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Prep notebook: 14 Racine wrestlers headed to state
By Robb Luehr
Making it through the high school wrestling season without losing puts a large target squarely on your back at the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament.
Two of Racine County's finest will be wearing those targets when the tournament begins today at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Senior Justin Schmalfeldt of Burlington (34-0) and junior Eric Czaja of Waterford (36-0) will try to complete unblemished seasons by winning Division 1 state titles at 215 and 152 pounds, respectively.
Twelve other wrestlers from county schools also will be gunning for medals, if not titles.
In Division 2, three Union Grove wrestlers - sophomore Kurt Vanderwerff (103), freshman Cole Zimmermann (119) and senior Luke Smith (189) - and senior Jon Flancher of St. Catherine's (215) begin action Friday.
In Division 3, Racine's Lars Skoglund (171), a student at Heritage Christian in Milwaukee, also starts his quest Friday.
His closest matches were an 8-3 decision over Jake Morrison of Wrightstown and a 7-0 victory over John Jones of Oregon, both at the Mid-States Invitational over the Christmas break.
Schmalfeldt's desire to be the best was fortified last season after he finished lost in the fifth-place match at state.
"He's been pretty focused since he took sixth last year," Demons coach Jade Gribble said. "He walked off pretty disgusted with himself and since then, he's said to me and said to himself this year he's turning it around. He's trying to move to the top spot."
Schmalfeldt begins his matches today at 5 p.m. against senior Kenny Jones of Delavan-Darien (37-4). If he wins, he would wrestle either senior Jerry Wall of Waukesha West (32-9) or junior Trevor Cordes of Marshfield (37-3) in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Schmalfeldt could potentially meet senior Eddy Joe Skenadore of Green Bay West/Southwest (44-0), the only other unbeaten wrestler at 215. If he makes the final, a rematch with Jones (26-1), a senior.
Gribble is highly confident Schmalfeldt will complete his mission.
"I think the style he has is a very good style," Gribble said. "It is a very aggressive, physical, attacking style and he can score from multiple positions. He's looking to put it together this weekend."
Czaja, the only unbeaten wrestler at 152 pounds, is also on track for gold. He opens against sophomore Joel Yogerst of Slinger (28-10) today and would face either senior Josh Brand of Milton (12-10) or junior Joe DeCono of Watertown (35-4) in the quarterfinals.
On the other half of the bracket, the top wrestler is junior Eddie Stefonek of Rhinelander (41-1).
Wolverines coach Henry Agallar is happy with Czaja's draw, which includes Olson. That match would be in the semifinals.
"Eric has a good bracket," Agallar said. "He could be in the finals, but he has to show up. They're all good wrestlers.
"Eric has always had the goal of being a state champ and being undefeated. I hope it really does materialize."
Czaja's brother Tim opens today at 135 against junior Brad Soots of Janesville Craig (30-7), but would likely have a formidable challenge in the quarterfinals tonight against Dustin Perry of Merrill (38-2), the defending champion in the weight class.
Tim Czaja has had some injury problems this season and is wrestling with a hyperextended elbow.
Olson (33-2) and Sanchez (35-1) both have tough opening matches.
Sanchez, one of three wrestlers at 130 with one loss, opens against freshman Ben Provisor of Stevens Point (36-6) and with a victory would likely face unbeaten senior Tim Costigan of West Allis Hale (34-0).
Olson goes against senior Jorgan Gerardy of Holmen (38-4) in the first round, then would face either Josh Buettner of Pulaski (37-6) or Levi Lassa of Merrill (35-9), both seniors.
Case's trio is led by Magruder (37-4), the sectional champion at 135. Magruder opens against sophomore Ben Thone of Fond du Lac (31-10), then would likely face the only unbeaten wrestler in the field, senior Justin Teppo of Waupaca (33-0).
Harmann (24-7) opens against senior Blaine Ziarek of Muskego (24-6) at 125, then would face senior Jordan Quinnell of Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (33-9) or sophomore Pat English of Wauwatosa East/West (16-6).
Estep (26-7) takes on senior Jim Kunz of Oshkosh West (38-7) and would likely have to face Skenadore in the quarterfinals.
Park's Morelli (29-8) starts out against sophomore Martino Balsinger of Chippewa Falls (34-6), but if he wins, Morelli would likely have a quarterfinal match against junior Chad Leviner of Mukwonago (40-1), who has the best record in the 103 field.
If Dumas (23-15) can get past senior Brad Hucke of Arrowhead (37-6) in the first round, he would likely face senior Riley Kreuzer of Muskego (37-1), a state medalist, in the quarterfinals.
