ORFORDVILLE, Wis. — The Parkview/Albany wrestling team’s Trailways South Conference title last season was the squad’s first league crown in 41 years.
The Vikings made sure it didn’t have to wait anywhere close to that long for its second after it won the conference once again this season, and they are ready to keep the party going with the Trailways Conference tournament set for 9 a.m. Saturday at Deerfield High School.
“These kids are coming in and just fighting hard every day,” head coach Joel Steinmann said. “Each one of them has their goal set, and we’re looking to take the conference itself. That’s going to be a task, but that hasn’t deterred any of them.”
Parkview/Albany finished second at last year’s conference tourney behind Markesan, and a run at first place will be made even more difficult with injuries to Nick Stokstad at the 285-pound division and Trevor Haugen at 113. Sam Vogt is expected to take over for Stokstad, and Steinmann added that his squad being purely team-oriented will help greatly.
“We don’t even discuss individual records up here,” Steinmann said. “We talk about going out there and doing your job every day. That’s what all of them have put on their mind; we want to do this thing for the team.”
It all starts with reigning Beloit Daily News All-Area Wrestler of the Year Wesley Egan (215), who is making a good case to defend his title. The junior is ranked sixth in Division 3 according to wisconsingrappler.com and is currently 38-1. Of those wins, 26 came via pin. He also clinched individual titles at the Mount Horeb Invite, Polo Tournament, Monroe Invite and Bruce Troubier Memorial Scramble.
Steinmann was quick to point out that Egan’s partner at practice is senior 190-pounder Sam Schwengels, who is ranked fourth at 39-1 with 23 pins on the season and has championships from Mount Horeb, Polo and Bruce Troubier.
“Those two are just pushing each other hard every day in practice,” the head coach said. “That's what's helping Wes get to where he's at because Sam's like 'I'm not letting up.' Watching those two go at it every day is phenomenal.”
In the lower weights, the Vikings will look for championship runs from Slater Valley (113), who is 34-4 and ranked sixth, and Danny Finley (126), who is 38-2 and has added 20 pins to his resume. Valley has titles from Polo and Bruce Troubier while Finley won championships at Monroe and Bruce Troubier.
“It’s the same thing (at practice) with those two,” Steinmann said. “They’re just out there pushing each other. You figure they're going to hit a plateau and start leveling off, but they just haven't. They come in to practice every day knowing we have to get better because the next guy is going to be tougher.”
Parkview/Albany usually takes the weekend before the conference tournament off, but it opted to wrestle at the Bruce Troubier and finished fourth with four champions.
It continued a great 2024 for the Vikings as they have only lost one dual after New Year’s Day, and Steinmann is hoping the solid ending to the regular season will help them tackle the tough wrestlers coming from the Trailways North in the 13-team event.
“Princeton’s done a great job this year on the North side,” the head coach said. “Along with Pardeeville and Markesan, they’re going to be tough. And Deerfield gave us a run for our money on the South side. We’re going to be fighting.”
The Vikings will also have three girls wrestling in their own tournament, the first time the Trailways Conference is holding an all-girls tourney at the same place as the boys.
Autumn Hill (107), Ayda Klein (126) and Sydney Coyne (235) will compete for Parkview.
Coyne (15-5) is a favorite to win a championship after going 5-0 in the Lady Huskies Wrestling Invite over the weekend.
“She’s got good momentum running there to hopefully come out with a conference title herself,” Steinmann said.
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