'Recharged' Kaukauna Ghosts ready for shot at third consecutive WIAA state team wrestling championship
With the WIAA individual state tournament in the rear-view mirror, the Kaukauna wrestling team set its sights on another grand prize − a third consecutive WIAA Division 1 state team title.
The Ghosts (11-0) battle Waukesha West (19-6) in a state quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Wisconsin Field House. Semifinals are set for 7:30 p.m., with finals Saturday at 3 p.m. for all divisions.
The Ghosts are a focused bunch and coach Jeff Matczak said the biggest challenge for coaches is to "recharge" the wrestlers for team competition.
"Most of the team was (at the individual state tournament)," he said. "We're bringing back a lot of kids from last Saturday and having to recharge them. Most of the kids are coming back feeling like they left something on the table down there, even if they were state runner-up. There's only 14 guys that are truly happy.
"If you can't get excited about what's ahead of them now, then you ask them, 'Why are you here?' And our kids are here to put another banner in the gym and put another display board up in our room and create special memories for themselves."
Kaukauna, the two-time defending D1 champ, is making its 14th state appearance in the last 16 seasons and 21st overall. The Ghosts have won six D1 championships, including four consecutive titles from 2014 to 2017. Kaukauna also finished as D1 runner-up in 2000, 2003, 2008 and 2013. The Ghost beat Hortonville 70-11 in the sectional final to qualify.
Waukesha West had five wrestlers qualify for the individual state tournament, with none reaching the podium. Xavier Guerrero is the Wolverines' top grappler with a 55-4 record at 138 pounds.
As the final week concludes on a grueling season, Matczak added the upcoming spring weather may actually offer a hand in the mental aspect of the recharge.
"You have to train them a little different this week," he said. "The days are getting longer and we’re getting out of practice in the daylight. It really helps. It really does because at the beginning of the year, the days are getting shorter and it’s getting dark while we’re practicing. Things are warming up and hearing birds in the morning − you try to create that 'March Madness' feeling that mentally can pick people up. The kids are happy and excited about what’s ahead of them."
Kaukauna, the top seed, has premier wrestlers in several weight classes led by four-time individual state champion Greyson Clark (138, 48-0) and Lucas Peters (126, 45-4), who also won a state title last week. Bryan Winans (45-4) was a state runner-up at 132, with Judah Hammen (170) and Liam Crook (160) finishing third and fifth, respectively.
The Ghosts qualified nine wrestlers to the individual state tournament, with Nick Jenkins (106, 29-17), Connor Smith (145, 31-8), Drew Wendzicki (182, 43-10) and Jordan Loose (220, 30-15) also competing at the Kohl Center last weekend.
Kaukauna's most formidable challengers may be second-seeded Bay Port and third-seeded Marshfield. The two teams are on the opposite side of the bracket and the Ghosts could meet one of them in the final Saturday.
Matczak added his team is not looking past anybody as it aims to reach its goal for the season.
"Those are two teams who we've been keeping an eye on since December," he said of Bay Port and Marshfield. "We're doing our preparations and looking really close at the teams we wrestle Friday and also looking ahead at those two teams and breaking down all seven (in the D1 field). Some of them − including those two − we're looking at really hard. But we have to get to that result. We have to take all that into consideration."
Shiocton makes first appearance
Shiocton (22-2) is making its first appearance at the state team tournament and battles Cedar Grove-Belgium (14-0) in a Division 3 semifinal Saturday at 10 a.m.
The second-seeded Chiefs defeated Coleman 30-20 in the sectional final to advance. Shiocton had eight wrestlers qualify for the individual state tournament: Mason Demerath (106, 37-13), Izaiah Sanchez (113, 43-10), Jordan Jahnke (132, 39-10), Blake Carton (138, 44-13), Isaiah Carton (145, 24-7), Dylan Herb (160, 22-4), Brad Demerath (170, 42-7) and Dion Helser (182, 42-12).
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Shiocton had three wrestlers reach the podium with Blake Carton finishing fifth, and Sanchez and Brad Demerath each taking sixth.
Cedar Grove-Belgium is seeded third and is making its third state appearance. It will be the first time in 26 seasons since its last state appearance (1997). The Rockets beat Random Lake 35-33 in the sectional final to advance.
The Rockets had eight wrestlers qualify for the individual tournament: Jesse Burg (126, 45-7), Owen Race (132, 33-18), Mason Hoopman (145, 47-5), Winston Reichle (152, 36-16), Joe Schoeder (182, 38-11), Jordan Platner (195, 27-14), Deven Soerens (220, 26-9) and Diego Morales (285, 47-4). Hoopman was runner-up at 145 with Morales third and Soerens fifth, respectively, at the individual tournament.
IF YOU GO
What: The 32nd annual WIAA state team wrestling tournament
Where: UW Field House, Madison
When: Friday and Saturday
Division 1: Friday's quarterfinals, 5:30 p.m. - Kaukauna (11-0) vs. Waukesha West (19-6); Muskego (18-6) vs. Germantown (19-1); Marshfield (16-4) vs. Mukwonago (25-5); Bay Port (19-2) vs. Reedsburg (16-3). Semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Division 2: Saturday's semifinals, 10 a.m. - Luxemburg-Casco (18-0) vs. Evansville (16-5); Prairie du Chien (27-4) vs. Baldwin-Woodville (14-3).
Division 3: Saturday's semifinals, 10 a.m. - Fennimore (15-0) vs. Stratford (15-2); Shiocton (22-2) vs. Cedar Grove-Belgium (14-0).
All championship matches at 3 p.m. Saturday
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kaukauna Ghosts going for third straight state wrestling championship
