Spartans earning respect in recent rankings

Winchel (left) and Krein (right)

UPDATED 12/19/15:  We have learned that there was one other time when two Spartans were ranked #1 at the same time.  In 1996, Troy Lietzau and Brian Brooks (dad to current Spartan wrestler Blake Brooks) both held the top-ranking for much of the season.  Both went onto qualify for state and Lietzau ultimately ended up capturing his second state title.

Wisconsin Wrestling Online just released their second rankings of the year and there are some significant changes.  Let’s get right to them…

• Jon Bailey  –  5th at 113 pounds
• Christian Lamon  –  11th at 132 pounds
• Brett VonRuden  –  6th at 138 pounds
• Jaden Winchel  –  1st at 145 pounds
• Hayden Krein  –  1st at 152 pounds

The rankings are much more accurate in this version as most wrestlers are at their correct weight classes.  It is also the first set of rankings to include freshman and Jon Bailey makes his first appearance in the state rankings.

The first set of rankings had no Spartan wrestlers ranked atop their weight class, but now two wrestlers, Jaden Winchel and Hayden Krein, find themselves ranked number one.  From what I can remember, this might be the first time Sparta has ever had two wrestlers ranked at the top of their weight classes at the same time.

Brett VonRuden moved up one spot to 6th at 138 pounds while Ryan Wisniewski no longer appears in the rankings.

There was no change for Sparta in the team rankings as the Spartans held steady at 12th.  Possible sectional team foe Sauk Prairie made one of the larger rankings jumps going from 9th to 4th.

To see the full Wisconsin Wrestling Online Team Rankings, click here.

To see the full Wisconsin Wrestling Online Individual Rankings for D1, click here.

National Rankings

Sophomore Hayden Krein cracked the list of top freshman and sophomore 152-pound wrestlers in the country according to USA Wrestling Magazine.  Krein is ranked as the 8th best freshman/sophomore at 152 pounds according to the most recent issue.

Other Wisconsinites joining Krein on this list at 152 pounds include Frank Garcia of Kenosha Tremper.  Other top freshman and sophomores from Wisconsin on USA Wrestling’s rankings include Fennimore’s Alston Nutter (18th), Ellsworth’s Sam Stuhl (16th), Luxemburg-Casco’s Bryson Alsteen (19th), Kaukauna’s ach Lee (Special Mention), Waterford’s Jared Krattiger (4th) and Kaukauna’s Keaton Kluever (8th).