2019-2020 Antigo High School Wrestling Preview

FOR ANTIGO TIMES
The 2019-2020 wrestling season has officially started. The Antigo High School Wrestling Team looks to improve on a solid 2018-2019 season that ended with a strong showing at the Great Northern Conference Tournament to solidify runner up status, as well as multiple qualifiers for the state tournament.
Individual Previews
Leading the charge this season will be Senior Nick Roller, who will be returning to the 220-pound weight class. Nick finished last season by taking 2nd in the Great Northern Conference, dropping a match to eventual state champion Jake Rau of Medford. Nick also just missed a trip to the state tournament with a 3rd place finish at Sectionals. Nick finished 2018-2019 with a record of 35-11, and an astonishing 24 pins. He looks on improving both of those this year.
Also returning is Junior Logan Edwards, who won the Great Northern Conference as a Sophomore at 126 pounds last year. Logan also qualified for sectionals, before his season ended with a loss to state champion and current UW Badger Eric Barnett. Logan finished 2018-2019 with 26 victories, impressively 19 of which were by fall. Current projections have Logan starting the season at 138 pounds.
Senior Connor Dettman was a conference runner up last year, and also qualified for sectionals. Connor made great strides for improvement last year, and looks forward to competing for a conference championship this season. Current projections have Connor starting the season at 120 pounds.
Third team all-conference members Neil Bretl (145 pounds) and Talik Bussey (Heavyweight) return and will look to find a higher place at the podium at the year at the year-end conference tournament. Joshua Huess, who was a sectional qualifier at 152 pounds last year, will look to continue his success at 160 pounds this season.
Additional contributions from returning lettermen Ben Brown, Seth Beaber, and Jaden Schoeneck are also expected. The return of 9 lettermen point towards a promising future for this team.
Schedule Highlights
The John Roberts Tournament has been expanded to 16 teams and will be a great early season test for everyone involved. As an added bonus, former state place winners for Antigo will be on hand to present the awards at the end of the tournament. Wrestling will start at 10:00 am, so come early and enjoy a great day of wrestling. The tournament is on Saturday, December 7th.
The dual meet with Mosinee on December 19th will be Alumni Night. If you have been part of a previous Antigo Wrestling Team, we invite you to attend. There will be a recognition ceremony before the dual meet, as well as a social after the event.
Parents Night will be on January 9th with a dual meet against Lakeland. We look forward to thanking the parents that helped contribute to this year’s wrestling team.
January 23rd will be an entertaining evening. We will recognize both the current Seniors on our team, as well as the youth that will lead us in the future. The dual meet is against Tomahawk, who handed Antigo our only loss of the conference schedule last year, and will play a large role in who walks away as conference champions in 2020.
We ask the public to come and cheer on the team during each of our 4 home events this year. We’ve seen an increasing number of fans in the stands each of the past few years, and want to continue growing the public support.
2019-2020 Antigo High School Wrestling Schedule
Thursday, December 5 – Dual @ Shawano
Saturday, December 7 – John Roberts Tournament @ Antigo
Friday, December 13 – Neenah Tournament
Monday, December 16 – Dual @ Bonduel
Thursday, December 19 – Dual @ Home vs Mosinee – Alumni Night
Saturday, December 21 – Shawano Tournament
Friday-Saturday, December 27-28 – Oshkosh on the Water
Thursday, January 9 – Dual @ Home vs Lakeland – Parents Night
Friday, January 10 – Port Washington Tournament
Thursday, January 16 – Dual @ Medford
Thursday, January 23 – Dual @ Home vs Tomahawk – Senior Night / Youth Night
Thursday, January 30 – Dual @ Rhinelander
Saturday, February 1 – Pulaski Tournament
Saturday, February 8 – GNC tournament @ Medford
Saturday, February 15 – Regionals @ Oconto Falls
Saturday, February 22 – Sectionals @ Oconto Falls
Thursday-Saturday, February 27-29 – Individual State
Friday-Saturday, March 6-7 Team State
Other JV Dates:
Saturday, December 14 – Marshfield JV Tournament
Saturday, January 11 – Marshfield JV State Qualifier
Saturday, January 18 – Wausau West JV Invitational
Saturday, January 25 – Wausau West JV State