Hornets crowned champions at home tournament
Senior Ethan Duck, Cadott, 145 pounds, flips his Phillips opponent Jesse Bruhn, in an invitational tournament at Cadott, Jan. 8. Photo by Ginna Young
By Ginna Young
Cadott’s wrestling program brought in wins throughout the week, dominating a quad at Altoona, before hosting an invitational tournament, where the Hornets came up with the first place finish.
Jan. 6 Altoona Quad
Starting the week’s competition, the Hornets headed for a quad at Altoona, where Cadott handily won each of their three contests.
Coming up with wins for Cadott over Regis-Altoona, were freshman Kaleb Lodahl (106 pounds), junior Nick Fasbender (132), senior Kaleb Sonnentag (138), senior David Lallemont (152), junior Tristan Drier (160), junior Dawson Webster (182), senior Gavin Tegels (220) and junior Kane Mengel (285). Junior Cole Pfeiffer received a forfeit win, with Cadott taking a 48-27 victory.
“The team wrestled very well, despite having three starters out of the line up,” said coach Josh Spaeth.
Stanley-Boyd was also no match for the Hornets, with Fasbender, Sonnentag, senior Ethan Duck, Pfeiffer, Webster and junior Levi Lindsay (195) winning over their opponents. Lodahl, sophomore Lukas Simenson (120), Drier, sophomore Wyatt Engel (182), Tegels and Mengel all received forfeit victories.
The Hornets walked away from that match with a 66-12 win.
Cadott also won over Osseo-Fairchild-Augusta-Fall Creek, 52-17. Winning for the Hornets, were Sonnentag, Duck, Drier and Pfeiffer. Forfeit wins also went to Fasbender, Webster, Engel, Lindsay and Tegels.
“The wrestlers showed a lot of grit and we won some matches that we were not favored in,” said Spaeth. “We are moving in the right direction.”
Jan. 8 Home Invitational Tournament
Next on their plate, was a tournament at home, in a large field of some of the best the area has to offer. Cadott held on to bragging rights, watching junior Brayden Sonnentag (126), Drier, Pfeiffer, Webster and Tegels all crowned as tournament champions.
B. Sonnentag faced Glenwood City’s James Knight in the first place match, winning by fall, in 2:58. Drier won his fist place match over Sam Murphy, Prescott, with a 7-2 decision. Pfeiffer was matched for first place against Glenwood City’s Noah Brite, by fall, in 1:06.
Webster’s opponent was Nick Haviland, of Menomonie, by a 3:53 fall. Tegels won over Menomonie’s Cody Kwak by fall, in 3:00. K. Sonnentag and Engel also placed high in their matches, earning second place finishes, while Fasbender came in third and Lindsay was fourth.
Sophomore Caden Kingston (182) took fifth place, Mengel was seventh and freshman Tucker Salzgeber (285) finished in seventh place. Sophomore Nick Goettl and Duck (132) came in ninth, while freshman Brock Nesvacil (106) and Lallemont ended 10th.
Cadott claimed the first place spot as a team, with 487 points, 63 more than second place Hayward.
“We had four starters out, due to various reasons and were still able to win the tournament as a team,” said Spaeth. “All of our wrestlers found success on the mat on Saturday.”
Spaeth says he is grateful to host the invitational, and for all the volunteers who made the event possible and a success.
“Close to 600 athletes competed in our facilities this weekend,” he said.
