March 1, 2012 at 1:21 p.m.
Pointers, Panthers both crown champions
Pointer Deven Walrack was the first area wrestler to take to the mat and he found a familiar foe in Boscobel's Ryan Mindham across from him. He had lost to Mindham at the SWAL/SWC CLASH, but Walrack had avenged that loss at both their regular season dual meet and at sectional.
Walrack emerged the champion with a 7-1 win and moved his season's record to 42-3.
Pointer Robby Chubb also went all the way to Madison to take on the same wrestler he had topped the past two weeks a both regional and sectional tin Iowa-Grant's Blake Welu - both times by one point.
The third time proved to be a charm for the Panther however as he came away with a 5-1 win and a state title at 182 pounds, handing the Pointer only his third loss on the season to go with 42 wins.
Welu topped out his season at 46-4.
Pointers Cody Bertram and Todd Tibbits both reached the podium finishing fifth at their respective 138 and 152 lb. weights.
"I thought we wrestled well the entire tournament," said Mineral Point coach Scott Schmitz. " We lost to some great kids."
He talked about his individuals saying,:
"Reid (Suddeth) and Brenyn (Schmit) both got a taste of the state wrestling tournament and hopefully that will motivate them to do the work in the off season to get back there and get further into the tournament next year.
"Todd Tibbits had an outstanding tournament. He beat Hahn of Pittsville not only once, but twice - that in itself is quite a feat. He should be proud of finishing fifth and of finishing his career with over 100 wins.
"Cody probaly isn't happy with his fifth place finish. He beat a couple of good kids and then was maybe a little too tentative in his semifinal match. Theisen just outwrestled us that match. This was his second time at state and placing, finishing his career here with 150 wins.
"182 was a heartbreaker for Robby. He had beat Blake twice, but we have to take our hat off to Blake. I think if we wouldn't have slipped off that final takedown try and could've scored to tie it up, we would've went on and won. Blakc just made a good move to fight it off. Robby had quite a season, If you would've told me at the end of last season that he was going to state as a sectional champion with only two losses and finish second, I may've thought you were crazy. That just shows you what hard work over the summer and a lot of determination will do.
"Deven just had an outstanding tournament. He only had one point scored on him the entire time and completely dominated every opponent. He finished his career here with over 100 wins. He, along with the other two seniors who were at state (Tibbits and Bertram) will be hard to replace."
Panthers Logan Bollant and Brandon Pierick both finished in the top five. Bollant (170) took fourth while Pierick (160) was fifth.
Iowa-Grant coach Ryan Allen talked about the tournament saing:
"Overall, I was very proud of the guys who represented Iowa-Grant. We wrestled very hard and fought hard in every match. I would have liked to see us win a few more matches, but when you're at the state tourney you have to be ready to wrestle six minutes without making a mistake and we didn't do that."
In alking about his individuals, Allen said, "I thought Blake wrestled very well all weekend. He really was dominant through the whole tournament. Coming into this weekend he was 0-2 with Chubb but I think Blake knew he could win the big one Saturday night if he just wrestled hard for six minutes and didn't let up. And that's exactly what he did. He stayed on the attack even after getting a lead and kept building on it.
"Logan Bollant is a great kid who has worked hard all year. I know Logan wasn't satisfied with his finish up there, but he fought hard and will get another shot at the Coleman kid who beat him on Saturday at team state..
"Brandon and Jake both ran into some very good wrestlers this weekend and just came up a bit short. I thought they both wrestled as hard as he could and that's I can really ask them to do. I know they were also a bit disappointed by their finishes, but as seniors, I'm sure they will be ready to on Saturday.
"As for Tucker, Ben, and Derek I feel that it's always good for young guys to get that experience under their belt. It makes it not such an eye opener if they return the following year. I think it also gives them a taste that they hopefully want more of next year."
Lancaster (D3) had the most area wrestlers reach the podium as Ethan Soderstrom was the 152 lb. champion, Trenton Cornell was runner-up at 138, Cole Martin took second at 106, Kyle Mezera was third at 120 and Daniel Rice finished sixth at 126.
