PdC Wrestlers at State
Prairie wrestlers
finish strong at state
3 Blackhawks are runners-up
As has been the case the entire year, the Prairie du Chien Blackhawk wrestlers decided to continue making noise and program history at the 75th annual WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament in Madison that was held Feb. 22 through Feb. 24.
The action started on Thursday evening with the preliminary round. Freshman 106-pounder Matt Rogge was up first for the Blackhawks. Rogge was unable to get his offense going, and was defeated by his opponent from Freedom by a 7-3 decision. Rogge’s season would come to an end, but not before he racked up a record setting 41 wins, the most by a freshman in program history.
Next up was sophomore 138-pounder Traeton Saint. In usual fashion, Saint would deck his Northwood/Hayward opponent by fall in 4:34.
At 145 pounds, senior Blake Garcia lost by decision 9-2 to a tough opponent from Wrightstown. Garcia’s season would end with 33 wins. Along the way, Blake won 114 matches, which is eighth in program history.
At 195, senior Stephen Ronnfeldt would win by decision 11-5 over his Medford opponent.
At 220, sophomore Colten Wall lost by fall in 5:54 to a very solid Luxemburg-Casco opponent who would end up placing fourth in the tournament. Wall ended his season with 42 victories.
The wins by Saint and Ronnfeldt moved them into the quarterfinals along with sectional winner Nick Rogge.
Friday was a great day for Prairie wrestling. The quarterfinal round started with Traeton Saint picking up a 5-2 decision against his New London opponent. Nick Rogge would get a 3-0 decision against his a very good Luxemburg-Casco opponent who would move on to place fifth. Stephen Ronnfeldt would follow suit with a 3-2 decision over his opponent from Freedom.
Three Prairie du Chien wrestlers in the semifinals in the same year had never taken place until now. In Friday night’s semifinals, Saint would win a sudden victory 5-3 decision over his Kewaskum opponent who would end up taking fourth.
Rogge would get a 10-5 decision over his Barron opponent who would eventually place sixth.
Ronnfeldt won with a 6-3 decision over his Prescott opponent who would move on to place third.
More history was made as the Blackhawks had never had multiple wrestlers in the finals. In Saturday night’s finals, Traeton Saint lost by fall in 5:50 to Sam Stuhl of Ellsworth, who made his own history, becoming a four-time state champion. Saint’s 51 victories on the season are a new record for PdC.
Nick Rogge lost 11-2 to a very solid opponent from Volsters. Nick closed his career with 142 victories, which is second all time for PdC.
Stephen Ronnfeldt lost a sudden victory heartbreaker to his St. Croix Central opponent in a very exciting match. Stephen closes his career as a two-time state qualifier with 137 career wins, which is third all time at PdC.
D2-106
Round 1 - Carsten McHugh (Freedom) 31-13 won by decision over Matt Rogge (Prairie du Chien) 41-12 (Dec. 7-3)
D2-138
Round 1 - Traeton Saint (Prairie du Chien) 51-5 won by fall over Tim Coyne (Hayward/Northwood) 34-11 (Fall 4:34)
Quarterfinal - Traeton Saint (Prairie du Chien) 51-5 won by decision over Garrett Ruckdashel (New London) 42-6 (Dec. 5-2)
Semifinal - Traeton Saint (Prairie du Chien) 51-5 won in sudden victory - 1 over Eric Bauer (Kewaskum) 39-5 (SV-1 5-3)
First Place Match - Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth) 41-1 won by fall over Traeton Saint (Prairie du Chien) 51-5 (Fall 5:50)
D2-145
Round 1 - Matthew Maitland (Wrightstown) 35-12 won by decision over Blake Garcia (Prairie du Chien) 33-13 (Dec. 9-2)
D2-160
Quarterfinal - Nick Rogge (Prairie du Chien) 47-6 won by decision over Reece Worachek (Luxemburg-Casco) 39-15 (Dec. 3-0)
Semifinal - Nick Rogge (Prairie du Chien) 47-6 won by decision over William Waldofski (Barron) 30-7 (Dec. 10-5)
First Place Match - Evan Vosters (Freedom) 42-4 won by major decision over Nick Rogge (Prairie du Chien) 47-6 (MD 11-2)
D2-195
Round 1 - Stephen Ronnfeldt (Prairie du Chien) 42-10 won by decision over Jake Rau (Medford) 36-13 (Dec. 11-5)
Quarterfinal - Stephen Ronnfeldt (Prairie du Chien) 42-10 won by decision over Matt Verhasselt (Freedom) 38-8 (Dec. 3-2)
Semifinal - Stephen Ronnfeldt (Prairie du Chien) 42-10 won by decision over Ty Sanford (Prescott) 37-5 (Dec. 6-3)
First Place Match - Ryan Larson (Saint Croix Central) 20-2 won by fall over Stephen Ronnfeldt (Prairie du Chien) 42-10 (Fall 6:54)
D2-220
Round 1 - Nate Lloyd (Luxemburg-Casco) 44-8 won by fall over Colten Wall (Prairie du Chien) 42-10 (Fall 5:54)