Bonduel wrestling team with high hopes despite limited numbers

The Bonduel High School wrestling team enters the winter season with high hopes with a number of talented wrestlers back in the mix.

Bonduel is coming off a season in which they finished second at the Central Wisconsin Conference Tournament and sent three wrestlers to state. Coach Chris Rank, who is entering his 30th and final season of coach, will have a number of experienced wrestlers back, but will also need some others to step up if the team hopes to finish first in the conference.

Max Sokolski, Jayson Toellner and Isaac Banker were the team’s state qualifiers last year and are all seniors.

Sokolski won the CWC title at 138 pounds and went on to place sixth at state at that weight.

“Being in my last season, I know I have a huge role in leading my team to success,” said Sokolski, who hopes to be a state champion by the end of the year, if there is a state tournament. “I will help lead us through the adversity to do the best we can with the few matches we have.”

Toellner was the conference champion at 132 pounds. He finished 0-2 at the state meet.

The Bears will need to replace Banker — a three-time state qualifier — who is out for the year with an injury. Banker placed fourth at 195 pounds at state and was the CWC individual champion at that weight last winter.

Along with Banker, the Bears will also have to replace a few other wrestlers that graduated.

Back for the team with experience are seniors Luis Lagunes and Kaden Bergsbaken and sophomores Cooper Salerno, Tyson Bogacz, Donovan Vigue, Parker Perry and Judah Griesbach.

Bergsbaken finished third in the 170 class at the CWC Tournament as a junior.

“I plan to lead by example by practicing hard and going to every match with a goal of doing the best for the team,” said Toellner, who hopes to make state and finish near the top of the podium to end the season.

While Rank said “it appears Bonduel wrestling will have low numbers this season with no incoming freshmen,” but he’s excited for what the team returns.

“(I’m) certainly hoping there will be some type of state tournament this season,” said Rank. “Bonduel has a great group of wrestlers that would have a legitimate chance of qualifying for the state tournament.”

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