Riverdale's Trevor Spears took second to unbeaten D3 132 pounder Cody See by a 3-1 log.
Belmont-Platteville's Dusty Jentz won the D2! 182 lb. title and Richland Center's Logan Schmidt was third at 285 lbs. in D2.
If there would've been a team score kept, the Pointers finished just higher than I-G with 53 team points to their 51.5.
Coleman, Iowa-Grant's first-round foe this Saturday at the State Tem Tournament topped all D3 schools with 121 points. Luxemburg-Casco won D2 with 123 points while Wisconsin Rapids took the overall title with 159.5. Lancaster topped area schools with 75 in D3.
D3-Iowa-Grant Results
132-Tucker Sarbacker: Champ. Round 1-Ethan Brouillette (Ozaukee) 38-13 won by major decision over Sarbacker 32-14 16-8.
145-Jacob Yelinek:Champ. Round 1-Yelinek 37-16 won by major decision over Trevor Potratz (Weyau-Fre.) 24-6 16-6, Quarterfinal-Ryan Behnke (Bruce) 40-7 won by decision over Yelinek 2-0, Cons. Round 1-Dillon Flock (Cashton) 46-9 won by decision over Yelinek 7-1.
160-Brandon Pierick placed 5th.
Champ. Round 1-Pierick 30-5 won by decision over Ben Marusak (Boyceville) 34-16 8-3, Quarterfinal-Mike Mergener (Coleman) 39-7 won by pin over Brandon Pierick Pin 3:44, Cons. Round 1-Pierick won by decision over Taylor Sina (Princeton) 20-6 9-5, Cons. Semi-Matt Nowak (Edgar) 40-5 won by major decision over Pierickj 12-2, 5th Place Match- Pierick won in overtime over Brian Fesenmaier (Spring Valley/Elmw.) 41-11 8-3.
170-Logan Bollant placed 4th.
Champ. Round 1-Bollant 41-7 won by decision over Taylor Kelley (Bonduel) 33-10 8-2, Quarterfinal-Bollant won by decision over Ethan Cook (Lomira) 41-5 5-0, Semifinal-Jordyn Schaal (Coleman) 39-10 won by decision over Bollant 5-4, Cons. Semi-Bollant won by decision over Matt Pechacek (Prescott) 31-9 3-2, 3rd Place Match-Quinten Strand (De Soto) 45-2 won by decision over Bollant 3-0.
182-Blake Welu placed 1st.
Champ. Round 1-Welu 42-4 won by tech fall over Brandon Biskupski (Martin Luther) 35-8 19-3, Quarterfinal-Welu won by major decision over Brett Blaser (Boyceville) 43-7j 11-2, Semifinal-Welu won by pin over Lucas Markiewicz (Coleman) 37-10 2:35, 1st Place Match-Welu won by decision over Robby Chubb (Mineral Point) 40-2 5-1.
195-Derek Peat: Champ. Round 1-Peat 31-15 won by decision over Derek Berrier (Clear Lake) 37-9 7-5, Quarterfinal-Isaac Nowak (Coleman) 43-2 won by decision over Peat 7-3, Cons. Round 1-Robert Semanko (Cadott) 38-14 won by decision over Peat 3-1.
285-Ben McFall: Champ. Round 1-Brad DenBoer (Oostburg) 40-7 won by decision over McFall 31-13 (Dec 9-5).
D3-Mineral Point
106-Reid Suddeth: Champ. Round Dylan Willemssen (Athens) 38-10 won by decision over Suddeth 24-13 7-0.
113-Deven Walrack placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Walrack 39-3 won by decision over Jordan Corcoran (Aquinas) 43-8 7-0, Semifinal-Walrack won by major decision over Brandon Depies (Random Lake) 38-10 8-0, 1st Place Match-Walrack won by decision over Ryan Mindham (Boscobel) 45-11 7-1.
138 -Cody Bertram placed 5th.
