Neenah Wins WIAA Regional Championship for the 2nd Consecutive Year

The Neenah High School Wrestling Team won its second consecutive WIAA Regional today at Neenah High School. The Rockets scored 291 Team Points to knock off 2nd Place Oshkosh West. The Rockets were led by five champions on the day in Jayden Sheppard (126), Drake Hayward (145), Kenny Schaufelberger (182), Davin Munoz (195), and Bryce Fochs (285). Also advancing to the WIAA Sectional are 2nd place finishers Owen Blenker (106), Tyler Beauchamp (120), Nick Novak (132), Charlie Alft (138), Austin Lewis (152), Bryce Crook (170), and Caleb Letson (220). Kaidan Lambert (113) and Myles Steward (160) also contributed to the team score and each placed 3rd respectively. Step #2 of the WIAA Post-Season begins on Saturday February 6th @ Hartford Union High School with the WIAA Sectional Tournament. This event will be for all of the wrestlers who placed in the top 2 at their weight class at the WIAA regional. Neenah has 12 wrestlers who have qualified for this event (See below). The top two wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the WIAA Individual State Tournament @ Kaukauna High School on 2/13/21 and the top two teams will advance to the WIAA Team State Tournament @ Kaukauna High School on 2/20/21. If you have any questions please let me know. Brackets are posted on www.trackwrestling.com (Search Tournaments: Hartford Union). Top Two Wrestlers in Each WT Class Advance to WIAA Ind State Top Six Wrestlers in Each WT Class Score Team Points to help Teams advanced to State

Hayward 2nd, Fochs 3rd @ WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament

The Neenah High School Wrestling Team had three qualifying wrestlers compete at the 2021 WIAA Individual State Tournament at Kaukauna High School. Drake Hayward completed a very successful High School Wrestling career at Neenah High School that wrapped up in the D1 145 pound State Championship Match at 145 pounds. Hayward won his first match in the state quarterfinals over CJ Grisar 12-5 advancing to the State Semifinals where he won an epic match 10-9 over Jacob Ward of Bay Port. Hayward was trailing the entire match and scored with 1 second left on the clock to get his hand raised to move to the state finals. In the State Championship Match Hayward was defeated by Connor Thorpe of Brookfield East who was a 4X State Placewinner in his impressive career. Congratulations to Drake Hayward on his very successful and memorable High School Wrestling Career at Neenah High School which included 4 appearances at the WIAA State Tournament. Bryce Fochs ended a very successful junior year with a 3rd place finish at 285 pounds after falling short of qualifying one year ago as a sophomore at 285. Bryce won his first match of the State Tournament in the Quarterfinals Kristian Schlicht 7-0 before losing in the State Semifinals to the eventual State Champion Ben Kawczynski by Fall. Bryce responded in the consolation semifinals with a 4-0 decision over Ethan Hansen of Appleton North and ended his season with a win in the state 3rd place match 7-3 over Girard Jones of Menominee. Bryce was the first heavyweight to place at the WIAA State Tournament since 1978. Great Season Bryce! Neenah's Caleb Letson, a 2X State Qualifier, did not place at the 2021 WIAA Individual State Tournament. Letson ran into the 2X State Champion and 4X Placewinner Brooks Empey of Stoughton in the first round. One the backside Caleb had another force to recon with in 2X 4th place finisher Orien Boe of DC Everest. The good thing for Caleb is that all of the other opponents in his state bracket this year graduate and he will be a contender moving forward into next season. Congratulations to Caleb on another great season.

Neenah sends 3 Wrestlers to the WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament

The Neenah High School Wrestling Team took 12 wrestlers to the WIAA D1 Sectional B Tournament @ Hartford Union High School. This event determined the WIAA Individual and Team State Qualifiers for the WIAA State Tournament series. The Rockets advanced three wrestlers to the WIAA Individual State Championships on 2/13/21 at Kaukauna High School. Neenah was led by Drake Hayward @ 145 pounds. Drake became the programs 3rd 4X WIAA State Qualifier with a sectional title yesterday. Drake moved to 16-0 on the season with 11 pins heading into the WIAA State Tournament. Bryce Fochs also won the sectional title at 285 pounds advancing to his first WIAA Individual State Tournament. Fochs also improved to 16-0 on the season with 11 pins heading into the WIAA State Tournament. Caleb Letson battled to win three straight matches after his semi-final loss to advance to his 2nd WIAA State Tournament. Caleb improved to 11-3 on the season with a 4-1 record on the day including two wins by pin. The Rockets also had 5 additional placewinners on the day. Davin Munoz was 4th @ 195 pounds, Kenny Schaufelberger 5th @ 182 pounds, Owen Blenker 6th @ 106 pounds, Tyler Beauchamp 6th @ 120 pounds, and Bryce Crook 6th @ 170 pounds. Thanks to all of the above wrestlers and our other four sectional qualifiers Jayden Sheppard, Nick Novak, Charlie Alft, and Austin Lewis on a great season. We are looking forward to what next year will bring with this team.

Neenah Wrestling Awards Banquet Award Winners

10 Neenah HS Wrestlers selected to FVA All-Conference Team

Tonight the FVA Head Coaches voted on the 2020-2021 Fox Valley Association All Conference Wrestling Team. Determining criteria to make the team was...State, Sectional, Regional Performance, Head to Head Match-Ups within the Conference Duals, and special consideration for those unable to compete in the post-season who had notable wins vs others who made the team. Neenah had 10 athletes make the all FVA 1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mention Team. FVA 1st Team: Drake Hayward @ 145 and Bryce Fochs @ 285 FVA 2nd Team: Caleb Letson @ 220 FVA Honorable Mention: Evan Piechocki @ 113, Tyler Beauchamp @ 120, Jayden Sheppard @ 126, Charlie Alft @ 138, Bryce Crook @ 170, Kenny Schaufelberger @ 182, and Davin Munoz @ 195.