Katie Marten/Kacie Richardson/Nikki Dennee photos

By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Two Tigers wrestling teams had very different results at the 2018 WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament March 2-3 at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison.

In Division 3, Stratford faced Fennimore in the championship match for the third straight year, and the Tigers won their second consecutive team championship, defeating the Golden Eagles in the title match for a second straight year 45-13.

The Tigers won all but three bouts in the match. Among their individual wins were pins by Hector Rojas at 220, A.J. Schoenfuss at 126, and Derek Marten at 138. Trevor Dennee at 170, Dylan Schoenherr at 285, and Max Schwabe at 120 won by major decision, and Aiden Hoffman at 195, Manny Drexler at 106, Jeremy Schoenherr at 145, Jake Drexler at 152, and Jordan Becker at 160 won by decision.

In the Division 3 semi-final round, Stratford dominated St. Croix Falls 47-12. The Tigers got pins from Trevor Dennee at 182, Max Schwabe at 120, A.J. Schoenfuss at 126, Jeremy Schoenherr at 138, and Dilan Dehlinger at 152. Dylan Schoenherr and Manny Drexler won by major decision and Hoffman, Jake Drexler, and Karter Stuttgen won by decision.

The Tigers won 22 of their 28 matches at the tournament, winning by a combined score of 92-25.

In Division 1, Stoughton won the championship for the first time since the advent of dual-formatted team championships – its eighth overall. In the quarter-final round, the Vikings made quick work of the Marshfield Tigers, who were making their first appearance at the state team tournament in 15 years.

Stoughton beat Marshfield 47-13, winning 11 of 14 matches. For the Tigers, Sam Mitchell won by major decision wrestling at 195, Gabe Pugh won his match by pin at 113, and at 152, Nolan Hertel won his match 6-3.

The Vikings did not have an easy time in the semifinals and finals, however. In the semi-final round, Stoughton beat Kaukauna 34-30, then edged Holmen in the championship match 31-29. Stoughton had placed runner-up in the team tournament five times, including the last three seasons.

In Division 2, Luxemburg-Casco won its 12th team championship, which ranks second only to Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln’s 21, for the most team titles won. After finishing runner-up last year, the Spartans defeated two-time defending champion Ellsworth, 30-28.