Jr. Knights Wrestling Team Succeeds at State Tournament

The Jr. Knights Youth Wrestling team had three qualifiers for the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation Youth Folkstyle State Tournament.  The three qualifiers were:  Dylan Lewandowski (48 pounds), Braeden Ott (66 pounds) and Devyn Books (150 pounds).  The three wrestlers qualified for the State Tournament after competing at the Elkhorn Regional on March 9.  Ott qualified after winning his weight class.  Lewandowski and Books both qualified for the state tournament with finishing second in their respective brackets.  Other wresters competing at the regional were:  Owen Ott, Matt Kuesel, Ryan Kuesel, Luke Lewandowski, Robert Lagerman, Alex Reidjk, Max Randolph and Isaiah Mayer.

This past weekend, Lewandowski, Ott and Books competed at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.  Braeden Ott became the first Jr. Knight to win a state championship.  Ott defeated Ian Smith of Northwestern in the first round by a major decision 9-1.  In the second round a 7-2 decision over Isaac Vanden Bush of Green Bay Preble.  Braeden’s semi-final opponent would be last year’s 5^th place finisher, Brock Bennington of Marshfield.  Bennington scored the first takedown of the match, but Ott rallied for a 6-3 win.  The semi-final win set up a rematch from an early season loss.  Zachary Lewicki from the Askren Wrestling Academy defeated Ott 6-5 in an early season match.  Ott defeated Lewicki 5-1 to gain his first state youth championship.

Dylan Lewandowki, a first year wrestler defeated 2 wrestlers at the regional tournament that had defeated him during the season to gain his state tournament berth.  Lewandowski was defeated in the first round by Caleb Kasey of SVE.  It was a hard fought match and the first year wrestler never gave up.  In the first round consolation match, Lewandowski was defeated by Suhr Alex of New Lisbon.  It was a great experience for the new member to the wrestler world and Dylan will be looked to as a leader on the Jr. Knights season next year.

Devyn Books, also a 2^nd place finisher at the Elkhorn Regional faced Breckon Wright of the Wisconsin Wrestling Club in the first round.  Wright defeated Books by a fall.  In the first round consolation match Books had a heart breaking loss in double overtime to Brendan Burke of Sparta.  It was a battle the entire match, with Burke just edging out Books.

First Year, Head Coach, Jeremie Ott explains that the boys all represented the Nicolet Jr. Knights well and is very proud of them all.  Taking three kids to state is only a building block to the future.  A goal and plan to establish a wrestling tradition is in the works.  The young wrestlers that practiced and competed all year will grow and become Nicolet’s wrestling future.  “I’m so very proud of all the wrestlers this year.  Especially the three qualifiers.  They all worked extremely hard to get to state.  We may not have had all the results we wanted, but the experience will be a huge asset in the long run.”

A special thanks to assistant coaches Dr. Rick Lagerman, Steve Kuesel, Chad Ott and Ethan Klein.  As well a huge thank you to the parents and wrestlers that are all part of the Jr. Knight Wrestling Family!