L-C embracing underdog role
The Luxemburg-Casco wrestling team will find itself in a unique position Wednesday at the WIAA Division 2 team sectional in Brillion.
“We’re the underdog,” L-C coach Chas Treml said.
Although they are the defending D2 state champions, the Spartans know they’ll potentially have to go through No. 2-ranked Freedom to earn a third straight trip to the UW Field House for team state.
Since being upended 40-15 by Wrightstown in its first dual of the season, L-C has embraced the underdog role.
“We’ve grown a lot over the year,” L-C senior Nathan Ronsman said. “In the beginning of the year, Wrightstown killed us in a dual. I think everybody kept getting a lot better throughout the year. Hopefully, we can prove that we’re the best team at the end of the year because we’ve gotten better all year.”
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The Spartans edged No. 3 Wrightstown, 226-211, to claim the Valders regional title on Saturday.
L-C advanced seven individuals to individual sectionals, including seniors Bryce Bosman (132 pounds), Colton Worachek (160) and Ronsman (152) for a fourth time.
The Spartans’ motivation for Wednesday will be trying to extend the season for a fourth senior, Garrett Jeanquart, who missed the first part of this season and most of last season with a knee injury.
Jeanquart just missed out on qualifying for individual sectionals for a second time Saturday after losing a 4-3 overtime decision in the 182-pound championship to Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol senior Jeremy Jorns, who is the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the weight class, according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Jeanquart later fell 5-2 to Denmark’s Bradyn Polomis in a wrestleback for the second-qualifying spot.
“We want to do it for him,” Ronsman said. “He’s put a lot of work into it. He’s had a lot of bad luck with injuries, so we definitely want to get down there for him so he can experience state again.”
Ronsman, Jeanquart, Bosman and Worachek have been pivotal parts to the Spartans’ resurgence in recent years.
The foursome occupied the four lowest weight classes as freshmen for L-C in 2016, when the traditional power missed out on team sectional for a third consecutive year.
They each were in the lineup when the Spartans finished as the D2 state runner-up in 2017 before helping L-C win the 2018 D2 state title, the program’s 12th overall and first since 2013.
Jeanquart’s two matches at team state last year marked his only bouts of the season after he battled back from a meniscus injury. The same ailment cost Jeanquart the first part of his senior season as well.
“Having him in there really solidifies things more for us and gives us another anchor up on top,” Treml said.
Bosman, Ronsman and Worachek are multiple-time state qualifiers.
Bosman (132) is trying to become a four-time state champion. Meanwhile, Ronsman (152), Worcheck (160) and junior Reece Worachek (170) were regional champions.
“That’s the heart of our lineup,” Treml said. “Those guys have been flexible all year to give us the most opportunities to win our duals all year. Not only are they able to handle their weight, they’re able to go up a weight. They’ve done that numerous times.”
L-C faces Winneconne in the sectional semifinals, while Freedom will face Tomahawk.
The North Eastern Conference rivals could face each other in the sectional finals Wednesday, which would be the first time they meet this season since their NEC dual on Jan. 24 was cancelled to prevent the spreading of a skin infection a Freedom wrestler had been diagnosed with.
Freedom will be attempting to advance to state for the first time since 2015, when it won the D2 state championship.
“We’re pretty confident right now,” Ronsman said. “We’re all healthy. I think we can go in there and stick with them, even though they are higher ranked. We know that we can stick with them.”
There are three other teams from the Green Bay area that will be competing in WIAA team sectionals on Wednesday.
In Division 1, Ashwaubenon will face Kaukauna in Kaukauna. It’s the Jaguars’ first team sectional appearance since 2009.
Coleman and Kewaunee will both be competing in Division 3 team sectionals.
Coleman will face Weyauwega-Fremont in the semifinals at Auburndale. The No. 2-ranked Cougars could potentially face top-ranked Stratford in the finals as they attempt to advance to state for the first time since 2015.
Kewaunee will face Princeton in the semifinals at Markesan. It’s the Storm’s second straight team sectional appearance.
