Future bright for Raiders

Underwood has wrestlers gaining pins

By Casey Krautkramer

Kraig Underwood continues to build Marathon’s wrestling program into a winner.

Fourteen Marathon middle and high school grapplers competed against top-level competition throughout the Midwest in the Trackwrestling Preseason Nationals on Nov. 13 at the La Crosse Center.

Kraig Underwood’s son, middle schooler Blake Underwood, took first place in the 14U 91-pound weight class to become a 2021 Trackwrestling Preseason National champion.

Blake Underwood was one of six Red Raider grapplers to place in the top five to earn a spot on the podium. Marathon’s Hector Pintor took second place in the high school 171-pound weight class.

Three Red Raider middle schooler wrestlers took home fourth-place finishes win their 14U weight classes including Cale Quaintance at 98 pounds, Reed McCain at 144 and Alex Poppe at 265. Levi Krautkramer placed fifth in the 14U 105-pound weight class.

Other Marathon wrestlers who competed at the Trackwrestling Preseason Nationals are Grant Salber, Jacob Smith, Ian Hunter, Swayne Stencil, Tate Sonnentag, Taylor Underwood and Dylan Dodson.

Kraig Underwood has 10 Marathon varsity wrestlers this season includ- ing sectional qualifiers from last year in juniors Mason Putnam at 138 pounds, Hector Pintor at 170 and Logan Werner at 285 and sophomore Dylan Dodson at 120. Other top returners who had great wrestling seasons last year are senior Nick Van Rixel at 152 pounds and sophomores Derek Vesely at 138 and Jacob Smith at 145. This year’s high school squad welcomes freshmen Levi Krautkramer at 106 pounds, Juan Gomez at 160 and Ian Hunter at 182.

Marathon has 12 to 14 middle school wrestlers but the season doesn’t start until January The Red Raiders varsity squad began its regular season by placing ninth among 17 teams at the Antigo tournament on Dec. 4.

Marathon had only six wrestlers who scored points for the team because of injuries placing the team See MARATHON/ page 12

VESELY CONTROLS HIS OPPONENT- Marathon sophomore Derek Vesely is shown wrestling in the Auburndale tournament on Saturday. He secrured a 3-1 record in the tournament to take third place in the 138-pound weight class.

STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN early this season. Marathon did have a pair of tournament champions in Levi Krautkramer at 106 pounds and Dylan Dodson at 120. Logan Werner placed second and Hector Pintor was fourth in their weight classes at the Antigo tournament. Ian Hunter had a 3-2 record while Juan Gomez and Mason Putnam were both 1-4.

Marathon’s tournament on Dec. 11 in Brillion was canceled because of bad weather. Marathon lost Marawood Conference dual matches to Phillips, 36-27, and Chequamegon, 42-24, on Dec. 14 at the Phillips Duals.

Red Raiders with competitive bout wins against the Loggers are Dylan Dodson with a pin at 120 pounds, Hector Pintor with a pin at 170 and Levi Krautkramer with a 7-1 decision at 106.

Marathon grapplers gaining pins against the Screaming Eagles are Dylan Dodson at 126 pounds, Mason Putnam at 138, Dereck Vesely at 152 and Logan Werner at 285.

Marathon competed in the Auburndale tournament on Saturday. Dylan Dodson took first place with a 4-0 record at 120 pounds, after upsetting the No. 2 ranked wrestler in Division 1.

Hector Pintor took first place with a 3-0 record at 170 pounds. Levi Krautkramer placed second with a 4-1 record at 106 pounds while Derek Vesely was third with a 3-1 record at 138 and Logan Werner third with a 3-1 record at 285.

The Red Raiders were scheduled to wrestle at the Stanley-Boyd quad on Tuesday, which is after this week’s early deadline for The Record-Review newspaper because of Christmas. Results will appear in next week’s newspaper.

Marathon then competes in the Northern Badger holiday tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and Thursday, Dec. 30, at River Falls High School.

RED RAIDER GRAPPLERS- The 2021-22 Marathon middle and high school wrestlers are shown. Pictured, from left to right, front row: Tayler Underwood, Swayne Stencil, Cale Quintance, Blake Underwood, Grant Salber, Levi Krautkramer and Austin Krautkramer; back row: Hector Pintor, Tate Sonnentag, Dylan Dodson, Reed McCain, Jacob Smith and Ian Hunter. Not pictured is Alex Poppe.

DODSON WORKS HARD- Red Raiders sophomore Dylan Dodson competes at the Auburndale wrestling tournament on Saturday. He went 4-0 to win the 120-pound title.STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN