Nolan Skebba ends career at the top

Ending your high school career with a state championship is the dream of any young athlete, but accomplishing it is much easier said than done.

Hortonville’s Nolan Skebba walked the walk as he finished his senior season with the Polar Bears on top.

Winning the WIAA Division 1 individual wrestling 150-lb state championship on March 1 was Nolan’s third consecutive trip to state, each season getting closer to his goal.

In his sophomore season, Nolan qualified for state, and in his junior season placed third in the 132-lb weight class before breaking through in 2025 to sit at the top of the podium.

Following in his older brother’s footsteps of becoming a state champion, Nolan started wrestling at four, “my brother brought home a flyer, and my parents had both of us try wrestling.”

Nolan has blazed his trail in the sport and has multiple reasons to love wrestling, ”one is the bonds and friendships formed, and the other one is that it is a demanding sport and success depends on you and how you live your life. This sport has given me friendships I’ll never forget and brought me closer to people I never thought I would be close with. Most importantly, God has blessed me with the health and opportunity to wrestle, so ultimately thanks to him. I’m blessed to live this life for him, following him. The sport is difficult so it is also great because you can find out who is about it and who isn’t about it; you can take people to deep waters and break them, which is something I love.”

Knowing his value as a teammate and on the mat has set Nolan apart, “ I think team-wise I bring a good leadership role or try to at least. On the mat, I think my biggest asset is my pace. I try to go out there constantly looking to score, and I feel like most guys can’t keep up with it.”

Being part of a successful Hortonville team through his four years gives Nolan a sense of appreciation, “ Wrestling in the state finals was an amazing experience I’ve always wanted to do, so that’s up there. But also, the home duals with my team were something I always loved. I would do anything to go to war with my brothers from Hortonville again and will miss wrestling at Hortonville with the home crowd and my brothers.”

Ending his career with accomplishments, including a 127-31 record, has helped give Nolan perspective on his time in school, “Very bittersweet I would say. I’m extremely grateful to the community of Hortonville and my family and friends for helping me become the person I am today. Looking back, I wouldn’t be where I am without them all. The growth I’ve experienced throughout high school is hard to fathom because I went from this unconfident and just passive kid to a confident wrestler and person. I’ll speak my mind, and I’m not afraid to do it. This growth is not only thanks to the Hortonville community, but also our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without him none of this is possible.”

Nolan names a few of his many teammates and coaches who helped him along the way,”  Special thanks to Coach G, my dad, Dewey Krueger, Josh Wagner, Max Askren, my brother, and all of my Hortonville teammates I’ve had the privilege of being teammates with.”