The WIAA Wrestling postseason gets underway this weekend with Girls Regionals and Boys Sectionals.
The top four girls from each Regional will advance to next Friday’s Sectionals.
SECTIONAL B
Regional 1 @ Merrill
Teams Competing: Antigo, Chequamegon, Crandon, Florence/Niagara, Lakeland, Merrill, Phillips, Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Wabeno/Laona
The Merrill Girls Wrestling Regional will feature two of the state’s top-ranked competitors, each looking to punch their ticket to the next level.
At 107 pounds, Tomahawk senior Kylie Peissig enters the postseason ranked 14th in the state. Peissig brings a stellar 105-23 career record into the regional, including a strong 41-6 mark this season. The veteran standout has been consistent all year and will look to use her experience and mat savvy to make a deep postseason run.
At 152 pounds, Antigo senior Olivia Hofrichter stands out as one of the premier wrestlers in the bracket. Ranked 2nd in the state, Hofrichter carries an impressive 127-13 career record, including a dominant 39-2 performance this season. With state-title aspirations, she enters Merrill as one of the favorites to advance.
SECTIONAL B
Regional 3 @ Wausau West
Teams Competing: Bonduel, Clintonville, DC Everest, Gillett/Suring, Menominee Nation, Pulaski, Shawano, Wausau East, Wausau West, Wittenberg-Birnamwood
The Wausau West Regional is shaping up to be one of the toughest in the area, featuring multiple state-ranked wrestlers, including a defending unbeaten star.
At 100 pounds, two ranked competitors headline the bracket. Bonduel senior Kaitlyn Kroening is ranked 6th in the state, carrying a 108-36 career record and a strong 41-5 mark this season. She’ll be challenged by 9th-ranked Danika Spets of D.C. Everest, the junior sitting at 25-10 this year and continuing to build on her 56-31 career record.
At 107, Wausau West sophomore Aaleeh Le enters ranked 15th. With a 75-15 career mark and 30-6 season record, she’ll have home-mat advantage and plenty of momentum.
Shawano Community senior Jenna Moede is ranked 16th at 120 pounds. Moede brings a solid 33-13 season into postseason competition and will look to cap her senior year with a strong run.
One of the biggest storylines comes at 145 pounds, where Pulaski junior Harlow Skenandore is ranked 2nd in the state. She’s been nearly untouchable with a 54-2 career record and a perfect 5-0 mark this season.
The 152-pound bracket is stacked as well. Bonduel sophomore Madelynn Hert is ranked 4th with a 41-3 season and 64-20 career record, while Wausau West junior Lana Borchardt is ranked 16th, bringing a 94-29 career mark into regional action.
At 165 pounds, Bonduel junior Alisha Berg, ranked 4th, has compiled a 99-14 career record and a 41-4 season, positioning herself as one of the favorites.
And at 185, all eyes will be on Wittenberg-Birnamwood junior Brooke Huffman. Ranked number one in the state, Huffman enters the regional undefeated at 42-0 this season and an astounding 117-0 in her career, one of the most dominant resumes in Wisconsin girls wrestling.
SECTIONAL B
Regional 4 @ Lena
Teams Competing: Bay Port, Coleman, Crivitz/ Wausaukee, Green Bay United, Lena, Marinette, Oconto Falls, Oconto, Peshtigo, Sturgeon Bay, Southern Door
The Lena Girls Wrestling Regional is loaded with ranked talent, including a number-one wrestler defending her home mat.
At 114 pounds, all eyes will be on Lena senior Taylor Whiting. Ranked number one in the state, Whiting enters regional action at 5-0 this season and an incredible 58-1 in her career. Wrestling at home, she’ll be one of the favorites not just to advance — but to make another deep postseason run.
Bay Port brings serious firepower throughout the lineup. At 100 pounds, freshman Ellie Hultman is ranked 5th in the state with a strong 43-6 record in her debut season. At 120, 4th-ranked Dakotah Athey carries a 38-5 season and 114-20 career mark, while senior Anna Behling is ranked 7th at 126 with 113 career wins.
