Prep wrestling: Wisconsin Rapids seniors working to go out on top

Wisconsin Rapids’ Devin Peterson is one of numerous seniors that are hoping to end their prep careers with a fourth straight state title this year. / Daily Tribune file photo

Four of the seniors on the Wisconsin Rapids wrestling team have been the core of the program since they were freshmen, competing at the highest level and being part of three Division 1 state championship teams.

That crew would like nothing more than to cap their careers with another state title, and it will be on their shoulders to get the job done.

As freshmen, Rylan Lubeck, Jake Raflik, Zak Benitz and Devin Peterson were major contributors in the Raiders’ 2009 championship team that upset defending champ Wausau West.

Ryan Cone and the Einerson brothers, Keegan and Kasey, joined the fold as sophomores to give the team even more firepower.

All seven were at last year’s state tournament with Benitz (47-5, last year) winning his first state title at 152 pounds. Lubeck (50-2) and Kasey Einerson (43-6) were runners-up a year ago at 140 and 145 pounds, respectively, while Raflik (41-9), Keegan Einerson (35-8), Cone (38-13) and Devin Peterson (49-3) were medalists.

“Our seven state place winners are pretty special and have anchored our team for the past three years, and they will carry us even more this year,” Raiders coach Scott Benitz said. “All these guys have been in the top three in the state at one time or another and they are hungry to win individual championships and the team title, too.”

The Raiders have won 15 of the last 17 Division 1 state titles, the longest run coming from 1995 to 2001. Since that first team state title in 1995, the Raiders have won the Wisconsin Valley Conference title every year except in 2008 during Wausau West’s championship season. During that span the Raiders are 429-35, with undefeated seasons in 1997 (25-0) and 1999 (23-0).

Each year, the Raiders’ coaches put together a difficult schedule that prepares the team for the postseason tournaments.

This year, the Raiders won’t be going to The Clash and the Cheesehead, two national-caliber tournaments, as a result of the pending legal issues involving four team members. New on this year’s schedule is the Mega Duals at Nequa Valley (Ill.) on Jan. 14. The Raiders will keep their interstate rivalry with Glenbard North at that meet.

“When Totino-Grace (Minn.) didn’t want to come back to the quad and we weren’t able to find a fourth team, we looked to go to a tournament to keep our relationship going with Glenbard,” Benitz said. “We’re going to see Glenbard and four of the top 10 teams in Illinois, so it will be a good challenge for us.”

The Raiders will face Division 2 powers Luxemburg-Casco and Milton, the team Rapids beat in the 2010 state team finals.

“We have a strong schedule and face some tough teams early in the year, and we aren’t at full strength right now,” Benitz said. “I think we’re a good team, but it’s going to be tougher for us to win a state title this year. Some things will have to fall right for us to win another state title. Some other teams in the state have gotten better, and right in our own conference Merrill and Wausau West are pretty tough teams.”

In the postseason, the Raiders travel to SPASH for the individual regional tournament and then Pulaski for the individual sectional. Sandwiched in between the two individual tournaments is the team sectional at Ashwaubenon.

“Our goal hasn’t changed,” Benitz said.

“We want to be wrestling on Saturday night the first weekend of March every year.”