By Andrew Horschak
Sports Correspondent
Upperclassmen are in short supply on the 2016-17 Burlington wrestling team’s roster.
Of the 31 wrestlers listed, there are 10 sophomores and 14 freshmen, including only six returning letter-winners.
“We will be a very young team this year, but young doesn’t mean not talented,” 13th-year coach Jade Gribble said. “I’m very excited to work with this young group as I know the team we start this year with will be much different than the team we finish with.”
The Demons, who open the season Thursday, Dec. 1 at defending Southern Lakes Conference champion Lake Geneva Badger, have some holes to fill.
Josh Bird, a two-time WIAA state champion and three-time finalist, has moved on to NCAA Division II Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb.
Hegeman Tiedt, who capped his wrestling career by logging 43 victories and fashioning a fourth-place finish at 220 pounds in the State Tournament at the Kohl Center, is a member of the University of Wisconsin football team.
Luke Iverson, the SLC runner-up at 120 pounds, also graduated. In addition, senior Ben Travis and junior Jared Bird will not return. Travis, an honorable mention All-SLC performer, moved out of the area, while Bird, a state qualifier as a freshman and two-time SLC champion, “has been injured and is most likely done with wrestling,” according to Gribble.
Who does that leave to lead the young Demons?
For starters, the six returning letter-winners in seniors Lance Otter (170) and Juanye Thornton (220), juniors Nate Crayton (182) and Max Travis (285) and sophomores Zeke Isaacson (126) and Zac Weiler (120). They will look to improve on the experience they gained last year, Gribble said.
Crayton, a state qualifier and SLC champion at 182 as a sophomore, is one of three returning sectional qualifiers along with Otter and Weiler. The three combined to win 76 matches last season.
After winning at least a share of six consecutive SLC crowns, Burlington slipped into a tie for third place in the overall league standings a year ago. The injury-ravaged Demons posted a 5-2 record in SLC duals and finished in fourth place in the league tournament.
The Demons also had their streak of four straight sectional titles (and State Team Tournament appearances) snapped with a sixth-place finish at the New Berlin West sectional.
A talented freshman class, led by Ben Kumprey (120/126/132), Jake Skrundz (126/132/138), Max Ehlen (132/138/145) and Qwade Gehring (145/152) could lead the resurgence.
“We have a large, young group so the future is bright,” Gribble said, “and although our upperclassmen numbers are small they are excited by the idea to lead this team.”
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