WI State Wrestling: Tracking the Dual Sport Athletes

This past week was the State Finals for Wisconsin High School Wrestling. Because of the big event, I want to go through and identify the dual sport athletes who made state and also were football players this past fall. College coaches love dual sport athletes, and there are a ton of them that have gone the wrestling- football route for Fall- Winter sports. There are athletes from the 152 lbs Class up to the  285 lbs Class. Let’s take a look at the season long performance and finish for 27 dual sport athletes. <strong>Joseph Penchi (2022), Aquinas: D3-152</strong> Finished with a 30-5 record, Lost in the Quarterfinals. Won the 2021 State Championship with Aquinas football while playing RB. <strong>Will Bieber (2023), Coleman: D3- 152</strong> Finished with a 47-8 record, Lost in the Semi-Finals. D7 State Runner Up in football. Two way starter for Coleman football, including being one of the top returning ball hawks. Had 6 INTs in 2021. Very gifted athlete. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104582" first="Colin" last="O’Neil"] (2023), Cashton: D3- 152</strong> Finished with a 34-13 record, lost in the first round. Consistent Top Performer on the gridiron as an RB. Powerful RB with the contact to gain yards after contact. Can see his wrestling background in his play on the field. Kid to watch in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245926" first="Jayden" last="Gordon"] (2024), Kenosha St. Joseph Academy: D3- 160</strong> Finished with a 21-4 record, lost in first round. RB8 in WI Class of 2024. Leading rusher on varsity for 12-1 team. 900+ yards and 14 TDs. Athlete to know. <strong>Calvin Hargrove (2023), Aquinas: D3- 160</strong> Finished with a record of 42-4, lost in the Semi-Finals. Do-it-all athlete for D5 State Champion Aquinas football. Made game winning stop on 2 pt. conversion. Undersized, but a big play LB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31270" first="Cole" last="Ebert"] (2022), Reedsville: D3- 220</strong> Finished with a record of 46-2, lost in the Finals. Won the D6 State Championship with Reedsville football. Played DL and FB. Made an impact both ways during the championship. Uncommitted, third leading rusher on team and second most tackles. Under the radar! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31384" first="David" last="Gauderman"] (2023), Wittenberg- Birnamwood: D3- 220</strong> Finished with a 47-4 record, third place at State. One of the top football players in the Class of 2023. Two way playmaker who played off the edge on defense and carried the rock on offense. Has a lot of D1 and D2 interest. Name to know! <strong>Darren Wagner (2022), Reedsville: D3- 285</strong> Finished with a record of 33-17. Uncommitted OL for State Champion Reedsville football. Can see his wrestling background shine through in his use of leverage. Could be a late steal for a program. <strong>Preston Horihan (2022), Aquinas: D3- 285</strong> Finished with a 25-14 record. Horihan was a two way lineman during Aquinas' State Championship run. I love seeing OL that wrestle because their balance and body control are always a bit better than the rest around them. Horihan is the same, and I believe he is still available. <strong>Justin Klinker (2024), Two Rivers: D2- 170</strong> Finished with a 29-16 record. Starting QB for Two Rivers. Led them to a 6-4 record, and a playoff appearance. 1,000+ passing yards, and 10 TDs. <strong>Caden Weber (2023), Regis: D2- 182</strong> Finished with a record of 30-3. Second leading tackler on team from the LB position. Was a key piece to Regis' 12-1 run, and a Level 4 playoff appearance. Played football around 200 lbs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118564" first="Reed" last="Breckheimer"] (2022), Hilbert: D2- 195</strong> Finished with a 38-6 record. Leading rusher, receiver, and tackler for the Hilbert football team. Team went 9-2. 1,600+ rushing yards, 200+ receiving yards, 99  tackles. Bruiser of an RB and LB along with a talented wrestler. Uncommitted senior to check out. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104988" first="Chase" last="Matthias"] (2024), Two Rivers: D2- 195</strong> Finished third in his weight class, and with a 38-6 record. One of the top 2024 prospects in WI. Chase is a two way stud who uses his wrestling background to his advantage. Chase is a hard hitting LB who runs through contact, and is a reliable tackler. On offense, Chase uses a wide base and contact balance to generate yards after contact. