Graduation hits wrestlers hard
The Weyauwega-Fremont High School wrestling team is coming off a successful 2010-11 season that included a 14-5 record, a Central Wisconsin Conference championship, a regional runner-up and two state wrestlers, including one champion in Casey Haase.
However, graduation took its toll and coach Tim Potratz and the Indians need to replace six senior varsity wrestlers.
Back for W-F include Jared Gruetzmacher (36-7 last season), Trevor Potratz (34-10), Casey Lenz (20-20) and Brandon Loehrke (20-20). Returning letterwinners include Isaac Danke (106 pounds), Nick Thomas (120), Tre Blohm (126), Gruetzmacher (138), Andy Pribbernow (145), Potratz (145), Lenz (152), Loehrke (160), Jackson Stearns (195) and Allen Bentle (220).
W-F will also build for the future with six freshman.
“We will be a competitive team this season because we have a balanced lineup from top to bottom,” Potratz said. “We only have a couple of top-level wrestlers, but everyone on this team knows how to wrestle and will push themselves to compete at their highest level.
“Our goals are to try and defend our conference title and win a regional championship this season,” he said. “We also hope to get a couple kids to the state tournament. These are high goals for this team, but the boys will work hard to achieve them.”
Potratz said the Central Wisconsin Conference looks very balanced this season.
“There are six or seven quality teams and only a couple of schools that lack the depth to fill a full lineup,” he said. “The top four teams from last year – Weyauwega-Fremont, Bonduel, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Shiocton – should battle it out again this season for the conference title. Amherst and Rosholt could be the sleepers to look out for.”
Rich Tomaszewski is back to coach the team with Potratz and their assistants are Kyle Mannel, Ryan Hahn and Tim Stearns.
The team has set up a web site – www.weyauwegawrestling.com – with team information, photos, statistics, results, records and schedules.
