Xavier junior Cristian Rodriguez Salgado lost a Division 2 106-pound semifinal match at the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison. He will wrestle for third place on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of SojkaStrong Sports Photos)

Xavier wrestlers stay alive for medals at WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament

February 28, 2026 plecker

AppletonSportsPage.com

MADISON – Two Xavier wrestlers stayed alive for a possible state medal on Friday at the 2026 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the Kohl Center.

Xavier junior Cristian Rodriguez Salgado lost a Division 2 106-pound semifinal to Drey Kren (53-2) of Eau Claire Regis/Altoona, 9-1.

Rodriguez Salgado (39-2) will take on Malakai Barker (52-3) of Osceola in a third-place match Saturday afternoon.

Xavier senior John Faulkner (44-4) won his consolation semifinal 9-0 over Chase Gruber of Coleman on Friday.

Faulkner will wrestle Ben Lauer of Waukesha North in a consolation semifinal Saturday morning, with the winner moving into a fifth-place match and guaranteed a state medal.

Consolation matches start at 10 a.m. and the finals will begin at 5:30 p.m.