ONCE A WILDCAT,
ALWAYS A WILDCAT
Where champions are made from K–12
Building Wildcats Together Since 1963
River Falls Wrestling is one of Wisconsin’s most distinguished programs. In 1963 Coach Bill Wright introduced the sport at RFHS. By the 1970s our community formed a non-profit youth wrestling organization and Booster Club to back athletes at every level.1963 – Coach Bill Wright introduces wrestling at River Falls High School. Within a decade our community formed a non-profit youth wrestling organization and Booster Club to support athletes from kindergarten through Grade 12.
1988 – River Falls was the birthplace of the WWF Kids Folkstyle State Tournament series, a milestone for youth folkstyle wrestling.
Since 1997 – River Falls has been home to the prestigious Northern Badger Wrestling Classic for more than 25 years, welcoming hundreds of teams and thousands of fans each December.
Today our programs span Pre-K through high school, offering skill clinics, leadership roles, and competitive pathways that prepare every Wildcat for success on and off the mat.
20 WIAA Individual State Titles
135+ qualifiers and 76 placement medals
These individual champions have powered five WIAA Team State appearances and fueled fifteen conference team championships across the Middle Border and Big Rivers Conferences.
Honoring the 20 Wildcats whose state-title victories cement our legacy of excellence.
Who will be next?
#WHOS21
Pauly Cudd
1971
185 lb
Mike Jenkins
1971
Heavyweight
Doug Brannigan
1975
98 lb
Jim Kassera
1977
98 lb
Paul Wehking
1983
167 lb
Jesse Cudd
1992
140 lb
Kevin Black
1995
103 lb
Kevin Black
1996
112 lb
Durand Brown
1996
135 lb
Kevin Black
1997
112 lb
Brady Cudd
1997
130 lb
Phillip Meier
1997
152 lb
Joe Cudd
1997
275 lb
Tony Black
1998
103 lb
Kevin Black
1998
119 lb
Joe Cudd
1998
275 lb
Tony Black
1999
112 lb
Trevor Brandvold
2006
189 lb
Nathan Fuller
2019
152 lb
Vito Massa
2022
285 lb
All-American Honors & NCAA Champion
5 NCAA Division I All-American honors | 4 NCAA Division III All-American honors
From conference mats to national championships, River Falls wrestlers have reached All-American status at the NCAA Championships. These honors speak to the grit and dedication of every Wildcat.
In 2025, Mitchell Williamson ’18 captured the NCAA Division III national title at 285 lbs while at Wartburg College.
Who will be next?
#RFAlumni
Two Landmark Tournaments Each Season
The Badger Classic here at RFHS and the WWF Kids series born in River Falls
Northern Badger Wrestling Classic
Since 1997, River Falls has proudly hosted the Northern Badger Classic. Each December, over 48 teams and up to 5,000 fans converge for two days of top-level competition.
Birthplace of the WWF Kids Series
In 1988, River Falls gave rise to the WWF Kids Folkstyle State Tournament series. While the tournament now travels statewide, its roots here continue to shape young wrestlers across Wisconsin.
