ALBANY - Branden Lange, standing at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing 285 pounds, is an imposing figure every time he takes the mat. The sibling rivalry the Albany junior heavyweight has with his brother and fellow state qualifier, senior Nolan Kicmol, is a driving force in his success.
"It's nice to be able to make it up there with my brother," Kicmol said. "It's nice to go up there one more time and try to win a state championship and finish it off at the Kohl Center."
Lange (41-5), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, received a first-round bye as one of five sectional champions from the area.
"I feel like I have stepped it up pretty good," Lange said. "I'm ready for the state tournament. I'm ready to compete at the higher level. I want to be on the podium and get that medal. It's really fun having a brother along."
Kicmol joined the Evansville youth wrestling club at age 4, and Lange was 5. They traveled to wrestling tournaments together and then expanded wrestling with Team Wisconsin in national tournaments.
"I think at first it was just for family and team bonding going to tournaments," Kicmol said of wrestling. "It turned into me and Branden traveling the country together. It kept us motivated. We kind of like physical sports."
Seven of the 11 area state qualifiers will wrestle preliminary matches tonight at the Kohl Center in Madison. The four other state qualifiers were sectional champions and will wrestle quarterfinal matches Friday.
Lange will wrestle the winner of Northwestern senior Morgan Berggren (28-6) and Oconto Falls senior Dan Ausloos (33-3) Friday. Ausloos is ranked sixth, and Berggren is ranked seventh.
"It doesn't matter to me who I wrestle," Lange said.
Lange said the biggest challenge will be remaining focused on his wrestling and not worrying about the other wrestlers.
The other top gold medal contender at heavyweight is No. 2-ranked junior Logan Zschemitz (40-2) of Spencer-Columbus Catholic.
Monroe senior Tyson Welsch (36-10), ranked No. 8, will face Sheboygan Falls junior Scott Klemme (28-15) in a preliminary match tonight. If Welsch wins, he would have to face Zschemitz in a quarterfinal match Friday.
"It's a huge honor," Welsch said of wrestling at state. "It was my goal I've had for my only year of varsity wrestling. That is why I went with Coach (Tom) Witt to Middleton in the summer to wrestle. The last three years I've been on JV working for this moment. I'm super happy."
Welsch has never wrestled Klemme, but he knows anything is possible. He said his mindset is to go hard and wrestle his match.
"I want to control the ties and just step on the mat and win," he said.
Welsch said at many weight classes there is a clear favorite.
"I've talked to Sam (Kind) and Dempzy (Foley), and they say at heavyweight it's 50-50," Welsch said. "Anything can happen at heavyweight. Shelby Jones, the seventh-ranked kid, didn't make it out of the sectional."
He may have some butterflies before his match tonight, but Welsch is planning on taking everything in stride.
"I will probably have a lot more nerves," he said. "I will just ignore them and go on the mat to wrestle. I think it (state) will be a second version of Bi-State, but a little more meaningful because this is the last tournament. Just go out with your heart and finish."
The other Division 2 wrestlers in action during preliminary matches today include Monroe senior Foley at 182 pounds, Sugar River freshman Joe Quaglia (106) and Kicmol (152). Foley is making his first trip to state.
Foley (41-4), ranked No. 3, will face Campbellsport junior Matt Koelbl (39-6) in a preliminary match tonight. If Foley wins, he would advance to face Stephen Buchanan (43-2) of Neillsville-Greenville-Loyal in a quarterfinal Friday.
"It feels really good to get there and have one more week," Foley said.
He is looking forward to facing Koelbl tonight. He has never faced him but wants to start out aggressive.
"As long as I get the first point, I think that will be one of the keys," he said. "If I get through that first match, I will be closer to getting (a medal)."
Foley weighs 175 pounds, so he doesn't have to be as concerned about skipping meals to make weight.
"It's good because I don't have to worry about it, but I have been eating whatever I want. Most of them will be heavier than me. I will need to be quicker and get (points) when I can."
He's planning on treating the match just like he has every one this season.
"I don't get nervous before matches," he said. "Every time I have a match, I get in and go."
Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri (152) is a three-time state qualifier, and along with senior teammate Trent Davis (220), will not wrestle until Friday because they were sectional champions. Hauri, ranked No. 1 at 152, is looking to medal for the second time in his career. He finished sixth as a freshman at state at 106 for Orfordville Parkview.
Mauston senior Jarrett Dolata, ranked No. 2, and Kicmol, ranked No. 5, are also gold medal contenders.
"I feel like I'm wrestling better than I ever have," said Kicmol, who finished third at state at 145 last year. "There are three or four wrestlers who could win it."