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31226" first="Josiah" last="Nathaniel"] (2022), Catholic Memorial: D2- 285</strong> Finished with a record of 21-7. Josiah was a key piece to Catholic Memorial's D4 State Championship run. The OL was well recruited, and has committed to UW- Oshkosh. Pumped to watch him at the next level! <strong>Ben Ott (2024), Nicolet: D1- 152</strong> Finished with a record of 40-16. Ben was the starting QB for Nicolet on the way to the school's first playoff victory. Passed for 1,100+ yards, and 15 TDs. He was also the second leading rusher on the team. Ben is an athlete to keep an eye on on the field and mat. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118463" first="Braeden" last="Ott"] (2022), Nicolet: D1- 160</strong> Finished second in his weight class, and with a record of 49-4. Braeden was also a key piece on the Nicolet football team on the way to their first playoff win. Braeden was the team's 4th leading tackler, leading rusher with 1,700+ yards, and 16 TDs. Uncommitted, so get on the athletic playmaker. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118501" first="Reed" last="Napiwocki"] (2022), Wausau West: D1- 170</strong> Finished with a 34-12 record. He was the team's leading tackler, and second leading rusher. He had 60 tackles,a nd 250 rushing yards. Reed punched in 2 TDs as well. He helped the team finish 8-2 overall. Napiwocki is still available on the recruiting landscape. <strong>Michael Alexander (2023), De Pere: D1- 182</strong> Finished third in his weight class, and with a record of 46-2. You can tell he wrestles too when he is on the football field. Michael is a physical athlete at the LB position. When he hits people they remember. He is such a reliable tackler, and will be a name to watch. <strong>Joseph Berens (2022), Wausau West: D1- 195</strong> Finished with a record of 41-6. Berens is also a talented football player. He was First Team All- Conference at LB and FB. Joe had the second most tackles, and was the 4th leading rusher. Joe is still available. Don't miss out. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="182081" first="John" last="Harman"] (2022), Stoughton: D1- 195</strong> John finished with a record of 30-11 on the season. On the gridiron, John is committed to Olivet Nazarene. He is a talented LB who is able to get after the QB, and he sets the edge nicely with his compact frame. Excited to follow his career. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="182070" first="Kaden" last="Hooker"] (2022), Waunakee: D1- 195</strong> Kaden finished 4th in his weight class, and with a record of 30-7. The D2 State Champ locked it donw at the middle of the defense for Waunakee. Kaden earned DPOY for the Badger Large conference. He is a rangy LB that packs a punch on contact. He is still uncommitted, so get at him! <strong>Roman Martell (2022), Oshkosh West: D1-195</strong> Finished 5th in his weight class, and with a record of 39-9. Roman was a key piece on the gridiron. He was the leading passer, leading rusher, 6th leading receiver, and even got some run on defense. Roman is still uncommitted, and he could be a steal because he is a solid athlete out in space. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118553" first="Demetrius" last="Bissen"] (2022), Nicolet: D1-220</strong> Demetrius finished with a record of 28-18. He is a talented football player in the defensive trenches who is committed to Carroll University. He also helped Nicolet to their first playoff win. Good luck at the next level, Demetrius! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31385" first="Griffin" last="Empey"] (2023), Stoughton: D1- 285</strong> Griffin finished second in his weight class, and with a record of 52-2 on the year. The heavy weight is one of the top OL in the state as well. He moves so smoothly, and his body control at 260 lbs is special. I'm confident he will be heavily recruited for his football abilities. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31295" first="Ethan" last="Hansen"] (2022), Appleton North: D1- 285</strong> Ethan finished with a record of 34-8. The big man is a solid OL prospect who has decided to commit to Dordt University. Ethan was well pursued while uncommitted because of his easy mover abilities, and his powerful base. Big things coming for Ethan. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="168209" first="Max" last="Stuhlmacher"] (2024), Nicolet: D1- 285</strong> Max finished with a record of 33-18. The young fella is one of the top OL in his class. The big man paved the way with his ability to overpower DL, and was a big piece to Nicolet's first playoff win. Nicolet has a lot of football players at state wrestling. Look for a big year from them next year as several are underclassmen. <strong>Vito Massa, (2022), River Falls: D1- 285</strong> QB Vito Massa won the heavyweight title, and finished with a record of 41-2. Massa is clearly a gifted athlete as he beat several much larger opponents on the way to the finals. He is still uncommitted, and could play on the mat or gridiron at the next level.