New London’s Hailie Krueger looking to join exclusive four state title club

With each time New London’s Hailie Krueger steps on the mat she is one win closer to history as she looks to become a four-time WIAA state champion, and become the first girl to accomplish the feat. A regional championship in the 152 weight class at Wausau West has her moving on to sectionals in Shawano.

Hailie, started wrestling at the age of seven in second grade, her father Nathan is the New London varsity coach, but her brother joining is when she decided to give wrestling a try, “My brother brought home a flyer and told my mom he wanted to wrestle and he started a whole year before I did and I sat and watched.” Hailie said, “the next year I joined and fell in love with wrestling.”

“My first one means a little more to me because I was able to have both my parents in my corner,” says of her most memorable state championship so far, “It was nice having both of them in my corner.”

Hailie knows what the accomplishment of winning four state championships would mean for the sport, “it would mean a lot, it’s really awesome being the only one with three and I feel bad for the girls, who weren’t able to do that, but I’m super proud of what I was able to do and I know all my hard work will pay off to be in that club of four (championships)”.

It’s nice to see the growth of the girls in the sport, especially on this team as we have girls who in their third year, who have beaten girls, who have been wrestling forever.” Hailie said.

Hailie will be attending Wartburg College , and looks back at the growth of girls wrestling as something she will take away from her high school career, “my sophomore year I was the only girl on the team and coming into my junior year we had eight girls on the team and we finally had enough to have somewhat of a decent roster.” Hailie said of her team, “I remember we had our first ever girls conference duel and we had our girls lineup just like the guys do and it was just amazing.”