Schanen shines in first state wrestling meet

Sterling Schanen already has the mental toughness needed for success, and now he’s got a medal to show for it.

The Ozaukee High School freshman lost in the final 20 seconds to the eventual Division 3 state wrestling champion at 106 pounds at the state tournament in Madison last weekend, but he bounced right back.

Schanen won his final three matches and took a fifth-place medal.

“Every day’s a new day. You’ve just got to make it your best day,” he said.

“I wanted to be first, but we got close. I had a close match with him. You get what you get sometimes, and you’ve just got to wrestle your way through it.”

That he did.

After pinning his first opponent in 42 seconds, Schanen (47-6) lost, 8-3, to Griffin Wineski (39-10) of Iowa Grant/Highland, who went on to win the tournament.

Schanen then beat Zander Baehnman (43-13), 10-4, of Weyauwega Fremont, Ryker Moskiewicz (38-9), 9-2, of Cadott and in the fifth-place match beat Riverdale’s Wyatt Schramm (50-8), 9-1.

Schanen is the first freshman to qualify for state since Cole Large in 2011 and second to medal. His uncle Dominic Schanen was fifth in 1993.

“I am proud of how Sterling wrestled at state, but I am equally proud of how he represents what we value with Ozaukee wrestling on a daily basis.  We value hustle, courage, excitement and focus,” Schanen’s coach and father Ted Schanen said.