February 18, 2013 at 8:50 a.m.
Dodgers win regional, advance to Team Sectional
The Dodgers nipped Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben 192.5 to 189.5. They trailed by four points going into the wrestleback round.
They came up with two champions in 120 lb. Austin DeVoss and 138 lb. Jasper Meeker. Trevor (113) and Tyler (126) Wunnicke, along with Brady Wetter (152) and Brett Binsfeld (160) gaining seconds.
Dodgeville coach Tim Wunnicke hs this to say about the championship and the individuals going on:
"It was an up and down kind of day. On the up side we won our regional by 4 points and for the first time in Dodgeville history we are advancing to the team sectionals. What an exciting feat for all of the wrestling team. The kids on this team will have something to remember for the rest of their lives and they all realize that it didn't come easy. There was a lot of hard work, sweat, blood, tears and sacrifice laid out there by all of these kids and the really cool part is they did it without any complaints.
"We knew that it was going to be really close with Prairie but with the help of the other teams, all the pieces just fell together. I couldn't be prouder of them. We will face Brodhead/Juda in the first round at Lodi. We were fortune enough to have seen Brodhead/Juda at New Glarus in a tournament so we think we have an idea of what we are going to be coming up against Tuesday night. I really hope to see a lot of fans there to support the kids. It would really mean a lot to them.
"As far as the individuals Saturday well let's just say I think we let some matches get away that we really should have won.
Regional's is always a difficult thing because, for some of these kids it could be there last high school match, as is the case at sectionals too. As a coach it difficult to watch. We have a pretty strong conference and all of the conference teams are at this regional. Austin DeVoss wrestled well enough to win the regional but not his best, if he opens up he could be a force at the state tournament. Jasper Meeker looked strong, I think he is right where he needs to be. Trevor Wunnicke and Brett Binsfield each dropped a match in the finals that I thought they should have won and I think they thought they should have won as well. I saw a little let up at the end of their matches that could have turn the tide. Brady Wetter and Tyler Wunnicke I thought wrestled exceptionally well, Brady faced Seth Liegel from River Valley (last year's State Champ) in the finals and came up short but came back in the wrestle back and pinned the Prairie kid to get us some great team points. Tyler however had to wrestle 4 kids - 3 of which had beaten him earlier in the year just to make it to sectional. Zach Nelson, Payton Grunnow, Jacob Recob, Austin Olson, Jack Schickel, Sam Gollon, Payton Calvert, and Matt Gorgen all did just outstanding jobs for us. Most people don't understand but everyone of these wrestlers contributed to this year's success as a team. Without any one to these young men not laying it out there even though they aren't advancing to individual sectionals, they chose to do their best to advance the team. It just doesn't get any better than that."
PdC/WS started the day with two straight championships, but only gained two seconds after that.
River Valley finished fifth with 157 team points, but had the most champions in four and qualified five. 152 lb. Seth Liegel continued his unbeaten streak on the season at 43-0. Their other champions were: Joe Crook (145), Garrett Riek (170) and Zach Koch (220) with 106 lb. Alec Bass finishing second.
"I thought our kids wrestled pretty well at Dodgeville," said River Valley coach Jaime Hegland. "Mental mistakes took place in a few instances that cost a couple of our individuals an opportunity to wrestle at Sectionals. The five individuals that made it to Sectionals all wrestled pretty well and have created opportunities for themselves in the weeks ahead.
"With Sectional pairings out, we feel really good about the brackets and the abilities of our kids to get to the State Tourney. The most important thing for each of them right now is having a solid week of work outs, keeping their weight under control, and focusing on the match that lies directly in front of them. Our wrestlers are excited to accomplish the goals they've set in the weeks ahead."
Other team scores and qualifiers were: Cuba City/Southwestern 173.5 (6), Richland Center 162 (5), Belmont/Platteville 62 (2).
These teams join other D2 teams at the Richland Center Sectional Saturday.
FINALS
106-1st Place Match: Taylor Elliott (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Alec Bass (River Valley). (TF 18-2)., 2nd Place Wrestleback, 3rd Place: Zach Nelson (Dodgeville).
113-1st Place Match
Clayton Beers (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) 29-5, Fr. over Trevor Wunnicke (Dodgeville) 33-4, Sr. (Dec 6-4).
