Lincoln wrestlers sign with Badgers

For two wrestling teammates that have been together for years, it was an easy choice to pick Wisconsin as the college.

Now Devin Peterson and Rylan Lubeck will wrestle for the Badgers as the two Lincoln High School athletes signed their letter of intent Nov. 9 in a private ceremony.

“It’s the home team down in Madison and going down there with a teammate that I have been with for so many years and to get to wrestle with him for five more years is a great thing,” said Lubeck, who is ranked 10th nationally in 152-pound weight class, according to intermatwrestle.com.

Picking the Badgers was an easy choice for Peterson, who is ranked No. 1 nationally at 195-pounds on intermatwrestle.com and had interest from many Division 1 schools.

Kathy Williams

Devin Peterson, left, and Rylan Lubeck sign National Letters of Intent to wrestle for University of Wisconsin.

“I knew since sixth grade, which is when realized how big wrestling was in my life, that I was going to go there,” he said. “Nothing compared to Wisconsin with me.”

Peterson and Lubeck are part of a very talented senior class, said coach Scott Benitz.

“This whole senior class has outstanding wrestlers and you have a number of wrestlers who will be wrestling at a Division 1 school next year,” he said. “As a group, it is obviously one of the best that we had come through.”

Lubeck fills a key role for the Badgers, Wisconsin coach Berry Davis said in a press release.

“He is an untapped young man who is very knowledgeable about the sport of wrestling,” he said. “He’s a middle weight and we need that.”

Peterson will fit in with the upper weight classes for the Badgers, although he is projected to wrestle at 184-pounds at college, Davis said.

“I think he is that upper weight class guy that we really need,” he said.

The chance to wrestle for the Badgers is an achievement made possible through hard work and great athletic ability, Benitz said.

“We watched those two guys on the football field and they are just great athletes,” he said. “When you focus on one sport and put so much effort into it, good things happen.”

Staying close to home was important to Peterson, who wanted to give his father a chance to watch as many matches as possible.

“My dad was a big part of my college decision,” he said. “If I went to Oklahoma State or Penn State, he would have to fly to the matches. Now he can just drive.”

After visiting the campus, Lubeck said it was an easy choice.

“I was first thinking I would keep my options open but I went down there and it felt like home,” he said.

The two boys join a class that is considered one of the best in Badger history.

“We have one of the best recruiting classes coming in next year and we all will be pushing each other to get better,” Peterson said.

The talent in Madison has Lubeck eyeing a National Championship for the team.

“I want to win a National Championship but also to solidify that team and get a national team title,” he said.