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Cedar Grove-Belgium wrestling returns to WIAA team state for first time since 1997

CEDAR GROVE - The last time the Cedar Grove-Belgium wrestling team reached the WIAA state team tournament, current coach Trevor Peterson was still in high school.

The Rockets alum was a freshman at Cedar Grove in 1997, but now will be looking to lead his team to its first state championship appearance.

The No. 3-seeded Rockets will take on No. 2 Shiocton, which is making its first team state appearance, in the Division 3 semifinals Saturday at the UW Field House in Madison.

Mason Hoopman, who placed second at state last weekend at 145 pounds in Division 3, will help lead Cedar Grove-Belgium in its first appearance at team state since 1997.
Mason Hoopman, who placed second at state last weekend at 145 pounds in Division 3, will help lead Cedar Grove-Belgium in its first appearance at team state since 1997.

“We’re wrestling great as a team, undefeated in duals this year,” Peterson said. “Been a total team effort. Guys are wrestling well. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Peterson's team sent eight wrestlers to the WIAA individual state tournament last weekend, including three place winners. Mason Hoopman earned silver at 145 pounds while Diego Morales (285) and Deven Soerens (220) took third and fifth, respectively.

The other individual state qualifiers were Jesse Burg (126), Owen Race (132), Winston Reichle (152), Joe Schoeder (182) and Jordan Platner (195).

Tthe large contingent in Madison last weekend will help, says Peterson.

“I think its pretty good,” Peterson said. “We had eight guys down (there) so gives them a feel for the bigger platform.

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The biggest hurdle to team state appearances has been dethroning Big East conference rival Random Lake, which Cedar Grove-Belgium defeated 35-33 in a team sectional final to qualify for state.

Before this season, the Rams had represented the region at team state for 11 straight seasons. This year’s senior class was in kindergarten when a team other than Random Lake qualified, Oostburg in 2011.

“Feels great, we’ve been close the last few years in a row,” Peterson said. “We gave Random Lake a pretty good run and just missing team sectionals. This year, we finally got over that hump.”

Shiocton, which knocked off a perennial team state qualifier in Coleman, also features eight wrestlers who qualified for the boys individual tournament.

Izaiah Sanchez took sixth at 113 for Shiocton while teammate Blake Carton (138) was fifth and Brad Demerath (170) placed sixth.

Lexi Riehl made the girls state individual tournament at 114 but did not take part in either team sectional dual for Shiocton.

Peterson has seen how badly the Rockets want to win the first title in school history.

“Hardworking guys who have put in a lot time in during the offseason,” Peterson said. “Guys get along great. Just a good group of guys to coach.”

It’s not just one or two wrestlers who are doing the heavy lifting either.

“There’s a lot of leadership and good, hard work,” Peterson said.

The work isn’t done, but come Saturday Cedar Grove will know how the best season in over a quarter century will play out.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Peterson said. “Should be pretty fun.”

WIAA Division 3 team state tournamentSaturdaySemifinals: 10 a.m.Match 1: No. 1 Fennimore vs. No. 4 StratfordMatch 2: No. 2 Shiocton vs. No. 3 Cedar Grove-BelgiumChampionship: 3 p.m.Match 3: Winners

Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Tom_Dombeck.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Cedar Grove-Belgium wrestling is at state for first time since 1997