Area Prep Wrestlers To Watch In 2002-03

Thursday, December 12, 2002
Dennis Semrau

Following are some of the area prep wrestlers expected to make an impact this season:

Tony Ayala, 130 pounds, sr., Madison Memorial - A three-time All-City performer, Ayala was a Big Eight Conference champion at 125 pounds and narrowly missed earning his first berth at state a year ago, placing third at sectionals. He was 30-2 a year ago and has a three-year varsity record of 74-23.

Corey Binger, 119, jr., Monroe - A Badger Conference and regional champion and sectional runner-up. Binger finished 34-6 as a sophomore, placing sixth at the Division 1 state tournament at 112 pounds.

Eddie Blumenthal, 152, jr., Stoughton - A Division 1 state runner-up at 152 pounds as a sophomore, Blumenthal was 28-3 a year ago. He won Badger Conference, regional and sectional titles. As a freshman, Blumenthal was a Badger Conference champion and placed third at sectionals for the Vikings, who were second in the Division 1 team state meet.

Craig Bollig, 171, sr., Verona - Bollig bounced back a year ago from a knee injury that limited him to eight matches as a sophomore. A sectional qualifier a year ago, Bollig was a state qualifier as a freshman. He has a career mark of 75-14, including 8-0 this season.

Steve Butcher, 275, sr., Sun Prairie - A sectional qualifier, regional runner-up and Big Eight Conference champion at heavyweight a year ago, Butcher was 25-0 during the regular season and finished 30-2 overall.

Jason Callin, 152, sr., Portage - A Division 1 state qualifier at 130 pounds as a sophomore, Callin finished third at sectionals, second at regionals and fourth at the Badger Conference meet last season.

Gilbert Chavez, 275, jr., Baraboo - A returning Division 1 state qualifier after winning a regional title and placing second at sectionals, Chavez finished with a 25-10 record as a sophomore and has a 49-18 career mark.

Jon Clark, 112, sr., Sun Prairie - A Division 1 state qualifier after finishing second at sectionals and third at regionals, Clark was a Big Eight Conference runner-up at 103 pounds and finished with a 26-5 record.

Kodey Feiner, 125, sr., Sun Prairie - Feiner won the Big Eight Conference title at 112 pounds and was a regional runner-up to qualify for sectionals. He finished with a 26-7 record.

Tyler Herring, 171, sr., DeForest - A Badger Conference, regional and sectional champion at 160 pounds last season, Herring finished with a 29-7 record.

Mike Jackowski, 171, sr., Middleton - A fourth-place finisher in his Division 1 state tournament debut, Jackowski is the defending Big Eight Conference champion at 189 pounds. He won regional and sectional titles and finished with a 32-6 record.

Cal Jensen, 160, jr., River Valley - Jensen is looking for his first state title after placing second as a freshman and having his season ended by a knee injury at regionals a year ago. He was 75-1 entering this season, with his only loss coming in the state finals his freshman year. Jensen is a two-time Bi-State Classic, Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League and regional champion.

Joe Karls, 160, sr., Lodi - Karls won South Central Conference, regional and sectional titles to qualify for the Division 2 state tournament at 152 pounds. He placed fifth at state and posted a 32-5 record for the Blue Devils, who advanced to the Division 2 team state finals.

Brandon Kessenich, 145, sr., DeForest - Kessenich was a regional and sectional runner-up and first-time state qualifier a year ago when he finished with a 29-13 mark.

Kyle Mueller, 135, sr., River Valley - A three-time state qualifier, Mueller is a two-time SWAL, regional and sectional champion. He was 38-4 a year ago and had a career mark of 109-15 entering this season. Mueller was third at 112 at the WIAA Division 2 meet as a junior and as a freshman.

Kyle Reeve, 112, soph., Wisconsin Heights - Reeve won Capitol Conference and regional titles and was second at sectionals to qualify for the Division 3 state tournament as a freshman. He finished 33-3.

Mike Rohowetz, 125, sr., River Valley - Rohowetz is vying for his third straight trip to state after placing second in 2001 and fifth last year. A defending conference champion, Rohowetz was 38-5 last season and has a 99-21 record.

Joe Sarbacker, 145, sr., Verona - A three-time Badger Conference and regional champion and state qualifier, Sarbacker was 28-2 last season at 125 pounds. A third-place finisher at the Division 1 state meet at 103 as sophomore, Sarbacker has a 108-7 record, including 8-0 this year.

Steven Sprecher, 130/135, jr., Baraboo - Sprecher is a two-time state qualifier who advanced to the final eight last season at 125 pounds in the Division 1 state tournament after placing sixth at state as a freshman at 103. He entered the season with a career mark of 64-23.

Nick Ziegler, 112, soph., Lodi - A Division 2 fifth-place finisher at state at 103 pounds as a freshman, Ziegler was runner-up in the South Central Conference, a regional champion and a sectional runner-up. He beat defending state champion Kelly Bires in overtime at 112 pounds in Lodi's 63-9 South Central Conference opening match win over Mauston.

OTHERS TO WATCH Brendan Baxter, 135, sr., Madison Edgewood; Mark Behl, 160, sr., Lakeside Lutheran; Trevor Berndt, 160, sr., Reedsburg; David Bollig, sr., 160, Verona; Ryan Bowar, 160, jr., Mount Horeb-Barneveld; Adam Burner, 135, jr., Evansville; Dominic Caminata, 171, jr., Lake Mills/Johnson Creek; Dan Crook, 140, sr., River Valley; Ross Fahey, sr., 160, Sugar River; Aaron Fanta, 275, sr., Marshall.

Dustin Frye, 130, jr., Waunakee; Gilbert Gatica, 112, jr., Marshall; Tom Gehin, 130, jr., Sugar River; Ryan Gerber, 215, jr., DeForest; Luke Gerke, 125, jr., Black Hawk; Jason Gruenenfelder, 171, jr., Pecatonica-Argyle; Alex Haupt, 135, sr., Lodi; Jeremy Heins, 130, sr., Black Hawk; Derrick Kaul, 171, sr., River Valley; Andy Kelley, 119, sr., Madison East.

Mike Kiefer, 112, soph., Poynette; Jason Kissack, 125, sr., Wisconsin Dells; Scott Lee, 171, sr., Mount Horeb-Barneveld; Jameson Loesch, 152, jr., Evansville; Sam Masino, 135, sr., Verona; Josh McIlrath, 189, jr., Poynette; Robert Miller, 130, jr., Stoughton; Cullen Newton, 275, sr., Marshall; Matt Niesen, 125, jr., Lodi; Mike Ramsden, 189, jr., Lodi.

Jake Roach, 171, sr., Deerfield; Jon Ruder, 119, sr., Edgerton; C.J. Rusch, 160, sr., Cambridge; Casey Schmitz, 119, soph., Sauk Prairie; Alex Switzky, 119, jr., Verona; Kent Tengblad, 275, sr., Mount Horeb-Barneved; Nick Thiltgen, 140, sr., Cambridge; Matt Tolley, 125, sr., Stoughton; Brody Wachter, 189, jr., Oregon; Scott West, soph., 125, Albany-Juda.