Spartan sophomore Jaden Winchel joined select company in Spartan history by winning the division two 132-pound state championship Saturday evening and finishing the regular season with a record of 48-0. Only four other Spartans–Justin Schroeder, Dave Garritson, Troy Lietzau and Matt Tourdot–had won state championships. Winchel joins that select list becoming the fifth Spartan to win a state championship. His chance to join Dave Garritson and Matt Tourdot as the only Spartans to finish a season undefeated with a state championship will be put to the test this coming weekend at team state. It was a remarkable performance by the sophomore who finished 39-14 a year ago and 3rd place at the same weight at last year’s state tournament.
Joining Winchel on the podium last night was seniors John Roddick and Brock Polhamus and freshman Hayden Krein. Roddick and Krein capped their tournaments with third place finishes while Polhamus finished fourth.
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Sparta’s eight state qualifiers. Top row from left: Lamon, VonRuden, Krein, VanTassel. Bottom row from left: Polhamus, Roddick, Zimmerman, Winchel.
Roddick’s third place finish at 126 pounds was his third consecutive year at state that ended on the podium. The four-time state qualifier finished third as a sophomore and fifth as a junior. Brock Polhamus followed up last year’s second place finish with a fourth place finish. Roddick and Polhamus are Sparta’s only four time state qualifiers. At 152 pounds, freshman Hayden Krein defeated Chetek WeyerHaeuser/Prairie Farm’s Jonny Chamberlain to win third in dramatic fashion. Krein was down 2-0 after the first period and 5-3 going into the third period. He was down 9-4 when he escaped with about a minute to go and put Chamberlain on his back to cap the comeback and win 10-9. Before Winchel’s third place finish as a freshman last year, no Sparta freshman had ever placed at state. Krein becomes the second Spartan freshman to earn that achievement.
On Thursday, Spartans Corey Zimmerman, Brett VonRuden and Logan VanTassel saw their tournaments come to an end. Zimmerman lost 10-2 to Ellsworth’s Owen Matzek, VonRuden dropped a 10-7 decision in a back-and-forth match with Mayville’s Dakota Danner and Logan VanTassel lost 3-2 to Ellsworth’s Tristen Mueller. Zimmerman and VanTassel could get their revenge next weekend if Sparta defeats Freedom and Ellsworth defeats Wisconsin Lutheran at team state. Sophomore Christian Lamon won his first match 9-8 over Whitewater’s Irving Sedano before dropping the next two matches to fall out of the tournament.
The state championship by Winchel combined with the three other placewinners and Sparta’s overall performance led to a third place team finish in division two. Sparta finished with 66 points, which was behind Freedom’s 72.5 points and Two River’s 72 points. The 66 points would have been good for third in division one and second in division three. Overall, the Spartans finished fifth among teams at the state tournament.
Here are some interesting stats and notes from this year’s state tournament…
- Three Spartans finished the tournament with 40+ wins. Jaden Winchel (48-0), John Roddick (46-5) and Brock Polhamus (46-5). Hayden Krein can reach the 40-win mark Saturday against Freedom.
- Both Jaden and his brother Dylan Winchel finished their sophomore seasons with 48 wins. Dylan finished with 48 wins during the 2011-12 season en route to a fifth place finish.
- The 48 wins by Winchel was good for the second highest single season total in Spartan history. Dylan Winchel won 48 during the 2011-12 season, Jared Rickert won 48 during the 2006-07 season and Matt Tourdot topped everyone with 50 wins back during the 2009-10 season. Winchel could tie Tourdot or move into second place by himself after next weekend’s team state tournament.
- The four placewinners at this year’s tournament matches the four the Spartans had during the 2013 state tournament.
- Jaden Winchel is Sparta’s youngest state champion. All other state champions were seniors with the exception of Troy Lietzau and Justin Schroeder who won the first of their two titles as juniors.
- John Roddick has topped 40 wins every year in high school. He had 40 as a freshman, 42 as a sophomore, 43 as a junior and has 46 and counting this year.
- In each of the last three years, Roddick fell to the eventual state champion in the semis and each of those guys either were or are on track to become four-time state champions. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Roddick fell to Ellsworth’s Jens Lantz who won four titles and this year, Roddick fell to Amery’s Hunter Marko who has won three titles in three seasons with his senior season yet to come.
