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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford wrestling team suffered the most excruciating loss possible in the WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament last season, but that stunning defeat is not going to keep it down for long.
The Tigers lost in a tiebreaker to Fennimore in the Division 3 championship match. After tying 26-27, Fennimore won the tiebreaker by virtue of winning eight of the 14 matches, keeping Stratford from what would have been its first-ever state team tournament title.
However, with four individual state champions and one runner-up returning to the line, the Tigers are expected to make a run again toward the state team tournament and add upon their three-straight Marawood Conference championships.
Junior A.J. Schoenfuss (126 pounds), junior Jeremy Schoenherr (145 pounds), and senior Kamren Bornbach (220) are all back after each won their second Division 3 individual state titles in a row last February.
Tyson Kauffman is expected to back at 285 pounds after winning a state title, but has not wrestled yet this season. In addition to the four champions, runner-up Mason Kauffman (152), state medalists Jake Drexler (138), and David Marquardt (170), state qualifier Derek Marten (132), and Marawood champs Jordan Becker (160) and Manny Drexler (106) also return to give the Tigers’ one of, if not the most potent lineups in the state.
“The kids seem pretty excited being nationally ranked in two separate polls (39th by theopenmat.com and 50th in another),” Stratford coach Joe Schwabe said. “It’s a lot of fun watching these kids in practice. There is a lot of talent in the room. They have worked very hard in their careers and strive to be excellent at their craft.”
Mason Kauffman, a state champion in 2015, was the runner-up at that weight last year after suffering from a heart ailment that was diagnosed when he fell ill after the semifinals. He has now pushed his undefeated career record past the 100-victory mark with wins early this season.
Also returning to the varsity lineup are sophomore Dylan Schoenherr at 182 pounds and Aiden Hoffmann at 195.
Newcomers Kolton Dahl (113), Max Schwabe (120), and Trevor Dennee (152) will vie to fill out the varsity roster.
“I am equally impressed with what we call our Varsity Reserves as they place at varsity tournaments as a team and win individual brackets,” Joe Schwabe said. “The last few years we have had between 30-38 kids. I’m very proud to have numbers like this in a small school. These wrestlers work very hard and are part of something special right now.