State wrestling honor roll: Waterford's Jared Krattiger caps 50-1 season with title

WRESTLER OF THE DAY

Jared Krattiger, Waterford

The senior 182-pounder added the missing piece to his résumé by defeating Holmen’s Isaac Lahr by a 14-6 major decision in the Division 1 final.

The victory completed a dominant run at state for the Wisconsin recruit. His path to the title featured a pin, technical fall, pin and finally a major decision. His victory Saturday capped a 50-1 season in which his only loss came to an out-of-state competitor.

“Right now I’m on Cloud 9,” he said. “I couldn’t be more happy or excited. It was a great feeling, a great experience.”

MATCH OF THE DAY

Peyton Mocco, West Allis Hale vs. Ty Dow, Stoughton

The 160-pound showdown didn't live up to the billing —- Mocco won, 11-2 — but this is what competition is about. Two great athletes who embraced the challenge all season that they'd probably meet in the state final.

Dow was the defending champion in the weight class. Mocco won at 152 last year. 

The major decision capped a 54-1 campaign for Mocco and allowed the Missouri recruit to avenge his only loss of the season. He suffered an 11-10 loss to Dow in January. Mocco took that experience and learned from it.

A takedown and near fall in the first period made it clear early that this would be Mocco’s day.

“Usually when I get the first takedown, there aren’t many times I lose after that,” he said. “I try to come out, pick up the intensity right away and get that first takedown because usually things work out well when I do that.”

SURPRISE OF THE DAY

It’s hard to consider as a surprise a guy who wins state as the second-ranked wrestler in his class, but Jefferson’s Quintin Gehrmann had been a thorn in the side of East Troy sophomore Tommy Larson. Larson has lost multiple times to Gehrmann, including by a 13-2 margin in a dual meet earlier this season and by pin at the sectional last week.

Saturday, however, Larson scored an 8-3 win to become East Troy’s eighth state champion and first since Joey Dedick in 2013.

“I’d lost to him three, four times this year and I’ve learned from that and didn’t get tossed,” Larson said “I did well with the legs, stayed with my attack and came through.”

BY THE NUMBERS

2 State champions for Arrowhead in junior Josh Otto (152) and sophomore Keegan O’Toole (132).

3 Repeat champions from the area in O’Toole, Mocco and Mukwonago’s Aric Bohn (220).

Mark Stewart