- The Cheesehead Invitational wrestling event will host 44 teams, with two in the national rankings.
- Nineteen top-ranked wrestlers will compete at Kaukauna High School.
- Kimberly’s Haylie Dulas commits to Marquette University for basketball.
- Appleton West plans to transition most sports to the Bay Conference.
Cheesehead Invitational: A Wrestling Showcase
This weekend, Kaukauna High School will host the 27th annual Cheesehead Invitational, featuring 44 teams, including two ranked among the nation’s top 50.
Among the participants are 12 teams from Wisconsin, including the host team, the Ghosts. Matches kick off on Friday, January 9, at 5:15 p.m. and continue at 8:30 a.m. on January 10. Tickets are priced at $40 for adults, $33 for seniors, and $32 for students, available at www.tinyurl.com/Cheesehead-Tickets.
SE Polk from Iowa and Liberty from Missouri, ranked 33rd and 48th respectively, are the nationally recognized teams. Other notable teams include Kaukauna, Cleveland (TN), Jefferson (GA), Lowell (MI), Hickman (MO), and Montini (IL), all receiving honorable mentions.
Additional Wisconsin teams in the competition are Arrowhead, East Troy, Fennimore, Freedom, Hartford, Mineral Point, Mount Horeb, Pulaski, Stoughton, and Wrightstown.
Top Wrestlers to Watch
Nineteen wrestlers ranked nationally will compete, led by Oconomowoc’s Kellen Wolbert, who holds the No. 2 spot in the 150-pound category.
Here are the standout wrestlers ranked in the top 25 of their weight classes by Mat Scouts:
- Hudson Chittum (Cleveland, TN): No. 17 at 106 pounds.
- Onofre Gonzales (Ponderosa, CO): No. 23 at 106 pounds.
- Caleb Noble (Warren, IL): No. 5 at 113 pounds.
- Cason Craft (Coweta, OK): No. 6 at 113 pounds.
- Erik Klichurov (Montini, IL): No. 18 at 113 pounds.
- Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East, IL): No. 3 at 120 pounds.
- Jarrett Smith (Lowell, MI): No. 23 at 120 pounds.
- Brady Collins (East Troy): No. 12 at 126 pounds.
- Hunter Stevens (Mount Horeb): No. 7 at 144 pounds.
- Kellen Wolbert (Oconomowoc): No. 2 at 150 pounds.
- Dallas Russell (Jefferson, GA): No. 4 at 150 pounds.
- Justus Heeg (Providence, IL): No. 3 at 157 pounds.
- Justin Wardlow (Lockport, IL): No. 17 at 157 pounds.
- Royce Lopez (Warren, IL): No. 24 at 165 pounds.
- Jordan Fincher (Hickman, MO): No. 25 at 165 pounds.
- Eli Leonard (Mount Horeb): No. 5 at 175 pounds.
- Liam Crook (Kaukauna): No. 18 at 175 pounds.
- Jimmy Mastny (Marian Catholic, IL): No. 5 at 190 pounds.
- Aaron Stewart (Warren, IL): No. 13 at 190 pounds.
Haylie Dulas Commits to Marquette
Kimberly High School’s basketball star, Haylie Dulas, has announced her commitment to Marquette University.
On December 28, Dulas shared her decision on her X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing her excitement for the future with the Golden Eagles.
“I am thrilled to announce my commitment to play basketball and further my education at Marquette University,” Dulas posted. “Looking forward to this new chapter. Go Golden Eagles!”
Standing at 6 feet, Dulas averages 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, contributing significantly to Kimberly’s WIAA Division 1 state championship win last season.
Appleton West’s Conference Transition
Appleton West has received preliminary approval from the WIAA’s Conference Realignment Task Force to join the Bay Conference in the 2027-28 school year.
According to John Miller, Appleton West’s associate principal for activities, not all sports will transition from the Fox Valley Association. Football will remain in the Fox River Classic Conference.
“Our goal is to align with a conference that mirrors our community and school values,” Miller explained. “Some sports will stay in their current conferences due to the Bay Conference not offering them. Football will also remain due to different realignment cycles.”
The request, made in November, received initial approval on December 9, with finalization expected by March 10, according to a WIAA press release.
