Hortonville's Skebba wins state title

MADISON-The third trip to state was the charm for Nolan Skebba as he finished his senior year at Hortonville as the 2025 Division 1 150-lb state champion after taking a trip to compete in Madison the previous two seasons.
Skebba qualified for the 2023 WIAA state tournament as a sophomore at 120-lb and placed third in 2024 as a junior in the 132-lb division.

In his opening match, Skebba, the first seed in his bracket, took on the 16th-seeded freshman Mason Boulanger of Luxemburg-Casco. In the opening period, Skebba went up 9-1 as he had two takedowns and a near fall. An escape by Boulanger gave him the lone point of the period. In the second period, Boulanger had a near fall of his own to net him four points, but a reversal by Skebba led to a pinfall victory.

Skebba faced eighth-seeded junior Gabe Metzler of Waunakee in his second match and won with a 10-0 major decision. A takedown by Skebba at 1:05 was the only points scored in the opening period. Two more takedowns and an escape in the following periods would lead Skebba to the semifinal of his bracket.

Fox Valley Association rivals squared off in the semifinal as Skebba went toe-to-toe with Kaukauna senior Peyton Lee, who entered the bracket as a fourth seed. Skebba picked apart his opponent with a takedown in the opening period and an escape, reversal and near fall to Lee’s takedown to end the second period up 10-3. Another takedown in the final period gave Skebba the 13-3 victory.

One more opponent stood between Skebba and a state title as he took on second-seeded senior Eli Rabideau of Germantown. A takedown again gave Skebba an early advantage as he went up 3-0. In the second period, Skebba scored on an escape and his second takedown of the match to go up 7-0. In the final period of his wrestling career at Hortonville, Skebba went in for one more takedown to go up 10-0 and be declared the winner and 2025 Division 1 WIAA State champion by majority decision.

Hortonville participants included 132-pound junior Cash Botting finished third, 106-pound sophomore Evan Lesselyong won two matches, senior Austin Mchugh participated at 215, junior Hannah Huza finished sixth in the Girls' 126-lb division, junior Mackenzie Schiedermeyer won a match in the Girls 165-lb division.