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Since the North Eastern Conference does not hold a conference tournament, this preview will be a bit different than the others published so far. 

The NEC is one of the state’s premier wrestling conferences, producing a Team State finalist in each of the last three years. 

At the onset of the season, the conference boasts four of the top-6 teams in Division 2 according to the Wisconsin Wrestling Online team rankings. 

2019 Recap

The North Eastern Conference produced an impressive 23 state qualifiers, including 16 who went on to earn medals. Of the 16 medalists, three became state champions. 

Eight of the conference’s 10 schools pushed at least one wrestler to the individual state tournament. Six different programs within the conference had at least one state medalist in 2019. 

Freedom went on to claim the Team State title in Division 2, upending perennial powerhouse Ellsworth 35-16 in the championship match. 

Team Previews

Clintonville 

The Truckers are led by Matthew Skowronski (152). The junior placed third at the regional tournament last season. 

Denmark 

Denmark returns a pair of state qualifiers from a season ago. 

Junior Ethan Schwartz was sixth in D2 at 138 pounds last year. He ended the season with a record of 33-9. 

Senior Gabe Wertel qualified for State at 220. He was 44-2 with both losses coming at the individual state tournament. 

The Vikings begin the season ranked No. 3 in D2 according to the Wisconsin Wrestling Online team rankings. 

Denmark already has a win in-hand this season over No. 6 Luxemburg-Casco. 

Fox Valley Lutheran 

Without their lone sectional qualifier from a year ago, the Foxes turn to junior Cade Charron who was third at regionals at 120 pounds a season ago. 

Freedom 

In addition to being the reigning D2 Team State champions, the Irish bring back a pair of 2019 state qualifiers. 

Senior Colby McHugh (120) was a state finalist last season. He’ll be joined by junior Reece Manteuffel who qualified for the individual state tournament at 138 a year ago. 

The Irish open the season as the No. 5 team in D2 according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online. 

Little Chute 

The Mustangs also bring back a pair of state qualifiers from last year. 

Junior Kogan Verboomen placed sixth in D2 at 106 pounds. He was 35-8 on the year. 

Senior Adam Kilgas is also back. He was a state qualifier at 145 and finished with a mark of 26-5. 

Luxemburg-Casco 

All five of LC’s 2019 state qualifiers placed. Unfortunately for the Spartans, only two of them are back this season. 

State champion Reece Worachek is back in the fold. He won it all in D2 at 170 pounds with a record of 43-5. 

Lucas Joniaux is also returning. The senior was fourth at State at 120 last season and posted a 40-10 mark. 

The Spartans begin the year ranked sixth in D2 according to the Wisconsin Wrestling Online team rankings. 

Marinette 

Marinette’s lone state qualifier from last season was lost to graduation. 

That means the Mariners will look to sophomores Jonny Bieber (113) and Darik McMahon (285) who were both sectional qualifiers a season ago. 

Oconto Falls 

Clayton Whiting put Wisconsin on notice when he was crowned D2 state champion at 152 pounds as a freshman last season. Overall, he compiled a record of 48-3. 

Senior Tyler Budz is also returning. He qualified for State at 126 with a record of 25-18.

Waupaca 

The Comets are led by senior Colby Barnhardt who qualified for State at 132 pounds a year ago. He finished the 2019 campaign with a 40-10 record. 

Wrightstown 

The Tigers open the year as the top-ranked team in D2 according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online. 

Wrightstown will enjoy the services of a trio of upperclassmen that were all state place-winners a season ago. 

Senior Ben Durocher leads the charge. He was a state finalist at 145 pounds with a record of 42-9. 

Kaiden Koltz, a junior, was third in D2 at 120 pounds. He compiled a 39-11 mark. 

And fellow junior Quincy Klister was fourth in D2 at 170 pounds, piecing together a 36-16 season en route to a state medal.