Whether on the collegiate mats of Iowa or the hallowed floor of the Kohl Center in Madison, the name "Antigo" was synonymous with elite wrestling this past weekend. In a series of performances that spanned from high school grit to Olympic-level competition, the Red Robin wrestling community celebrated a legacy of dominance and the promising rise of its next generation.
Former Antigo standout Alexandra Hofrichter, now a junior at the University of Dubuque, continues to cement her status as one of the premier collegiate wrestlers in the country. Competing at the NCAA Women’s Region V Championship in Indianola, Iowa, the two-time All-American punched her ticket to the inaugural NCAA-sponsored National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.
Hofrichter’s path to the finals was a masterclass in technical aggression. She dispatched her first opponent with a lightning-fast pin and followed up with an 11-1 technical fall in the quarterfinals. Her semifinal match was a classic "back-and-forth" battle against Simpson’s Keeley Kehrli, which Hofrichter ended emphatically with a double-overhook throw and a pin at 5:02.
Though she took silver in the finals, the loss came at the hands of Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades—a testament to the rarified air Hofrichter is currently breathing. She now prepares for the National Championships in Coralville, Iowa, on March 6th and 7th.
Back in Wisconsin, Senior Olivia Hofrichter (152 lbs) closed the book on one of the most storied high school careers in Antigo history. Entering the WIAA State Tournament with a target on her back, Hofrichter reached the semifinals with a pair of dominant pins over Savana Hansen and Ellianna Robinson.
After a tough semifinal loss to the undefeated Emersyn Miller, Hofrichter showed the heart of a champion in the third-place match. Facing Terryn McBride, Olivia utilized a three-point takedown and four nearfall points to take control early. She punctuated her final high school match with a spectacular fireman’s carry into a pinfall victory.
Olivia finishes her career as a three-time state podium finisher and a state champion, leaving an indelible mark on the program.
While the weekend served as a farewell for some, it was a declaration of intent for sophomore Joseph Stimac (157 lbs). Competing in the deep Division 2 field at the Kohl Center, Stimac finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, but it was his resilience that stole the show.
After a quarterfinal loss, Stimac found himself in the consolation bracket against Lodi’s Alex Breunig. Down 7-0 and seemingly out of the match, Stimac engineered a miraculous comeback. He scored a takedown and an "elevator" to tie the match at seven, before securing four nearfall points in the closing seconds for an 11-7 victory.
Though he fell just short of the podium in the consolation semifinals, Stimac’s 40-12 season record as a sophomore suggests that the Red Robins’ presence in Madison is far from over.
As the folkstyle season draws to a close, Antigo Wrestling stands tall. From Alexandra’s national qualification to Olivia’s third-place state finish and Stimac’s gritty underdog performances, the program has proven it can compete at every level. The "Hofrichter Legacy" may be transitioning into the collegiate ranks, but the foundation laid in Antigo ensures that the next wave of Red Robins is ready to take flight.
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