Sonnentag heads west to fulfill dream of greatness

Brayden Sonnentag (center) proudly donned his cowboy hat in honor of the University of Wyoming mascot, as he sat between his parents Nov. 9, after signing his Letter of Intent to wrestle at the Division 1 school. Sonnentag has won three straight individual State championships and hopes to notch a fourth before his high school career is finished. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Since he was a little boy, barely old enough to don the yellow singlet of Cadott’s youth wrestling program, Brayden Sonnentag has dreamed of greatness. Now in his senior year of high school, Sonnentag has not one, but three State individual championships under his belt and looks to add a fourth this spring.

He also notched another goal, to wrestle for a Division 1 school. Sonnentag signed his National Letter of Intent Nov. 9, committing to the University of Wyoming to be a Cowboy.

For Sonnentag’s current coach Josh Spaeth, that doesn’t come as a surprise. When he was just that small boy, Sonnentag informed Spaeth that he wanted to break his uncle Greg’s wrestling record and become a State champion in his own right.

“I was thinking, man, he’s going to be special, because he’s set the goals already,” said Spaeth.

With a 139-2 high school record, Sonnentag could be the winningest Hornet in the school’s wrestling program history, despite a shortened season during COVID. So far, only 22 wrestlers in the State have achieved a four-peat State title. Sonnentag has already said he wants to pin his opponent to win his fourth championship.

“Pinning someone in the State finals is simply dominant and I know he has the ability to do that,” said Spaeth.

“What many of us don’t see, is the time and dedication to training he is putting in outside the walls of this school,” said athletic director Erin Crank.

Sonnentag has taken every opportunity to train, practice and gain experience to get better at his craft, putting in years of hard work, that continues to pay off.

“He chose to be rare,” said Spaeth. “Good things don’t just happen.”

When considering what school he wanted to attend after his high school years are complete, Sonnentag chose Wyoming, because he loved the coaches there and the land, because while bigger than Cadott, the Wyoming community is still small enough that he will feel at home.

The senior says he is excited to see what the future holds for him, as he carries on the family tradition that comes with his last name.

“Really, to carry on the legacy is nice,” said Sonnentag. “I’m not taking the foot off the gas pedal.”