This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
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MADISON – Marshfield hung with top-ranked Kaukauna, trying to halt the Ghosts’ quest for a third-straight state championship, but couldn’t come up with enough at the end.
After three-straight wins by Marshfield tied the match at 26-26, Kaukauna won the final three duels and pulled out a 41-26 victory in the Division 1 championship match at the 2023 WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin Field House.
The runner-up finish is Marshfield’s best in seven state tournament appearances over the past 21 years. The silver trophy is the first top-two finish at a team state tournament for the Marshfield athletic program since the football team placed second at the 2004 finals.
Kaukauna won the first three matches before Jon Sternweis at 113 pounds and Easton Ledden at 120 pinned their opponents to give the Tigers a 12-9 lead.
The Ghosts ripped off three more wins before hitting the meat of the Marshfield lineup and the three individual state qualifiers delivered for the Tigers.
Hoyt Blaskowski earned his third pin in as many matches at the team tournament in just 45 seconds to win at 145 pounds, Caleb Dennee followed with a 10-0 major decision at 152, and Garrett Willuweit snagged a 15-6 major win to tie the match at 26-26 with three matches left.
Liam Crook won by technical fall over Eli Colby at 170 and Judah Hammen followed with a 14-3 major decision over Owen Griesbach to clinch the Ghosts’ third-straight title and seventh overall in the past 10 seasons.
2023 WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament
March 4, at UW Field House, Madison
Division 1 Championship
Kaukauna 41, Marshfield 26
220: Jordan Loose (KAU) def. James Clements, 6-1.
285: Ben Krueger (KAU) def. Adrian Kruger, 7-2, SV-1.
106: Nick Jenkins (KAU) def. Ava Gardner, 9-3.
113: Jon Sternweis (MAR) pinned Michal Posorski, 4:53.
120: Easton Ledden (MAR) pinned Moses Hammen, 3:12.
126: Lucas Peters (KAU) pinned Jace Kelnhofer, 0:35.
132: Bryan Winans (KAU) pinned Keenen Landwehr, 0:25.
138: Greyson Clark (KAU) won by technical fall over Brett Franklin, 20-4.
145: Hoyt Blaskowski (MAR) pinned Brady Sprangers, 0:45.
152: Caleb Dennee (MAR) won major dec. over Connor Smith, 10-0.
160: Garrett Willuweit (MAR) won major dec. over Peyton Lee, 15-6.
170: Liam Crook (KAU) won by technical fall over Eli Colby, 16-0.
182: Judah Hammen (KAU) won by major dec. over Owen Griesbach, 14-3.
195: Drew Wendzicki (KAU) pinned Mason Seidl, 2:40.
Results
Friday, March 3
Division 1 Quarterfinals
No. 1 Kaukauna (12-0) 67, No. 8 Waukesha West (19-7) 6
No. 4 Muskego (19-6) 36, No. 5 Germantown (19-2) 33
No. 3 Marshfield (17-4) 47, No. 6 Mukwonago (25-6) 14
No. 2 Bay Port (20-2) 40, No. 7 Reedsburg (16-4) 33
Division 1 Semifinals
No. 1 Kaukauna (13-0) 72, No. 4 Muskego (19-7) 4
No. 3 Marshfield (18-4) 43, No. 2 Bay Port (20-3) 25
Saturday, March 4
Division 2 Semifinals, 10 a.m.
No. 1 Luxemburg-Casco (19-0) 63, No. 4 Evansville (16-6) 9
No. 2 Prairie du Chien (28-4) 45, No. 3 Baldwin-Woodville (14-4) 21
Division 3 Semifinals, 10 a.m.
No. 1 Fennimore (16-0) 55, No. 4 Stratford (15-3) 13
No. 2 Shiocton (23-2) 42, No. 3 Cedar Grove-Belgium (14-1) 25
Championship Matches
Division 1
No. 1 Kaukauna (14-0) 41, Marshfield (18-5) 26
Division 2
No. 1 Luxemburg-Casco (20-0) 37, No. 2 Prairie du Chien (28-5) 20
Division 3
No. 1 Fennimore (17-0) 43, No. 2 Shiocton (23-3) 18