Grant/Highland.
285: Drew Gage (45-10), Stratford, vs. Jovan Lopez (50-5), Ozaukee.
Third-place Matches
120: Trenton Cournoyer (55-4), Stratford vs. Derek Godard (48-11), Auburndale.
126: Zade Grassl (45-7), Auburndale, vs. Mason Dewing (39-4), Crandon.
Championship Matches
150: Colton Weiler (56-0), Auburndale, vs. Collin Hamm (55-3), Weyauwega-Fremont.
190: Carter Lueck (47-1), Stratford, vs. William Becker (53-1), Pardeeville.
Girls
Third-place Match
126: Erika Sleznikow (33-1), Marshfield, vs. Natalie Klavelier (43-2), Hudson.
Championship Match
107: Ava Gardner (36-2), Marshfield, vs. Lily Baker (48-3), Freedom.