This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
EDGAR – Two-time defending Division 3 state champion Stratford took the first step toward a fourth-straight state tournament trip by winning the team title at the WIAA Division 3 Wrestling Regional on Saturday at Edgar High School.
Stratford won nine individual titles and had two runner-up finishes to qualify 11 for the Division 3 individual sectional at Shawano on Feb. 16. The top three in each weight class will qualify for the 2019 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament in Madison on Feb. 21-23.
Stratford will face Crandon and Weyauwega-Fremont will take on Coleman in semifinal duals at the team sectional Tuesday at Auburndale. The winners will face off in a dual for a berth at the 2019 WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament in Madison on March 1-2.
Stratford finished with 301.5 points, well ahead of second-place Athens (166) and third-place Edgar (163). Auburndale finished sixth with 66 points.
Freshman Gavin Drexler continued his undefeated season by winning the 113-pound title for Stratford. Drexler beat Gabe Weiks of Athens by technical fall, 16-0, in the championship match to improve to 41-0 this season.
Other first-place finishers for Stratford were: Manny Drexler (38-3 at 120 pounds), Max Schwabe (40-2 at 132), Jacob Heiden (26-8 at 138), Mav Licciardi (36-4 at 145), Derek Marten (16-2 at 152), Devin Dennee (34-9 at 160), Trevor Dennee (40-1 at 170), and Dylan Schoenherr (40-1 at 285).
Logan Gaulke (25-14) finished second at 106 pounds and Trevor Steiner (27-11) took second at 195 for the Tigers’ other two sectional spots.
Auburndale had two sectional qualifiers. Freshman Noah Altmann (32-8) won the 106-pound final, beating Gaulke 8-3. Senior Isaiah Hasenohrl (23-13) finished second at 132 pounds to also move on to sectionals for the Apaches.
2019 WIAA Division 3 Wrestling Regional
Feb. 2, at Edgar High School
Team scores: 1. Stratford 301.5; 2. Athens 166; 3. Edgar 163; 4. Pittsville 111; 5. Marathon 94; 6. Auburndale 66; 7. Thorp 16.
Top two finishers in each weight class qualify for Division 3 sectional Feb. 16 at Shawano
106 pounds
Championship: Noah Altmann (AUB) def. Logan Gaulke (ST), 8-3.
113 pounds
Championship: Gavin Drexler (ST) won by technical fall over Gabe Weiks (ATH), 16-0.
120 pounds
Championship: Manny Drexler (ST) def. Dane Klinger (MAR), 3-2.
126 pounds
Championship: Carter Brunke (ATH) pinned Camron Damman (PIT), 4:49.
132 pounds
Championship: Max Schwabe (ST) def. Isaiah Hasenohrl (AUB), injury default, 1:52.
138 pounds
Championship: Jacob Heiden (ST) def. Beau Merritt (PIT), 4-1.
145 pounds
Championship: Mavrick Licciardi (ST) def. Jakob Lipinski (ED), 8-2.
152 pounds
Championship: Derek Marten (ST) pinned Nick Sommers (MAR), 1:07.
160 pounds
Championship: Devin Dennee (ST) def. Ty Guden (ED), 5-0.
Second-place wrestleback: Guden (ED) pinned Patrick Redmann (ATH), 2:49.
170 pounds
Championship: Trevor Dennee (ST) def. Hunter Grimm (PIT), 6-0.
182 pounds
Championship: Brock Handrick (ED) pinned Jordan Decker (ATH), 1:23.
195 pounds
Championship: William Raatz (ED) def. Trevor Steiner (ST), 8-1.
220 pounds
Championship: Ethan Heil (ED) pinned Connor Westfall (ATH), 4:30.
Second-place wrestleback: Westfall (ATH) pinned Cole Marten (ST), 1:32.
285 pounds
Championship: Dylan Schoenherr (ST) pinned Mitchell Gore (ATH), 1:03.
Second-place wrestleback: Gore (ATH) pinned Ryan McKibben (ED), 4:53.