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Wrestling state qualifiers will make an impact at football state championships this week

11/20/2019, 11:00pm CST
By Nate Woelfel

Stratford quarterback Max Schwabe was also a state wrestling champ last winter

As is often the case, the WIAA State Football Championships will feature its fair share of top-caliber wrestling talent. 

This season, 10 of last year’s individual state wrestling qualifiers are hoping to lead their teams to a gold ball on the gridiron. 

The 2017-18 school year marks the last time a member of a state championship football also won an individual wrestling championship.

Bryce Holderman of Amherst lifted the gold ball with his teammates in November of 2017. 

A few months later, in February of 2018, Holderman was back in Madison claiming his spot atop the podium in Division 3 at 220 pounds. 

Wrightstown was the last school to win a state football title and the subsequent team wrestling championship, double-dipping during the 1998-99 school year.

The Tigers were D5 champions in football, downing Edgar 29-8 in the 1998 title tilt. The wrestling team went on to become D3 champs, topping Cumberland 29-16 in the championship dual that winter.

Take a closer look at the wrestlers who hope to impact the action at Camp Randall over the next two days. 

Ethan Heil, sr., Edgar 

On the mat: Heil was 34-1 last year, with his only loss coming in the state finals. He was runner-up in D3 at 220 pounds. 

On the field: Listed as an OT/LB, Heil has appeared in all 13 games for the Wildcats, logging 32 tackles, including 13 tackles for a loss. He is also responsible for five sacks and a forced fumble. 

Marcus Orlandoni, sr., St. Mary’s Springs 

On the mat: Orlandoni placed fourth in D2 at 195 pounds last season and compiled a record of 43-5.

On the field: In nine games for the Ledgers, Orlandoni has rushed for 707 yards on 128 attempts and has scored 10 touchdowns. Defensively, he has accounted for 52 tackles, including five for a loss and one forced fumble in eight games. 

Max Schwabe, sr., Stratford 

On the mat: Schwabe was the D3 state champ at 132 pounds a year ago. He compiled a record of 47-2. 

On the field: As the Tigers signal-caller, Schwabe has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1186 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has thrown just one interception.  He has also rushed for 117 yards and six touchdowns on 37 attempts. Defensively he has 23 tackles on the season, two interceptions and a forced fumble. 

Devin Dennee, sr., Stratford

On the mat: The fourth-place finisher in D3 at 160 pounds last season, Dennee was 40-14. 

On the field: Dennee has racked up 64 tackles in 13 games at inside linebacker for the Tigers. He has eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble. On the offensive side of the ball, he has rushed for 209 yards and nine touchdowns on 34 attempts. He also has a receiving touchdown. 

Trevor Dennee, sr., Stratford 

On the mat: Dennee won it all in D3 at 170 pounds, amassing a record of 47-1 on the season.

On the field: Denne has been lighting it up at linebacker all season, accumulating 96 tackles in 13 games. Sixteen of those tackles are for a loss. He also has three fumble recoveries and two sacks. He also sees action on the offensive line. 

Sergio Carini, sr., Catholic Memorial 

On the mat: With a record of 22-5 last year, Carini was state qualifier in D2 at heavyweight.

On the field: As part of the defensive line, Carini has amassed 39 tackles in 10 games for the Crusaders. 

Andrew Schad, jr., Kiel 

On the mat: The fifth-place finisher in D2 at 120 pounds last season, Schad was 46-7.

On the field: Schad has seen action in six games, collecting 45 yards on 15 careers. He has appeared in one game defensively, recording one tackle. 

Sam Lorenz, jr., Waunakee

On the mat: Lorenz was a state qualifier at D1 120 last season with a record of 32-16. 

On the field: Lorenz is a defensive back for the Warriors. His stats were not immediately available. 

Colton Grindle, sr., Waunakee 

On the mat: With a record of 41-8, Grindle was a state qualifier at D1 170. 

On the field: Grindle contributes at linebacker for the Warriors. His stats were not immediately available. 

Max Meeuwsen, sr., Bay Port 

On the mat: Meeuwsen was the D1 state champion at heavyweight last year, compiling a record of 40-1. He pinned current University of Wisconsin defensive lineman Keeanu Benton (Janesville Craig) in the state finals. 

On the field: Meeuwsen has been a force on the defensive line for the Pirates. He has racked up 66 tackles in 13 games, including a whopping 30 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He also has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Meeuwsen was a WFCA Large School All-State selection.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Wrestling  Nate Woelfel