This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance – Randy LeMoine Agency, LLC
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Spencer/Columbus Catholic junior Hunter Luepke became the first athlete in the history of the Spencer program to win a WIAA state individual wrestling title as he dominated previously undefeated Lucius Rinehart of Evansville/Albany 8-1 in the Division 2 195-pound championship match at the 2017 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
Luepke, who earned a fifth-place medal last season, now has a gold medal to add to his collection.
“It’s amazing,” Luepke said. “I’ve been working for it all year, pretty much all of my life. It’s finally good to get on top of the podium.”
Luepke trailed 1-0 early in the second period before taking it into a different gear.
Luepke earned a takedown and three-point nearfall in the final 15 seconds of the second, and earned another takedown late in the third against Rinehart (38-1) to pull out the win.
Luepke finishes the season with a 39-2 record, winning his final 16 matches of the season, including three at the state tournament.
“I felt like my set-ups were good, I had him guessing the whole time and I was always going,” Luepke said.
Coach Jake Zschernitz said he saw this moment coming for Luepke as soon as he put on the Rockets’ singlet.
“He felt it out a little bit and once he got comfortable he just continued to dominate like he pretty much has been all year,” Zschernitz said. “He’s taken it to every opponent and really getting after it.
“He’s a gifted athlete and works incredibly hard. It was a given it was going to happen. We felt that it would happen and we’re real happy for him.”
2017 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament
Feb. 23-25, at Kohl Center, Madison
Saturday, Feb. 25
Local matches
Division 2 consolation bracket
Semifinals
285: Logan Zschernitz (39-4), Spencer/Columbus, def. Nick Rueth (40-8), Neillsville/Greenwood/Loyal, 3-2.
Third place
285: Zschernitz (40-4), Spencer/Columbus, won by major dec. over Josh Frerk (37-6), Denmark, 14-5.
Division 3 consolation bracket
Semifinals
126: Derek Marten (38-5), Stratford, def. Dylan Bune (32-11), Spring Valley/Elmwood, 5-0.
132: Jake Drexler (42-3), Stratford, pinned Kolbe Ubersox (42-5), Darlington/Black Hawk, in 1:59.
160: David Marquardt (37-5), Stratford, pinned James LaPointe (27-3), Bayfield/Washburn, in 1:58.
195: Aiden Hoffman (37-10), Stratford, def. Noah Friedl (39-5), Royall, 7-3.
285: Tyson Kauffman (15-6), Stratford, def. Noah Novotney (38-10), Boyceville, 3-0.
Third place
126: Andrew Gunderson (33-7), Cadott, def. Marten (38-6), Stratford, 4-2.
132: J. Drexler (43-3), Stratford, def. Seth Schlegel (42-4), Spring Valley/Elmwood, 3-1, SV-1.
160: Michael Bertrand (45-4), Southern Door, def. Marquardt (37-6), Stratford, 4-1.
195: Bryce Holderman (45-3), Amherst, def. Hoffman (37-11), Stratford, 10-3.
285: Takoda Lee (41-4), Cornell/Gilman/Lake Holcombe, def. T. Kauffman (15-6), Stratford, by medical forfeit.
Division 2 finals
195: Hunter Luepke (39-2), Spencer/Columbus, def. Lucius Rinehart (36-1), Evansville/Albany, 8-1
Division 3 finals
106: Koltin Grzybowski (41-3), Coleman, pinned Manny Drexler (41-4), Stratford, in 1:00.
120: A.J. Schoenfuss (35-5), Stratford, def. Sawyer Sarbacker (45-2), Iowa-Grant/Highland, 4-3.
138: Jeremy Schoenherr (17-0), Stratford, def. Sammy VanStraten (40-4), Shiocton, 3-1.
152: Mason Kauffman (33-0), Stratford, won by major dec. over James Pfeiffer (39-5), Cadott, 18-7.
220: Kamren Bornbach (38-1), Stratford, def. Noah Wieczorek (41-4), Clear Lake, 9-4.