The Antigo Wrestling Club continues to prove that its reach extends far beyond local borders. This past weekend, the program showcased its incredible range, with younger athletes mastering the technical nuances of Olympic-style wrestling in Wisconsin Dells while a seasoned veteran dismantled the competition on a national stage in Iowa. Whether it was the raw power of the Medo brothers or the clinical efficiency of Olivia Hofrichter, the Red Robins’ "pin-first" philosophy remains the gold standard.
In Wisconsin Dells, the spotlight fell on the Olympic styles of Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the WWF Beginners State Championship. Designed for wrestlers new to these international disciplines, the tournament provided a platform for Tucker and Owen Medo to showcase their rapid development and technical growth.
Tucker Medo, an eighth-grader competing in the 14U 120-pound bracket, put on a technical clinic. He opened his day with a dominant 11-0 technical fall, highlighted by a massive feet-to-back takedown and a punishing gutwrench. After a tough battle in the semifinals and a narrow loss in the consolation rounds, Tucker showed his resilience in the fifth-place match. He needed only 32 seconds to secure a 10-0 technical fall, using a high-amplitude suplex followed by a trio of gutwrenches to leave no doubt about his podium finish.
His brother, Owen Medo, mirrored that success in the Junior 157-pound division. Owen’s day began with a gritty 11-4 decision where he utilized high-exposure reversals to outmatch his opponent. Despite facing stiff competition in the middle rounds, Owen finished his tournament with an exclamation point. In his fifth-place match, he piled on the points with a series of takedowns and feet-to-back maneuvers to cruise to a 12-1 technical fall victory. To have both brothers navigate a new style of wrestling and fight back for fifth-place finishes speaks volumes about the grit being instilled in the Antigo locker room.
While the Medo brothers were battling in the Dells, Olivia Hofrichter was 300 miles away in West Des Moines, Iowa, reminding the country why she is one of the most feared competitors in the nation. Representing the Midwest Assassins—an elite Wisconsin All-Star team—at the AAU National Twin River Duals, Hofrichter turned in a performance that can only be described as flawless.
Competing against some of the best high school wrestlers in the United States, Hofrichter went a perfect 8-0. Even more impressive was the manner of her victories: she pinned every single opponent she faced. Not a single wrestler was able to survive longer than 46 seconds on the mat with her. This historic run of efficiency earned her the prestigious High School All-Star Tournament Outstanding Wrestler award, a fitting accolade for a student-athlete who continues to redefine the limits of dominance.
Hofrichter’s individual perfection helped propel the Midwest Assassins to seven consecutive team dual victories, ultimately leading to a national runner-up finish in a hard-fought championship match against Sebolt Women’s Wrestling Club.
The momentum from these performances leads directly into a massive weekend for the club. The Antigo Wrestling Club returns to the Woodside Dome in Wisconsin Dells for the WWF State Greco and Freestyle Championships. The action kicks off Friday with the female freestyle competitors, followed by the males taking the mat for freestyle on Saturday and Greco-Roman on Sunday.
If the results from this past week are any indication, the Red Robins are hitting their peak at exactly the right time. From the technical suplexes of the youth beginners to the national-level dominance of its senior leaders, Antigo wrestling is proving that its legacy is growing stronger with every whistle.
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