Let’s see how the Spartans did on an individual match basis…
D2-106 – Corey Zimmerman (19-5) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Owen Matzek (Ellsworth) 39-12 won by major decision over Corey Zimmerman (Sparta) 19-5 (MD 10-2)
D2-120 – Christian Lamon (21-10) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Christian Lamon (Sparta) 21-10 won by decision over Irving Sedano (Whitewater) 29-15 (Dec 9-8)
Quarterfinal – Sam Stuhl (Prescott) 37-6 won by major decision over Christian Lamon (Sparta) 21-10 (MD 10-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Jordan Sarver (Nekoosa/Assumpt./Port Edw.) 42-5 won by fall over Christian Lamon (Sparta) 21-10 (Fall 4:25)
D2-126 – John Roddick (46-5) placed 3rd and scored 13.50 team points.
Quarterfinal – John Roddick (Sparta) 46-5 won by tech fall over Ryan McGinnes (Sheboygan Falls) 35-17 (TF-1.5 4:33 (19-4))
Semifinal – Hunter Marko (Amery) 40-1 won by tech fall over John Roddick (Sparta) 46-5 (TF-1.5 6:00 (20-5))
Cons. Semi – John Roddick (Sparta) 46-5 won by decision over Sam Konitzer (Oconto Falls) 39-5 (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match – John Roddick (Sparta) 46-5 won by decision over Chase Katzenmeyer (Evansville/Albany) 37-8 (Dec 6-3)
D2-132 – Jaden Winchel (48-0) placed 1st and scored 22.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Jaden Winchel (Sparta) 48-0 won by fall over Gabe Braam (East Troy) 31-12 (Fall 3:57)
Semifinal – Jaden Winchel (Sparta) 48-0 won in the ultimate tie breaker over Cody Walrath (Freedom) 41-9 (UTB 2-1)
1st Place Match – Jaden Winchel (Sparta) 48-0 won by decision over Sonny Schieldt (Edgerton) 41-8 (Dec 4-2)
D2-138 – Brett Von Ruden (37-13) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Dakota Danner (Mayville) 39-6 won by decision over Brett Von Ruden (Sparta) 37-13 (Dec 9-7)
D2-145 – Brock Polhamus (46-5) placed 4th and scored 10.00 team points.
Quarterfinal – Brock Polhamus (Sparta) 46-5 won by decision over Nate Trepanier (Oconto Falls) 40-6 (Dec 2-1)
Semifinal – Chandler Donati (Two Rivers) 24-3 won by decision over Brock Polhamus (Sparta) 46-5 (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Semi – Brock Polhamus (Sparta) 46-5 won by decision over Taylor Gilardi (Viroqua) 36-17 (Dec 8-3)
3rd Place Match – Nate Trepanier (Oconto Falls) 40-6 won by decision over Brock Polhamus (Sparta) 46-5 (Dec 4-2)
D2-152 – Hayden Krein (39-7) placed 3rd and scored 18.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Hayden Krein (Sparta) 39-7 won by fall over Seth Peters (Luxemburg-Casco) 35-13 (Fall 3:58)
Quarterfinal – Sean Mattek (Sheboygan Falls) 42-7 won by decision over Hayden Krein (Sparta) 39-7 (Dec 5-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Hayden Krein (Sparta) 39-7 won by tech fall over Ben Klister (Wrightstown) 33-16 (TF-1.5 4:20 (15-0))
Cons. Semi – Hayden Krein (Sparta) 39-7 won by fall over Willie Vandenlangenberg (Wisconsin Dells) 24-9 (Fall 2:35)
3rd Place Match – Hayden Krein (Sparta) 39-7 won by decision over Jonny Chamberlain (Chetek-Wey./Pr. F.) 36-4 (Dec 10-9)
D2-170 – Logan VanTassel (38-12) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Tristen Mueller (Ellsworth) 22-5 won by decision over Logan VanTassel (Sparta) 38-12 (Dec 3-2)
In case you missed it, Winchel was pretty excited after winning…
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The Spartans get no break as they prepare for top-ranked Freedom at the team state tournament this Saturday, March 7th. We will have updates from the dual against Freedom as well as photos and more after the match.
Congrats to Jaden on his state championship, Roddick, Polhamus and Krein on their podium finishes and the rest of the Spartan state qualifiers on a great season thus far. Great things are still within reach. Best of luck at team state!!