At 235, Bay Port’s Autumn King is ranked 4th with a dominant 37-3 season and 93-24 career record, headlining a deep heavyweight bracket that also features two additional ranked wrestlers.
Southern Door will also make plenty of noise. Nora LeFevre is ranked 10th at 107 with 80 career wins, Sydney Turner is 10th at 145 with 116 career victories, and Portia Hah is ranked at 132.
Another major contender comes at 165 pounds, where Sturgeon Bay/Gibraltar/Sevastopol senior Tiani Lemieux is ranked 3rd in the state. Lemieux enters at 42-4 this season and 103-22 in her career, positioning herself as one of the strongest title threats in the regional.
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SECTIONAL D
Regional 1 @ Hortonville
Teams Competing: Appleton West, Fox Valley Lutheran, Hortonville, Manawa, Neenah, New London, Shiocton, Waupaca, Weyauwega-Fremont, Xavier
The Hortonville Girls Wrestling Regional features a strong mix of elite upperclassmen and rising freshmen who are already making statewide noise.
One of the biggest storylines comes at 107 pounds, where Manawa freshman Penelope Ayala enters ranked 2nd in the state. Ayala has been dominant in her first varsity season, posting a 35-1 record. As just a ninth-grader, she’s already positioned as one of the top title contenders in Wisconsin.
At 126, Neenah senior Kylee Kurszewski brings serious postseason experience. Ranked 3rd in the state, she carries a 42-2 season mark and an outstanding 122-16 career record, making her one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the entire regional field. Teammate Amari Richard is ranked 6th at 132 with 116 career wins, giving Neenah a powerful one-two punch in the middle weights.
Host school Hortonville will look to defend its home mats behind senior Hannah Huza at 138. Ranked 4th in the state, Huza owns a 36-5 season record and has eclipsed the 100-career win mark. At 165, fellow senior Mackenzie Schiedermayer is ranked 8th and brings 93 career victories into regional competition.
The 145-pound bracket could be one of the deepest. New London sophomore Caroline Christopher is ranked 6th with a 33-5 record, while Waupaca junior Caylin Johnson is ranked 9th at 26-4. Expect that weight class to deliver one of the day’s marquee matchups.
At 185, New London freshman Bryn Schmidt is ranked 2nd in the state with a 31-5 record, another example of the strong youth presence throughout this regional.
Shiocton also features impressive young talent, including 100-pound freshman Brynn Johnson (33-5) and 165-pound freshman Shealyn Anday, who is ranked 15th with a 40-4 record.
SECTIONAL D
Regional 2 @ Wrightstown
Teams Competing: Appleton North, Ashwaubenon, De Pere, Freedom, Green Bay Preble, Luxemburg-Casco, Notre Dame, Seymour, West De Pere, Wrightstown
The Wrightstown Girls Wrestling Regional is stacked with top-five ranked wrestlers, setting up several marquee showdowns across the brackets.
At 100 pounds, Notre Dame freshman Mya Beckett enters ranked 4th in the state with an impressive 34-4 record in her first varsity season. She’s quickly established herself as a serious postseason threat.
The 107-pound bracket could be one of the best of the day. Seymour freshman Alaina Roffers is ranked 3rd at 32-3, while Freedom junior Katherine Cook sits 5th in the state with a 32-5 season and a remarkable 112-14 career record. That matchup has all the makings of a regional final preview.
Freedom sophomore Lily Baker is ranked 4th at 114 pounds, bringing a 21-2 season and 69-6 career mark into the postseason. The Irish continue their strong presence at 138, where Stella Pettitt is ranked 5th with a 38-3 record.
Host school Wrightstown will lean on Chesney Bartoszek at 126 pounds. Ranked 4th in the state, the junior enters at 36-1 this season and boasts an outstanding 123-13 career record, making her one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the entire field.
At 235 pounds, fans could see another high-level battle. Luxemburg-Casco senior Kiley Georgel is ranked 2nd with a 20-3 season, while West De Pere sophomore Mercedes Kruse is ranked 3rd at 25-3. That heavyweight bracket could produce one of the most competitive matchups of the regional.
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