By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
Thomas Kratz is a senior at De Pere High School who recently completed the wrestling season.
He plans to attend UW-Stout to study supply-chain management but will not wrestle.
In his spare time, Kratz likes to camp and disc golf.
Name: Thomas Kratz
Nickname: Tommy, Tickles
School: De Pere
Sports: Wrestling, cross country
Weight class: 182
Parents: Dale and Jennifer
Before we get started, you need to explain your nickname.
“In my middle school days, I was very ticklish.”
Tell me about your family.
“I have one sister named Emma who is 20 and goes to UW-Madison. My parents are from Denmark – my dad lived on a farm, and my mom’s dad owned a cheese factory.”
Do you come from a sports family?
“My sister played volleyball and ran cross country, my dad did football and wrestled and my mom played basketball, volleyball and softball.”
Have you always just been a wrestler?
“I did cross country the last two years for fun and to stay in shape, and I also did football my freshman and sophomore years.”
When did you start wrestling?
“I started in kindergarten.”
How about a high school sport you wish you would have done?
“I always wanted to play baseball. I did when I was younger, but I wasn’t very good at it.”
Tell the readers how hard a wrestling match is.
“It’s physically and mentally exhausting. When I’d come off the mat, I was glad it was over. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
What did you like about the sport?
“I like how challenging it was.”
How hard was it to keep your weight in the season?
“It was hard – I had to cut a little weight every week to start off. I’d just slowly drop as the week went on.”
What were your strengths/weaknesses as a wrestler?
“I was good on top and good technically, but I wasn’t as strong as some of my opponents, and I wasn’t as good from the bottom.”
Do you have a most memorable wrestling moment?
“Winning the Battle on the Bay Tournament at Bay Port this past season. I pinned all of my opponents in the first period except for one.”
An embarrassing one?
“Both times finishing third at sectionals with a chance to go to state on the line. I feel like I should have beaten both kids, but I choked.”
What three words best describe you?
“Friendly, jokester, fun.”
What is something about you the average person wouldn’t know?
“I became an Eagle Scout in 2018.”
That’s very cool! What was your final Eagle Scout project?
“I made some benches for the Ledgeview trails.”
I’m a disc golfer. How far can you wing it?
“I play in a lot of tournaments and can throw it up to 500 feet.”
Tell me about a favorite family vacation.
“When my family, cousins and a few other friends went down to Mexico two years ago.”
How will Thomas Kratz be remembered at De Pere?
“As a good wrestler who the little kids looked up to.”
Dogs or cats?
“Dogs.”
Lie on the beach or ski down the slopes?
“Ski down the slopes.”
Peanut butter or jelly?
“Peanut butter.”
Carpet or hardwood?
“Carpet.”
Sunrise or sunset?
“Sunrise.”
Favorites
Food: Noodles
Cereal: Cap’n Crunch
Phone app: Snapchat
Holiday: Christmas
Board game: Sorry