Quarterfinal-Bertram 35-5 won by decision over Brock Kasten (Brillion) 33-5 5-1, Semifinal-Austin Moe (Glenwood City) 45-2 won by decision over Bertram 4-3, Cons. Semi-Trey Theisen (New Lisbon) 41-5 won in double overtime over Bertram 2-to 1-1, 5th Place Match-Bertram won by decision over Mason Mergener (Coleman) 35-12 6-2.
152-Todd Tibbits placed 5th.
Champ. Round 1-Tibbits 35-10 won by decision over Justin Shmauz (Horicon) 35-9 8-5, Quarterfinal-Tibbits won in overtime over Eric Hahn (Pittsville) 44-4 3-2, Semifinal-Ross Peterson (Ladysmith) 44-3 won by decision over Tibbits 4-2, Cons. Semi-Anthony Lemanski (Edgar) 35-8 won by injury default over Tibbits, 5th Place Match-Tibbits won by decision over Eric Hahn (Pittsville) 44-4 3-0.
182-Robby Chubb placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Chubb 40-2 won by decision over Andy Bune (Spring Valley/Elmw.) 38-16 4-0, Semifinal-Chubb won by decision over William Browning (Brillion) 37-9 3-2, 1st Place Match-Blake Welu (Iowa-Grant) 42-4 won by decision over Chubb (Mineral Point) 40-2 5-1.
220-Brenyn Schmit: Champ. Round Kollin Long (Coleman) 32-12 won by decision over Schmit 25-16 8-5.
Division 2
Cuba City/Southwestern senior Jarod Donar completed his high school career with a 189-0 mark, becoming only the third Wisconsin wrestler to ever have an unbeatedn career. Of course he walked away Saturday with his fourth strate state title, this year at 138 lb. in D2. He edged Gabe Flandrick of Somerset 3-0 scoring a takedown in the final seconds to sew up the win. His cousin, JJ, finished sixth at 113.
River Valley's Seth Liegel topped out his junior season with a 48-0 record and a championship in D2 a 145 lbs. He joined his father and a brother as Wisconsin state mat champions.
D2-Dodgeville
138-Jasper Meeker: Champ. Round Gabe Flandrick (Somerset) 43-4 won by decision over Meeker 28-16 6-1.
D2-River Valley
126 - Austyn Alt: Champ. Round 1-Levi Petroske (Waupaca) 38-8 won by decision over Alt 36-7 13-7.
145-Seth Liegel placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Liegel 45-0 won by major decision over Brett Scoles (Kewaskum) 31-6 11-3, Semifinal-Liegel won by major decision over Kiefer Bennett (Delavan-Darien) 41-9 12-3, 1st Place Match-Liegel won by decision over Tyler Weyer (Baldwin-Woodville) 41-2 11-5.
160-Garrett Riek: Champ. Round 1-Dan Schubert (Spencer/Colum. Cath.) 36-7 won by decision over Riek 31-13 Dec 8-5.
"The State Tournament is such a great event to end our season with. The atmosphere is second to none in High School sports," said River Valley coach Jaime Hegland."
He went on saying, "That being said, Thursday night proved to be difficult to bear. This was Garrett Riek's first trip to the State Tourney, and despite falling short in his match on Thursday night, I thought he wrestled pretty well. I'm confident that this experience will prove to be both valuable and motivating for Garrett as he progresses into his senior year. He's made great strides for improvement over the course of this season, and I'm anxious to see how he continues to progress over the next year.
"I'm very proud of Austyn Alt, he's had a wonderful career. I know that it didn't have the ending that we all hoped for, but nothing can take away from what he's been able to accomplish over the past four seasons. Austyn has accumulated 143 career wins, qualified for the State Tournament three times, and brought home a 6th and 3rd place medals. Kids like that don't come into your program very often, especially when you consider the leadership skills and academic performance that Austyn has exhibited as well. Austyn is a great kid that will certainly find success well beyond wrestling.
"Seth Liegel had a special season! I'm certainly proud of what he's been able to accomplish on the mat, but I'm probably more proud of how he's done it. Seth has an unparalleled work ethic and has been extremely motivated to join his dad Ralph and brother Scott on our State Champions board in our wrestling room. He's also a great student and great person. I know that he'll be motivated to improve upon this season's performance next year."
