Four Stratford wrestlers, one from Auburndale qualify for finals at 2015 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MADISON — Four Stratford wrestlers and another from Auburndale will wrestle for Division 3 championships after winning their semifinal matches Friday night at the 2015 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the Kohl Center.

Freshmen A.J. Schoenfuss and Jeremy Schoenherr and sophomores Mason Kauffman and Kamren Bornbach qualified for the finals for Stratford as did Auburndale senior Wyatt Weiler.

Stratford’s Hunter Kauffman and Marshfield’s Mitch Hertel and Josh Lang each lost semifinal matches and were knocked into the consolation bracket.

Schoenfuss (45-2) rolled to a major decision over Zach Anglin of Bayfield/Washburn 17-7 and will take on Austin Wolfe (40-4) of Boyceville in the Division 3 106-pound championship at 6 p.m. Saturday night.

Schoenherr (41-2) cruised to a 5-1 victory over Riley Lull of Fennimore. He will face Weston Wichman (44-5) of Johnson Creek in the 113-pound championship.

Mason Kauffman continued his perfect season with a 7-2 victory over Austin Najbrt of Cadott in a 126-pound semifinal. Kauffman (48-0) will take on fellow undefeated Kal Gerber (44-0) of Cameron in the 126-pound final.

Bornbach topped Austin Stebane of Brillion 9-1 and will face Henry Fielding (44-2) of Shiocton in the 182-pound championship Saturday night. Bornbach beat Fielding 5-2 in the sectional final last Saturday.

Weiler (44-7) edged Jeremiah Moody of Cambridge 12-10 in overtime in a 160-pound semifinal. Weiler will face Jared Roen (42-3) of Riverdale in the championship match.

Stratford senior Hunter Kauffman lost for just the second time this season, losing due to an injury default midway through the second period to Ethan Hofacker of Spring Valley/Elmwood. If Kauffman (40-2) is able to continue Saturday morning, he will face C.J. Pillath (42-5) of Coleman in a consolation semifinal. Kauffman was pinned by Pillath in the closing second of a match at the team sectional tournament, a match that clinched the victory for Coleman.

Hertel and Lang will move into the consolation semifinals after close losses in Division 1 semifinal matches.

Hertel (28-2) lost to Ben Hakes (28-1) of Oak Creek 5-4 at 160 pounds, and Lang fell to Jason Toshner (44-2) of Fond du Lac 4-0 at 195 pounds.

Hertel will wrestle Jared Krattiger (42-1) of Waterford, and Lang (31-6) will take on Christian Dischler (38-11) of Pewaukee in consolation semifinals Saturday.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

2015 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament

Kohl Center, Madison

Saturday, Feb. 28

11 a.m. – Consolation wrestlebacks, all divisions; followed by fifth-place and third-place matches in all divisions
6 p.m. – Championship matches, all divisions

Saturday’s local matchups

Consolation semifinals

Division 1

160 pounds: Mitch Hertel (28-2), Marshfield, vs. Jared Krattiger (42-1), Waterford.
195 pounds: Josh Lang (31-6), Marshfield, vs. Christian Dischler (38-11), Pewaukee.

Division 3

113 pounds: Bryce Shaw (28-19), Spencer, vs. Riley Lull (45-3), Fennimore.
145 pounds: Paul Willfahrt (43-6), Auburndale, vs. Trenton Pasch (42-8), Royall.
220 pounds: Hunter Kauffman (40-2), Stratford, vs. C.J. Pillath (42-5), Coleman.

Championship matches

Division 3

106 pounds: A.J. Schoenfuss (45-2), Stratford, vs. Austin Wolfe (40-4), Boyceville.
113 pounds: Jeremy Schoenherr (41-2), Stratford, vs. Weston Wichman (44-5), Johnson Creek.
126 pounds: Mason Kauffman (48-0), Stratford, vs. Kal Gerber (44-0), Cameron.
160 pounds: Wyatt Weiler (44-7), Auburndale, vs. Jared Roen (42-3), Riverdale.
182 pounds: Kamren Bornbach (40-3), Stratford, vs. Henry Fielding (44-2), Shiocton.