Wrestling: Experienced core hopes to lead Oconto Falls to big season

OCONTO FALLS — Despite competing in the loaded North Eastern Conference, the Oconto Falls High School wrestling team believes it can put together a big season.

Oconto Falls, which will be coached by Dave Brasier, has several wrestlers back from last year’s team that went 9-6 in duals for the season and 5-3 in NEC duals.

Two of the returning wrestlers — senior Tyler Budz and sophomore Clayton Whiting — ended last season competing at state, with Whiting winning a Division 2 title as a freshman in the 152-pound weight class.

Whiting heads into his sophomore season with some big individual goals, but he also hopes to help the team to a successful season.

“My goal is to be the best teammate I can be, (whether it) means scoring bonus points or staying after practice to help our younger wrestlers,” said Whiting.

Winning another state title while going undefeated are other season goals for Whiting, who one day hopes to wrestle at the Division I college level and compete in the Olympics.

Budz hopes to end his season at state again, but this time placing in his weight class.

The senior also hopes to be a leader for the Panthers.

“I have been leading the youth program for the last couple years, and I love helping our wrestling program as much as possible,” said Budz. “I plan to lead practices and help our younger kids so we have a complete team. We have great coaches, and I believe we can do great things this year.”

Also back for Oconto Falls this winter are juniors Elijah Zielinski, Aidan Stary and Trevor Schindel and sophomores Jacob Kaminski and Jaden Ganter.

Zielinski and Stary have each qualified for sectionals before, while Stary also made the NEC honorable mention team last year.

“If the guys keep up the intensity in the practice room, I believe the sky’s the limit for us as a team,” said Whiting. “We should be competitive with some of the recent D2 powerhouses, hopefully returning OF to team state and a team title.”

Oconto Falls gets the privilege of competing inside its own school for regionals and possibly sectionals (should individuals or the team advance) this year.

“It would be very exciting for our wrestlers to win regionals as a team in our own gym,” said Brasier.

Marinette & Oconto Conference

The Gillett/Suring co-op and Lena teams both head into the season with a lot of new faces on their rosters.

Gillett/Suring, which is coached by Jeremy Krueger, must replace Sam Lemens, a state qualifier from last year. The team will look for its younger wrestlers to achieve that.

“We have a lot of new wrestlers and still are working on building a full team,” said Krueger, who is “looking forward to an exciting season.”

Lena comes into the season as its own team after serving as a co-op with St. Thomas Aquinas Academy in the past.

Coach Chad Misco said he has eight freshmen on the team this winter, which will eventually allow him to roll out a complete lineup for duals.

“We will have a young squad, but having a full squad will go a long way in dual meets and tournaments,” said Misco.

Leading the team will be senior Alex Decoursin and junior Richard Fieck. Each wrestler made it to sectionals last year.

Junior Kevin Chang is also back with experience, while Misco expects freshmen Ayden Decoursin, Sam Marquardt and Luke Misco to make solid impacts this season.

“As a team, I would like us to use communication more often and encourage each other on the mat, and even off the mat,” said Alex Decoursin, who hopes to end the year by competing at state.

Gillett/Suring and Lena will each take part in the Division 3 Lena regional, with any qualifying individuals and teams moving on to the Bonduel sectional at Shawano Community High School.

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