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CUMBERLAND – The Stratford wrestling team will be heading back to the WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament for the first year in a row after capturing a Division 3 sectional title on Tuesday night at Cumberland High School.
The Tigers defeated Marawood Conference rival Phillips 60-10 and held off St. Croix Falls 40-30 in the championship dual to move on to Madison again.
“I am so proud of these kids tonight,” Stratford coach Joe Schwabe said. “Many sacrifices have been made for the good of the team over that of the individual. It was really special to witness this season.
“We had kids that went down weights, some went up weights, and others even gave up their spot to get the best matchups. It was needed to first beat Cadott at regionals and then Saint Croix Falls in the finals.”
Stratford and Fennimore have met in the Division 3 state finals in each of the past four seasons, and could be headed toward another matchup. Fennimore won by one point in 2016, Stratford earned the state title the next two seasons, and Fennimore evened up the rivalry at 2-2 with a 31-24 win in last year’s finals.
The 2020 WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament will be held March 7 at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison. In addition to Stratford and Fennimore, Coleman and Random Lake also advanced in Division 3.
Stratford won 12 of the 14 matches against Phillips, seven by pin.
Gavin Drexler (126 pounds), Max Schwabe (132), Konner Stuttgen (152), Jacob Heiden (160), Devin Dennee (170), Trevor Dennee (195) and Beau Gross (220) also won by pin for the Tigers.
Elijah Lucio added a major decision at 138, Raife Smart (182) and Cole Marten (220) added victories, and Benno Wenzel (120) won by forfeit for Stratford.
Drexler and Schwabe started out the championship match against St. Croix Falls with pins in the opening minute of their respective matches, and Lucio won a 10-0 major decision at 138 to give Stratford a quick 16-0 lead.
After St. Croix Falls won the next two matches, Stratford ripped of five-straight wins to clinch the victory.
Jacob Heiden had a pin, Hunter Ford won by disqualification, and Devin Dennee and Trevor Dennee had pins around a 4-3 win by Smart at 195.
First up for the Tigers will be the Division 3 individual sectional on Saturday at Edgar. Stratford will have wrestlers in 12 of the 14 weight classes. The top three finishers in each weight at the sectional qualify for the 2020 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison on Feb. 27-29.
WIAA Division 3 Team Wrestling Sectional
Feb. 18, at Cumberland High School
Semifinals
Stratford 60, Phillips 10
120: Benno Wenzel (ST) won by forfeit.
126: Gavin Drexler (ST) pined Jesse Bruhn, 1:46.
132: Max Schwabe (ST) pinned Dominic Kurth, 1:07.
138: Elijah Lucio (ST) won major dec. over James Bruhn, 12-0.
145: Hunter Bruhn (PH) won major dec. over Gavin Kirsch, 9-1.
152: Konner Stuttgen (ST) pinned Kaylie Upson, 0:46.
160: Jacob Heiden (ST) pinned Garrett Deleasky, 2:31.
170: Devin Dennee (ST) pinned Parker Anderson, 1:46.
182: Raife Smart (ST) def. Kees Hoogland, 7-5.
195: Trevor Dennee (ST) pinned Owen Roe, 0:51.
220: Cole Marten (ST) def. Isaiah Upson, 12-5.
285: Beau Gross (ST) pinned Delton Heizler, 1:15.
106: Matthias Hoogland (PH) won by forfeit.
113: Karter Stuttgen (ST) won by forfeit.
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Championship
Stratford 43, St. Croix Falls 30
126: Gavin Drexler (ST) pinned Devyn Rode, 0:19.
132: Max Schwabe (ST) pinned Sam Glenna, 0:35.
138: Elijah Lucio (ST) won major dec. over Zack Clark, 10-0.
145: Kole Marko (SCF) def. Gavin Kirsch, 6-2.
152: Bennett Bergmann (SCF) def. Konner Stuttgen, 5-2.
160: Jacob Heiden (ST) pinned Graidy Guggisberg, 2:44.
170: Hunter Ford (ST) def. James Kemp by disqualification.
182: Devin Dennee (ST) pinned Calan Leahy, 0:52.
195: Raife Smart (ST) def. McKinley Erickson, 4-3.
220: Trevor Dennee (ST) pinned Kyle Zehm, 1:18.
285: Tanner Gaffey (SCF) pinned Cole Marten, 3:13.
106: Luke Thaemert (SCF) won by forfeit.
113: Kaden Clark (SCF) won by forfeit.
120: Mason Will (SCF) won by forfeit.