Hauri enters the state tournament as the top-ranked wrestler at 152. Kicmol has split two matches with Hauri this season.
"He's a good wrestler," Kicmol said of Hauri. "I think I can definitely make the podium, but I want to make it to the state final."
Davis (34-8), ranked No. 5 at 220, will wrestle the winner of Brett Feind of Cedar Grove-Belgium and Justis Knutson (28-7) of Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Division 3
Two Stratford wrestlers - seniors A.J. Schoenfuss and Jeremy Schoenherr - return in their quest to win a fourth straight state title, a feat accomplished by only 14 other wrestlers in history. Schoenfuss has won his last two state titles at 120. But Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King (120) won't have to deal with him, because Schoenfuss moved up to 126 this season. Schoenherr looks to defend his title at 138 that he won last year. King, a sectional champion, won't wrestle a quarterfinal match until Friday.
King (33-7), ranked No. 9, may have to deal with No. 1-ranked Coleman junior Caleb Gross, who won a state title at 113 last season. Gross (44-1) has posted an 84-4 record over the past two years.
Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (39-3), a three-time state qualifier and ranked No. 3, finished fifth at state last year. Fennimore junior Trevor Wanek (132), ranked No. 2, is looking for a second straight state title after winning gold at 126 last season. He enters competition with a 43-6 mark this year and is 109-30 his past three seasons.
Ubersox will wrestle Johnson Creek senior Tucker Roehl (17-7) tonight. With a win, Ubersox would advance to face Cochrane-Fountain City senior Tate Murty in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Noah Krahenbuhl (113) and junior Lucas Gilbertson (195) will wrestle preliminary matches tonight. Krahenbuhl (33-11) will face Kenosha Christian Life freshman Kade Pinter (46-5). If Krahenbuhl wins, he would face Cumberland senior Logan Steglich (31-6) in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Gilbertson (35-9), ranked No. 8, will face sixth-ranked St. Croix Falls senior Brandon Bastin (40-9) in a preliminary match. If he survives that match, Gilbertson would advance to wrestle 10th-ranked Brillion freshman Levi Galoff (31-12) in a quarterfinal match on Friday.
Boyceville junior Garrett Joles (39-0), ranked No. 1, is looking to repeat as the state champion at 195. He also has state runner-up finishes at 170 in 2015 and 182 in 2016. Joles has raced up a 158-10 career record.
"It's nice to be able to make it up there with my brother," Kicmol said. "It's nice to go up there one more time and try to win a state championship and finish it off at the Kohl Center."
Lange (41-5), ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, received a first-round bye as one of five sectional champions from the area.
"I feel like I have stepped it up pretty good," Lange said. "I'm ready for the state tournament. I'm ready to compete at the higher level. I want to be on the podium and get that medal. It's really fun having a brother along."
Kicmol joined the Evansville youth wrestling club at age 4, and Lange was 5. They traveled to wrestling tournaments together and then expanded wrestling with Team Wisconsin in national tournaments.
"I think at first it was just for family and team bonding going to tournaments," Kicmol said of wrestling. "It turned into me and Branden traveling the country together. It kept us motivated. We kind of like physical sports."
Seven of the 11 area state qualifiers will wrestle preliminary matches tonight at the Kohl Center in Madison. The four other state qualifiers were sectional champions and will wrestle quarterfinal matches Friday.
Lange will wrestle the winner of Northwestern senior Morgan Berggren (28-6) and Oconto Falls senior Dan Ausloos (33-3) Friday. Ausloos is ranked sixth, and Berggren is ranked seventh.
"It doesn't matter to me who I wrestle," Lange said.
Lange said the biggest challenge will be remaining focused on his wrestling and not worrying about the other wrestlers.
The other top gold medal contender at heavyweight is No. 2-ranked junior Logan Zschemitz (40-2) of Spencer-Columbus Catholic.
Monroe senior Tyson Welsch (36-10), ranked No. 8, will face Sheboygan Falls junior Scott Klemme (28-15) in a preliminary match tonight. If Welsch wins, he would have to face Zschemitz in a quarterfinal match Friday.
"It's a huge honor," Welsch said of wrestling at state. "It was my goal I've had for my only year of varsity wrestling. That is why I went with Coach (Tom) Witt to Middleton in the summer to wrestle. The last three years I've been on JV working for this moment. I'm super happy."
Welsch has never wrestled Klemme, but he knows anything is possible. He said his mindset is to go hard and wrestle his match.
"I want to control the ties and just step on the mat and win," he said.
Welsch said at many weight classes there is a clear favorite.
