Rebel Jays dominate the mats in Elcho

In what was one of the best statistical performances in recent years, the Laona-Wabeno-Three Lakes varsity wrestling team dominated the competition last week at a tournament hosted by Elcho High School. Six wrestlers from the Rebel Jays squad finished first in their weight brackets earning a collective 27-0 match record during the event, including the first top podium placements of the season for Cameron Tilton and Jayse Demerath.

Ryker Schingeck won his 120-pound bracket for the seventh consecutive tournament and Reagan Roy (126 pounds) won his fourth top placement. He also led the team in total points. They were joined at the top of the podium in their respective weight classes by Max Clark (113 lbs.) and Brody Hoffman (190 lbs.), while Tilton and Demerath swept their 150-pound and 132-pound brackets.

Head coach Seth Senter was pleased with the results.

“This was a great event with a pretty impressive stat line for the team,” he said. “Having so many of our kids placing first is a nice thing, especially after coach Schubert (Colin) and I have worked with each of them to be at their best just as the regular season is coming to a close. These kids are talented and confident going into the postseason and it is very rewarding for the coaching staff to see their development from the best seats in the house, mat side.”

Regarding his top wrestlers, Senter offered the following comments starting with Schingeck’s performance.

“Ryker is just having a good time, and I have always felt that it is especially hard to beat a skilled wrestler who is having fun, and seven straight tournaments with a top placement proves the point.”

Schingeck carries a team-best 48-1 match record into the current week while Roy follows closely with his 44-3 match record.

“Reegan is an impressive wrestler,” according to Senter, “and his long-term winning record and work ethic are attributes that make team leaders and champions.”

The Rebel Jays suited up a near full roster in Elcho, following the return of Hoffman and Clark, who were out in recent weeks due to injuries.

“It is nice to have the team healthy again with the return of Brody and Max, who each quickly returned to their champion-level forms,” Senter said. “Max keeps enjoying his senior year and Brody had to face a couple of high-ranking opponents. His first-place match with Elias Reed, for example, was a good challenge. Reed is a solid wrestler with a 37-4 match record, and Brody maintained his composure to a nice 12-7 decision win.”

Tilton went 5-0 in the tournament with two pins, while Demerath was 3-0 with three pins. Clark pinned all four of his opponents, and Schingeck, Roy and Hoffman all shared 5-0 match records, with a collective six pins to their credit. Cashton Frisch was 3-2 but wrestled well according to Senter, earning a pin and a major decision win along the way to a third-place finish. The team as a whole, also finished in third place out of 11 schools, just behind Tomahawk and Manitowoc Lincoln.

Before the competition in Elcho, the Rebel Jays hosted a small event last Tuesday at Wabeno High School with duals against Rosholt and Tomahawk. The team split the duals, but Schingeck, Roy, Hoffman, Demerath, Frisch, and Ryan DeMars were all undefeated on the night.

In a separate competition for the girls team versus Rosholt High School, Idalynn Vladik earned a second period pin against Olivia Schulist, and Somerr Ridgeway of Three Lakes High School fell short to Alyiah Saletri. The girls squad also had an early tournament this week, just before press time, and will next hit the mat at Bonduel High School this Friday, February 6, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

The boys varsity team will also compete this Friday, at 6:00 p.m. with a Northern Lakes Conference championship meet held at Laona High School against wrestlers from Crandon, Elcho, and Florence. The WIAA D3 wrestling sectional will then take place next Saturday, February 14, in Peshtigo.