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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – The Spencer/Columbus Catholic wrestling team is a work in progress.
The Rockets return four wrestlers that accounted for 124 victories and a state tournament medal last season, but have seven freshmen on the varsity as they will have to learn their way through a grueling schedule that will culminate with tournament action in February.
Junior Hunter Luepke went 42-7 last season and earned a fifth-place finish in Division 2 at 182 pounds at the WIAA State Wrestling Tournament. The two-time regional and Cloverbelt Conference champion, and two-time state tournament qualifier, will wrestling at 195 and 220 pounds this season.
Bryce Shaw, another junior, earned a state medal in 2015, placing sixth at 113 points. Last year, Shaw went 28-11 and won the Cloverbelt title at 126. He is expected to move up to 138 and 145 pounds this season.
Also back for the Rockets are junior Dominick Wichlacz and sophomore Logan Zschernitz. Wichlacz went 21-18 and qualified for sectionals last year, while Zschernitz was a sectional qualifier and finished 33-8.
“We have a young team, with no seniors and seven freshmen starting varsity,” Spencer/Columbus coach Jake Zschernitz said. “However, we do have some talented guys returning. We expect to be competitive as a team, while bringing the young guys along.”
Ashton Ackman at 106 pounds is one freshman that will be in the lineup, along with sophomore Carson Hildebrandt at 160 pounds.
“We have plenty of talent to do some good things toward the end of the season and when tournament time gets going,” Jake Zschernitz said.