"I've talked to Sam (Kind) and Dempzy (Foley), and they say at heavyweight it's 50-50," Welsch said. "Anything can happen at heavyweight. Shelby Jones, the seventh-ranked kid, didn't make it out of the sectional."
He may have some butterflies before his match tonight, but Welsch is planning on taking everything in stride.
"I will probably have a lot more nerves," he said. "I will just ignore them and go on the mat to wrestle. I think it (state) will be a second version of Bi-State, but a little more meaningful because this is the last tournament. Just go out with your heart and finish."
The other Division 2 wrestlers in action during preliminary matches today include Monroe senior Foley at 182 pounds, Sugar River freshman Joe Quaglia (106) and Kicmol (152). Foley is making his first trip to state.
Foley (41-4), ranked No. 3, will face Campbellsport junior Matt Koelbl (39-6) in a preliminary match tonight. If Foley wins, he would advance to face Stephen Buchanan (43-2) of Neillsville-Greenville-Loyal in a quarterfinal Friday.
"It feels really good to get there and have one more week," Foley said.
He is looking forward to facing Koelbl tonight. He has never faced him but wants to start out aggressive.
"As long as I get the first point, I think that will be one of the keys," he said. "If I get through that first match, I will be closer to getting (a medal)."
Foley weighs 175 pounds, so he doesn't have to be as concerned about skipping meals to make weight.
"It's good because I don't have to worry about it, but I have been eating whatever I want. Most of them will be heavier than me. I will need to be quicker and get (points) when I can."
He's planning on treating the match just like he has every one this season.
"I don't get nervous before matches," he said. "Every time I have a match, I get in and go."
Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri (152) is a three-time state qualifier, and along with senior teammate Trent Davis (220), will not wrestle until Friday because they were sectional champions. Hauri, ranked No. 1 at 152, is looking to medal for the second time in his career. He finished sixth as a freshman at state at 106 for Orfordville Parkview.
Mauston senior Jarrett Dolata, ranked No. 2, and Kicmol, ranked No. 5, are also gold medal contenders.
"I feel like I'm wrestling better than I ever have," said Kicmol, who finished third at state at 145 last year. "There are three or four wrestlers who could win it."
Hauri enters the state tournament as the top-ranked wrestler at 152. Kicmol has split two matches with Hauri this season.
"He's a good wrestler," Kicmol said of Hauri. "I think I can definitely make the podium, but I want to make it to the state final."
Davis (34-8), ranked No. 5 at 220, will wrestle the winner of Brett Feind of Cedar Grove-Belgium and Justis Knutson (28-7) of Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Division 3
Two Stratford wrestlers - seniors A.J. Schoenfuss and Jeremy Schoenherr - return in their quest to win a fourth straight state title, a feat accomplished by only 14 other wrestlers in history. Schoenfuss has won his last two state titles at 120. But Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King (120) won't have to deal with him, because Schoenfuss moved up to 126 this season. Schoenherr looks to defend his title at 138 that he won last year. King, a sectional champion, won't wrestle a quarterfinal match until Friday.
King (33-7), ranked No. 9, may have to deal with No. 1-ranked Coleman junior Caleb Gross, who won a state title at 113 last season. Gross (44-1) has posted an 84-4 record over the past two years.
Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (39-3), a three-time state qualifier and ranked No. 3, finished fifth at state last year. Fennimore junior Trevor Wanek (132), ranked No. 2, is looking for a second straight state title after winning gold at 126 last season. He enters competition with a 43-6 mark this year and is 109-30 his past three seasons.
Ubersox will wrestle Johnson Creek senior Tucker Roehl (17-7) tonight. With a win, Ubersox would advance to face Cochrane-Fountain City senior Tate Murty in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Noah Krahenbuhl (113) and junior Lucas Gilbertson (195) will wrestle preliminary matches tonight. Krahenbuhl (33-11) will face Kenosha Christian Life freshman Kade Pinter (46-5). If Krahenbuhl wins, he would face Cumberland senior Logan Steglich (31-6) in a quarterfinal match Friday.
Gilbertson (35-9), ranked No. 8, will face sixth-ranked St. Croix Falls senior Brandon Bastin (40-9) in a preliminary match. If he survives that match, Gilbertson would advance to wrestle 10th-ranked Brillion freshman Levi Galoff (31-12) in a quarterfinal match on Friday.
Boyceville junior Garrett Joles (39-0), ranked No. 1, is looking to repeat as the state champion at 195. He also has state runner-up finishes at 170 in 2015 and 182 in 2016. Joles has raced up a 158-10 career record.