In Division 2, Vanderwerff has been coming on in the second half of the season and has a bye in the first round Friday morning. He will face either sophomore Thane Antczak of Chetek/Prairie Farm (44-2) or junior Brian Smith of Evansville/Albany (30-10).
Having a chance to watch that match before he wrestles may help Vanderwerff in his first trip to state.
"It could be an advantage that he can watch the other guys first," Broncos coach Andy Weis said. "He's in a good situation to do good this weekend. Hopefully, we can get him up on the podium."
If Vanderwerff can get to the final, he could face Tomahawk senior Alyssa Lampe (43-4), a nationally-ranked girls' wrestler.
"He would have to treat it like any other match," Weis said. "You have to go out and wrestle hard for six minutes."
Smith (29-8) finally earned a trip to state and starts out Friday against senior Dan Silvernale of Tomahawk (37-5). If Smith wins, next up would be senior Jesse Roberts of Luxemburg-Casco (40-5) in the quarterfinals.
Zimmermann (22-14) has been "surprising all year long," Weis said. "He is just a tough kid and really gets into his matches." Zimmermann faces sophomore Jed Domke of Viroqua (42-5) in the first round and a victory would put him against senior Joe Steffen of Osceola (37-1) in the quarterfinals.
Flancher (40-3) got a bye in the first round and awaits the winner of the match between senior Jordan Eggenberger of Ellsworth (33-10) and junior Matt Scott of Monroe (23-9) in his quarterfinal match. Also on Flancher's semifinal half of the bracket is senior Matt Schmacher of Freedom (40-1).
Skoglund (35-4) opens Friday against senior John Thatcher of Glenwood City (34-11) and the winner faces senior Jason Campbell of Riverdale (37-6) in the quarterfinals.
Semifinals in all three divisions begin at 7 p.m. Friday and the championship matches begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Boys' hoop playoffs begin The girls enter the regional semifinals tonight, but the boys won't be far behind.
The WIAA boys' basketball playoffs begin next Tuesday and here's the matchups (regional seedings are in parentheses; all games begin at 7 p.m. except as noted): In Division 1 Tuesday, Park (2) hosts Franklin (7), Case (3) hosts Greenfield (6), Waterford (4) hosts West Allis Hale (5) and Burlington (7) is at Kenosha Tremper (2). Horlick (1), the champion of the Southeast Conference South Division, had a first-round bye and will host Milwaukee Pulaski/Arts (4) or Milwaukee Hamilton (5) Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m.
In Division 2, Union Grove (5) plays at Cudahy (4) Tuesday and the winner plays at Greendale (1) next Thursday.
In Division 3 Tuesday, defending Division 2 state champion St. Catherine's (1) hosts Prairie (8), Racine Lutheran (3) hosts Kenosha Reuther (6) and Shoreland Lutheran (7) plays at Kenosha St. Joseph (2).
In Division 4 Tuesday, Catholic Central (1) hosts Albany or Watertown Maranatha Baptist.
Sectionals will be played Friday and Saturday, March 10-11 in Division 1 and Thursday (March 9) and Saturday in Divisions 2, 3 and 4.
Christian Life girls have local flavor The Christian Life girls' basketball team may be in Kenosha, but four of its five starting players are from Racine County.
Senior Alyssa Maurer of Yorkville leads the way and the other local starters are senior Michelle LaForge of Union Grove and juniors Katie Czechowicz and Kathryn Nelson of Racine. Athena Mussenden of Kenosha is the fifth starter.
The Eagles went unbeaten (12-0) in the Midwest Classic Conference Classic Division and are 18-3 overall after beating Greendale Martin Luther 39-36 in the Division 3 playoffs Tuesday.
McNamara, Queram sign with colleges Park soccer player Danny McNamara and Waterford quarterback Joe Queram have signed national letters of intent to play in college.
McNamara, a senior three-year starter for the Panthers, will attend and play soccer for Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., an NCAA Division II school and Queram is headed for Division III UW-Platteville.
McNamara played sweeper last season and helped Park improve from a 3-13 record the previous season to 10-7-4 last year. The defense, anchored by McNamara, allowed just 15 goals in 21 games.
McNamara was also a first-team All-Southeast Conference and All-Racine County selection last season. He was the only Racine-area player recruited by Delta State.
McNamara has several other offers, but chose between Delta State, Division III UW-Platteville and Indiana Tech, according to a press release.
Queram, who had a quarterback rating of 62.9 this fall (47 completions, 100 attempts, 841 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions) was one of just three quarterback recruits for the Pioneers this year, according to Queram's father John. Joe's size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and his arm strength attracted Platteville's coaching staff.
Queram also considered UW Division III schools Stevens Point and Whitewater.
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