Few Waunakee High School wrestlers have ever medaled twice at state.
Trevor Statz joined three others as the only Warriors to do so with his performance at this past weekend’s WIAA Division 1 State Individual Wrestling Tournament.
He was one of three Warriors competing at state this year.
“Overall, it was a great tournament for all of them,” said Waunakee Head Coach Mark Natzke. “It was a great season, and a great career for Trevor.”
Statz placed sixth at 182 pounds, while Mason Ripp (220) lost his only match and Nate Lorenz (145) went 0-2 at state.
The meet was held at the Kohl Center in Madison Thursday through Saturday.
Trevor Statz
A year ago, Statz finished a surprising second after making it to the finals at the same weight he wrestled at this year.
This time around, Statz (43-10) started off by pinning South Milwaukee’s Adam Jones (29-18) in 1:33 on Thursday.
In the quarterfinals that same night, however, Statz lost by fall to Hudson’s Dylan Anderson (47-1), who pinned Statz in 5:10.
“He lost to the eventual third-place finisher,” said Natzke. “He could very easily have given up after that, but he came back hard.”
On Friday, Statz won two matches to clinch a medal, pinning Neenah’s Beau Yineman (31-12) in 1:44 and taking a 4-3 decision from DeForest’s Kevin Rauls (35-13) in the consolation bracket.
A day later, Statz lost in the consolation semifinals 10-8 to Muskego’s Grant Balconi (44-8) after making a furious comeback. Statz trailed 7-1 going into the third period, but bounced back to tie the match at 8-8, before losing on a reversal.
In his final match at state, Statz lost by pin to Superior’s Ross Kennelly (43-4).
Mason Ripp
An unlucky first-round draw led to an early exit for Ripp.
On the first day, Ripp (42-7) wrestled the No. 2 ranked competitor in his weight class, Oconomowoc’s Brett Samson (42-2). Ripp lost by pin in 3:47.
Unfortunately for Ripp, Samson lost in the next round to a kid ranked No. 1 at 220 pounds, thus ending Ripp’s first appearance at the state meet.
“The kid he lost to ended up third,” said Natzke. “I think Mason could have beaten some of the other guys there.”
Ripp’s road to the state meet was a long one.
“He wrestled that kid tough,” said Natzke. “He had a great season to end his career as a state qualifier. He came a long way, after having a losing record as a freshman to go to being a state qualifier as a senior.”
Nate Lorenz
Lorenz (39-11) lost his initial match by major decision (9-1) to Arrowhead’s Aidan Yde (39-7). Yde won his next match as well, giving Lorenz new life.
He was down by one point in his next match against Bay Port’s Marshall Jepperson (28-16), but Lorenz lost by pin.
“They were tied up in the situation, and they each tried to throw each other, but Nate ended up on his back,” said Natzke. “It could have gone the other way.”