120-1st Place Match: Austin DeVoss (Dodgeville) over Mason Wipperfurth (River Valley). (Dec 4-2), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Tyler Rieck (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Mason Wipperfurth (River Valley) (Pin 2:40), 3rd Place Match: Tyler Rieck (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Andrew Gander (Richland Center) (Pin 1:13), 5th Place Match: Alex Busch (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Cora Cornett (Belmont/Platteville) (TF 17-0).
126-1st Place Match: JJ Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Austen Chafer (Richland Center) (Pin 0:47), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Tyler Wunnicke (Dodgeville) over Austen Chafer (Richland Center) (Maj 16-7), 3rd Place Match: Tyler Wunnicke (Dodgeville) over Drew Yeomans (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Dec 9-8), 5th Place Match: Cole Mahoney (River Valley) received a bye.
132-1st Place Match: Josh Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Hunter Whitney (Richland Center) (Dec 11-4), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Hunter Whitney (Richland Center) over Ronnie Hebel (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Pin 5:36), 3rd Place Match: Ronnie Hebel (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Payton Grunow (Dodgeville) (Pin 2:47).
138-1st Place Match: Jasper Meeker (Dodgeville) over John Hentrich (Belmont/Platteville) (Dec 10-5), 3rd Place Match: Andrew Kordus (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Chase Dilley (Richland Center) (Pin 4:36).
145-1st Place Match: Joe Crook (River Valley) over Tim Yager (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Maj 9-0), 3rd Place Match Keegan Stibbe (Richland Center) over Jacob Recob (Dodgeville) (Dec 9-2), 5th Place: Austin Hill (Cuba City/Southwestern) rreceived a bye.
152-1st Place Match: Seth Liegel (River Valley) over Brady Wetter (Dodgeville) 28-8, Fr. (Pin 2:54), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Brady Wetter (Dodgeville) over Alex Chandler (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Pin 1:15), 3rd Place Match: Alex Chandler (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Scott Fink (Cuba City/Southwestern) (Pin 4:40), 5th Place Match: Johan Piekenbrock (Richland Center) over Taylor Halverson (Belmont/Platteville) (Dec 16-10).
160-1st Place Match: Lucas Kastner (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Brett Binsfeld (Dodgeville) (Dec 3-2), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Brett Binsfeld (Dodgeville) over Brandon Banker (Richland Center) (Dec 5-1), 3rd Place Match: Brandon Banker (Richland Center) over Austin Loeffoelholz (Belmont/Platteville) (Maj 16-3), 5th Place Match: Jack Feye (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) received a bye.
170-1st Place Match: Garrett Riek (River Valley) over Joshua Kidd (Richland Center) (Dec 3-0), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Joshua Kidd (Richland Center). over Austin Olson (Dodgeville) (Dec 3-2), 3rd Place Match: Austin Olson (Dodgeville) over Justin Panka (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Pin 1:19), 5th Place Match: Trevor Oaks (Belmont/Platteville) received a bye.
182-1st Place Match: Vincent Anderson (Belmont/Platteville) over Silas Coleman (Richland Center) (SV-1 6-4), 2nd Place Wrestleback: Silas Coleman (Richland Center) over Forrest Thill (Cuba City/Southwestern) (Dec 2-1), 3rd Place Match: Forrest Thill (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Peyton Hall (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben). (Pin 2:40), 5th Place Match: Duane Pretsch (River Valley) over Jack Schickel (Dodgeville) (MFF).
195-1st Place Match: Zach Koch (River Valley) 33-10, Jr. over Brett Wilson (Cuba City/Southwestern) 24-11, Jr. (Pin 3:46), 3rd Place Match: Sam Gollon (Dodgeville) over Brenden Fleshner (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) (Pin 0:54).
220-1st Place Match: Dusty Brant (Cuba City/Southwestern) over Jace Simonson (Richland Center) (Dec 5-2), 3rd Place Match: Alex Wasechek (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Payton Calvert (Dodgeville) (Pin 0:54), 5th Place Match: Jacob Heiser (River Valley) received a bye.
285-1st Place Match: Mark Doudna (Richland Center) over Cal Grutz (Cuba City/Southwestern) (Pin 3:03), 3rd Place Match: Brogan Riter (Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Steuben) over Matt Gorgen (Dodgeville) (Pin 0:22).
