2020-21 Wisconsin High School Rankings

2020-21 Wisconsin High School Rankings: 152

Pound-for-pound, this might have been the strongest weight in Wisconsin last year. The Division 1 and 2 champs are wrestling in college this upcoming season (Augsburg for Kaden Reetz and Parkside for Ben Durocher). The top two remaining wrestlers are sure-fire college prospects, and below them there are several other strong candidates to find a spot on a college roster as well. 

It’s nitpicking to decide between Luke Mechler and Aiden Vandenbush. Mechler's only in-state loss was to Noah Mulvaney in the state semis, a feet-to-back pin, up 7-3 with 20 seconds left. He beat Mulvaney by seven earlier in the season as well. Vandenbush beat Peter Hansen, 9-2, while Mechler beat him the week prior via third-period tech-fall. Vandenbush beat Zach Gunderson 7-1, while Mechler won by first-period pin and second-period tech fall, in consecutive weeks. Ultimately, Mechler's resume was just too impressive: a six-point win over #3, a seven-point win over #4, a 10-point win over #5, an 11-point win over #6, and a pin and a tech over #7.

State champ Mulvaney slides in ahead of Titus Hammen based on Mulvaney's win over Mechler and Hammen's five-point loss to Braden Maertz. Cole Hansen is #5, despite 17 losses, because he lost to #1, #3 (twice), and #4, while beating #7. He also has wins over #4, #5, and #10 at 160. Carter Vetsch and Zach Gunderson are close, but Vetsch's in-state losses are fewer and slightly more justifiable. Payton Kostka and Bowen Rothbauer split two matches, but Kostka slips ahead based on better losses. Reese Piontek probably has as good a case for #10 as Mason Haas does, but only one could have the spot.

Questions or comments? Email Luke Louison about the Wisconsin rankings at newbracketsmell@gmail.com.