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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Stratford senior Luke Radke is relishing his one and only chance to take part in the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament.
Radke followed up a pin in the quarterfinals earlier in the day with a workmanlike 6-3 victory over Ron Skuja of Peshtigo in the 189-pound Division 3 semifinals Friday, moving into Saturday night’s championship match.
Radke (36-6) will face Casey Haase (41-6) of Weyauwega-Fremont for the title. The championship bouts in all three divisions begin at 6 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
Radke beat Skuja 10-7 in last Saturday’s Division 3 sectional at Shawano before losing 7-2 in the championship match to Haase.
In the semifinal against Skuja, Radke used a takedown and a three-point nearfall in the second half of the first period to open up a 5-0 lead. Skuja retaliated with an escape and takedown early in the third period, but Radke escaped with 53 seconds to go and neither wrestle was able to gain control again.
“I knew I had that five-point lead and I wasn’t going to stall the entire match, but I definitely wasn’t going to do anything stupid,” Radke said. “I stuck to the basics since I’ve known from preschool on up. It was nothing too extravagant, but enough to get the job done.”
Radke will be trying to become the first individual state champion for Stratford since Matt Bauman and Shawn Kitchner each won titles in 2003.
“Coming in I knew anything was a possibility, but I couldn’t fully appreciate this until there was no time left in the third period and you’ve got more points than him,” Radke said. “It’s just awesome.
“I’m expecting a good time, busting my butt off and make some memories that I can look back on 30 years from now.”
Radke’s teammate, Mark Marquardt, lost his chance at wrestling for a state title, falling 4-1 to Tucker Pittz of Mineral Point in a 152-pound semifinal match.
Marquardt (32-8), a senior, is guaranteed a medal and will wrestle in a consolation match at approximately noon Saturday against Cadyn McKeeth (47-3) of Arcadia. The winner moves on to the third-place match while the loser will wrestle for fifth Saturday afternoon.
MarshfieldAreaSports.com will have full coverage from the championship matches at the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Saturday night.