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Sparta’s enrollment increased just enough that the Spartans find themselves back in division one this year. They will kick off the 2015-16 season as the 12th-ranked team in division one according to Wisconsin Wrestling Online.
Division One
1. Kaukauna
2. Hudson
3. Rapids
4. Stoughton
5. Milton
6. Burlington
7. Oak Creek
8. Bay Port
9. Sauk Prairie
10. Pewaukee
11. Stevens Point
12. Sparta
13. Pulaski
14. New London
15. Wauwatosa West/East
The one team to look at in those rankings in Sauk Prairie who the Spartans would have to get through if they hope to return to team state this year. Holmen also looks to be Sparta’s top competition in the conference and regional.
On the individual side, five Spartans are ranked. Freshman Jon Bailey should be in the rankings as Wisconsin Wrestling Online has him as the 2nd-ranked freshman in the state. Shortly after those rankings came out, Bailey defeated the top-ranked wrestler. Our guess is that freshman have a harder time breaking into the rankings due to questions about what weight they will wrestle. That said, here are the five ranked Spartans in the season’s first poll…
- Christian Lamon – 120 pounds, 11th
- Jaden Winchel, 132 pounds, 2nd
- Brett VonRuden, 138 pounds, 7th
- Hayden Krein, 152 pounds, 3rd
- Ryan Wisniewski, 160 pounds, 14th
Clearly the weight classes in the rankings above are probably less than accurate. Additionally, they don’t have Holmen’s Tanner Schultz in the rankings who is probably a top three wrestler at his weight so who knows what’s going on. The rankings are more fun to look at and will become more accurate as the season goes on. Just look at these and know that Sparta will have another talented team on the mat this year. The first rankings are more a sign of respect for the wrestlers and teams and what they have accomplished.
