Oconto Falls’ Whiting wins state title as a freshman
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MADISON – Clayton Whiting’s high school career is off to a pretty good start to say the least.
The Oconto Falls freshman capped an impressive first year by defeating Amery senior Mike Smith with a 9-0 major decision to win the 152-pound Division 2 state championship Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Whiting said. “Everybody is always like, ‘Oh, he’s just a freshman. This shouldn’t be nothing.’ But I’m a whole different other person out on the mat. I change people’s minds like that.”
Whiting (48-3) was the only freshman competing in the WIAA state finals in any division among the seven heaviest weight classes and was one of five freshmen overall in a state championship match this year.
Whiting became Oconto Falls’ 15th state champion and 12th since 2010. He’s the first to win a state title as a freshman for the program.
His state run extended the Panthers’ streak of having at least one state finalist to 10 years.
Nate Trepanier, who won a state title for Oconto Falls in 2016, gave Whiting some helpful advice going into his first state tournament.
“I got some information from Nate Trepanier about mentally being out there on the mat all the time, thinking right,” Whiting said about wrestling on the state stage for the first time. “Don’t focus on the fans or anything. Just focus on your match and do what you do.”
