BRODHEAD - Hunter Colden knows when the calendar flips to February, it means more than the arrival of Groundhog Day or Valentine's Day.
February begins championship time for high school wrestling.
Six area wrestling teams will have the red carpet rolled out for them at conference tournaments this weekend and regional tournaments on Saturday, Feb. 11.
After hitting his head in a match at Deerfield Jan. 28, Colden said he blacked out and had some headaches. But he expects to be ready to roll come Saturday.
"Nothing will stop me from wrestling this weekend," Colden said. "I have been through this before when I hit my head my freshman year at conference. To me everything up to regionals is just practice. From regionals on is what really matters. Once you hit regionals is when you have to step it up and show how far you can go."
Brodhead-Juda went unbeaten in Rock Valley South Conference dual matches this season. The Cardinals have two wrestlers - Colden (170 pounds) and senior Kramer Lewis (160) - looking to repeat as conference champions.
Colden (31-3), who wrestled at 152 last year, has made a seamless transition to wrestling at a heavier weight this year. He is ranked No. 3 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, and he has beaten No. 2-ranked Dusty Jentz of Belmont-Platteville. Jentz is a three-time state qualifier and Colden is looking to make a run to state for the third straight year.
All three of his losses have come against Division 1 wrestlers.
"Those three losses were definitely disappointing," Colden said. "I know I won't have to see those three again. I have to put that behind me."
Lewis is looking to defend the 160-pound league title he won last year. He understands that expectations are high.
"I have a chance to win it again," Lewis said. "There will always be tough matches. Anything can happen in wrestling. I think everyone at this point in the season is wrestling their best. If I want to win it, I know I will have to be at my best if I want to rise to the occasion."
Brodhead-Juda is expected to contend for the school's first conference tournament title. Whitewater, East Troy and Evansville-Albany are also title contenders.
"I think we will definitely be in the mix," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "We have never won it and it would really be an honor to win the overall conference tournament."
The Cardinals have been bolstered by five freshmen contributors - Justin Sangermano (106), Brady Colden (145), Gavin Baade (182), Reave Lincoln (220) and Logan Maurer (heavyweight). Brady Colden is 25-9, Maurer is 25-8 and Sangermano is 24-9.
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Jordan Kraak (24-9 at 113) took second place at conference at 103 last year, when he reached sectionals.
"As a team, I think we are a better tournament team than a dual team," Hunter Colden said. "It all depends on how everyone shows up. I think the guys know we can't guarantee anything. We are not perfect. We make mistakes, too. We know we have to lead by example, too."
February begins championship time for high school wrestling.
Six area wrestling teams will have the red carpet rolled out for them at conference tournaments this weekend and regional tournaments on Saturday, Feb. 11.
After hitting his head in a match at Deerfield Jan. 28, Colden said he blacked out and had some headaches. But he expects to be ready to roll come Saturday.
"Nothing will stop me from wrestling this weekend," Colden said. "I have been through this before when I hit my head my freshman year at conference. To me everything up to regionals is just practice. From regionals on is what really matters. Once you hit regionals is when you have to step it up and show how far you can go."
Brodhead-Juda went unbeaten in Rock Valley South Conference dual matches this season. The Cardinals have two wrestlers - Colden (170 pounds) and senior Kramer Lewis (160) - looking to repeat as conference champions.
Colden (31-3), who wrestled at 152 last year, has made a seamless transition to wrestling at a heavier weight this year. He is ranked No. 3 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, and he has beaten No. 2-ranked Dusty Jentz of Belmont-Platteville. Jentz is a three-time state qualifier and Colden is looking to make a run to state for the third straight year.
All three of his losses have come against Division 1 wrestlers.
"Those three losses were definitely disappointing," Colden said. "I know I won't have to see those three again. I have to put that behind me."
Lewis is looking to defend the 160-pound league title he won last year. He understands that expectations are high.
"I have a chance to win it again," Lewis said. "There will always be tough matches. Anything can happen in wrestling. I think everyone at this point in the season is wrestling their best. If I want to win it, I know I will have to be at my best if I want to rise to the occasion."
Brodhead-Juda is expected to contend for the school's first conference tournament title. Whitewater, East Troy and Evansville-Albany are also title contenders.
"I think we will definitely be in the mix," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "We have never won it and it would really be an honor to win the overall conference tournament."
The Cardinals have been bolstered by five freshmen contributors - Justin Sangermano (106), Brady Colden (145), Gavin Baade (182), Reave Lincoln (220) and Logan Maurer (heavyweight). Brady Colden is 25-9, Maurer is 25-8 and Sangermano is 24-9.
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Jordan Kraak (24-9 at 113) took second place at conference at 103 last year, when he reached sectionals.
"As a team, I think we are a better tournament team than a dual team," Hunter Colden said. "It all depends on how everyone shows up. I think the guys know we can't guarantee anything. We are not perfect. We make mistakes, too. We know we have to lead by example, too."
