KAUKAUNA — Seven Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts will wrestle in the WIAA individual state wrestling tournament that begins Thursday in Madison.
A pair of former champions appear to be on a collision course in the final if they can navigate their path through the competition at 132.
Senior Lucas Peters of Kaukauna enters with a 44-3 record this season after earning the title at 126 last season, which came on the heels of a runner-up finish at 120 in 2022.
In the same weight class, sophomore Kellen Wolbert of Oconomowoc moves up to 132 after winning the 120-pound weight class a year ago. He begins the State Tournament with a 40-2 mark this year and an 87-2 career record.
Sophomore Liam Crook of Kaukauna (35-0) is one of six undefeated wresters in the Division 1 tournament without a previous championship.
Opening round pairings are:
106 #2 Andy DiPiazza, Kaukauna, 41-5, freshman vs #15 David Bilhorn, Milton, 28-14 Fr.
132 #2 Lucas Peters, Kaukauna, 44-3 Sr. vs #15 Logan Kuck, Homestead, 31-12 So.
150 #14 Kolin DeGroot, Kaukauna, 33-12 So. vs #3 Henry Niebauer Hortonville, 41-2 Sr.
157 #6 Peyton Lee, Kaukauna, 40-7 Jr. vs vs #11 Tanner Hart, Kimberly, 35-9 Sr.
165 #2 Liam Crook, Kaukauna, 35-0 So. vs #15 Brady Stammer, Homestead, 31-17 So.
175 #7 Brady Sprangers, Kaukaunam, 38-8 So., vs #10 Colten Schultz, Beaver Dam/Wayland Academy, 37-8
285 #8 Nehemiah Lendobeja, Kaukauna, 38-10 So. vs #9 Dominic Schnier, Muskego, 27-9 Sr.
The 81st Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Individual Wrestling Tournament and the third Girls Individual Wrestling Tournament will be held Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 22-24, at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.
THE SCHEDULE: Below is the schedule of competition for the individual tournament. All weight classes will be wrestled in consecutive order through the classes on a “next available mat” basis within the mat assignments.
Thursday, Feb. 22
Session 1:
Division 1 & Girls Preliminaries – 3 p.m.
Division 1 Quarterfinals – approximately 5:15 p.m.
Divisions 2 & 3 Preliminaries & Girls Quarterfinals – 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 23
Session 2:
Division 1 & Girls Consolations – 10 a.m.
Divisions 2 & 3 Quarterfinals – approximately 11 a.m.
Division 1 & Girls Consolation Quarterfinals – approximately 1:15 p.m.
Divisions 2 & 3 Consolation Quarterfinals – approx. 2 p.m.
Session 3:
Division 1 Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 1 & 2
Division 2 Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 3 & 5
Division 3 Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 7 & 8
Girls Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 4 & 6
Saturday, Feb. 24
Session 4:
Divisions 1, 2, 3 & Girls Consolation Semifinals – 10 a.m.
Divisions 1, 2, 3 & Girls Fifth-place Matches*
Divisions 1, 2, 3 & Girls Third-place Matches*
- Third-place and fifth-place matches will run concurrently by weight class within divisions after all consolation matches are completed.
Session 5:
Division 1 Championships at 5:30 p.m. on mat 1
Girls Championships at 5:30 p.m. on mat 2
Division 2 Championships at 5:30 p.m. on mat 3
Division 3 Championships at 5:30 p.m. on mat 4
FINALS ON STATE TELEVISION NETWORK: The championship final matches of all three divisions will be aired live on the WIAA State Television Stations WKOW 27.2, WAOW 9.2, WQOW 18.2 and WXOW 19.2, WVTV 24.1 in Milwaukee and WLUK (FOX)/WCWF(CW) in Green Bay/Appleton. The live programming will begin at 5 p.m. The finals will also be streamed live on the Network stations’ websites.
