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You always know whatever sectional Mineral Point and Iowa-Grant/Highland are in is one of the tougher sectionals in the state.
Saturday, at the Necedah Sectional, that was proven again.
Of the nine Pointers starting the day, five qualified for the WIAA Division 3 State individual Championships, and of the four from Iowa-Grant/Highland they qualified three - but none of those from either team came easy.
Mineral Point's lone championship came on a great effort by 195 lb. Nate Cody, who entered the tournament with a 24-17 record on the season.
They came up with second placings from 126 lb. Frank Baker, 138 lb. Ross Siegenthaler and 220 lb. Brenyn Schmit and a third spot finish from 152 lb. Scotty Pittz.
Just missing out on a trip to the Kohl Center later this week were 106 lb. Marcus Shannon and 120 lb. Reid Suddeth, both finishing fourth.
"I felt we wrestled well the first two rounds," said Pointer coach Scott Schmitz. "The Pointers battled all day long."
"Marcus is guy I felt we could've gotten out. I didn't feel he got after it in the wrestlebacks, but having over 25 wins as a freshman we are looking for good things from him.
"Reid got to over 100 wins this season, but had an injury back in January. I don't think he ever really got his confidence back. He had a great career for us.
"Frank had a good tournament. Hopefully he'll get another chance at Mezera a state.
"Jake had over 25 wins for us this year and is a 4 year letter winner. He probably was in the toughest weight class and lost a close first match and didn't get a wrestleback. You can't count on the other guy to let you advance.
"Ross had a good tournament. I didn't think he wrestled his best in the finals, but he can get another shot at state.
"Brandon is another guy I felt we could've gotten out. He lost a close match and hadn't been ridden all year. But he's a sophomore and we are looking for big things from him.
"Scotty had an outstanding tournament. He handled the #4 kid in the state and wrestled well in the finals, but the New Lisbon kid is tough and then he lost to Cornell. Hopefully he'll get another crack at hin, but he has two matches before that at state.
"Nate came away as our only champion. That was a weight I felt almost anybody there could've won on any given day. Nate came to wrestle. Now we'll get him ready for a Friday morning match at state.
"Brenyn just had a great tournament. I felt he was a little tentative in the finals. He had a single leg a couple of times and just didn't finish. He's a senior and he'll leave it out on the mat."
For Iowa-Grant/Highland, Luke Nowak, at 160 lbs, along with 170 lb. Brian Halverson both finished as runners-up in their classes.
Cody Rider took third at 182 lbs.
"I thought it was a pretty good day," said Iowa-Grant/Highland coach Ryan Allen.
"I was extremely happy seeing Brian Halverson earn a state tourney bid. He is a senior who has put in more time, effort, and hardwork than most kids can even think about. After bumping up two weights at regionals I knew it would be tough for Brian to make it, but he is a very tough kid himself, so I knew he could do it. I'm excited to watch Brian at state.
"Luke did a great job as well. In the finals he lost to a very physical kid who was also very strong. However, in the semi's Luke avenged a loss from earlier this year getting a key takedown at the end of the match. I really liked the way Luke just kept on his offense with relentless attacks in that match. It was also Luke's 101st and 102nd win of his high school career. Congrats to Luke.
"Cody wrestled well today, especially in his first two matches. He really stuck to his game plan and put himself in position to score and did that. In his finals match he was wrestling well, then got put in a tight cradle and it was over. Cody did not wrestle in the wrestleback match due to a reoccurring injury from football. Hopefully he will be good to go by Thursday.
"Kyle did not make it to state but I think he learned a lot this year. He made one mistake to a kid who has one move, but that one move is a match ender. I am excited to watch Kyle this summer because he is a hard worker and I know he will put in lots of hours training for next season."
The coach concluded saying, "We are excited for state and will focus on winning one match at a time."

D3 Sect. C - Necedah Results for Mineral Point
106-Marcus Shannon (23-12) placed 4th.
Quarterfinal-Shannon won by decision over Josh Korn (Cashton) 19-20 (10-4)
Semifinal-Alex Wilfong (Deerfield) 25-9 won by decision over Shannon (5-4)
Cons. Semi-Shannon won by fall over Tyler Finnell (North Crawford/Seneca) 19-17 (1:18)
3rd Place Match-Ben Gobel (Cam-bridge) 33-11 won by decision over Shannon (6-4)
120-Reid Suddeth (23-12) placed 4th.
Quarterfinal-Jared Gilbertson (Deer-field) 35-8 won by major decision over Suddeth (10-1)
Cons. Semi-Suddeth won by decision over Nick Cahalan (De Soto) 26-12 (10-4)
3rd Place Match-Justin Tollefson (Fennimore) 37-11 won by decision over Suddeth (10-7)
126-Frank Baker (36-10) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Baker won by decision over Brett Cade (Westby) 29-11 (5-3)
Semifinal-Baker won by decision over Chance Niendorf (Cambridge) 34-11 (12-5)
1st Place Match-Kyle Mezera (Lancaster) 43-2 won by decision over Baker (6-0)
2nd Place Match-Baker won by rule over Brett Cade (Westby) 29-11
132-Jake Riley (30-12) failed to place.
Quarterfinal-Stetson Clary (Wes-ton/Ithaca) 38-6 won by decision over Riley (8-1)
138-Ross Siegenthaler (40-8) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Siegenthaler won by fall over Josh Prey (Poynette) 11-18 (0:36)
Semifinal-Siegenthaler won by fall over Levi Dunwald (Brookwood) 22-11 (3:13)
1st Place Match-Ross Withington (Westby) 36-4 won by major decision over Siegenthaler (14-4)
2nd Place Match - Ross Siegenthaler (Mineral Point) 40-8 won by injury default over Dustin Reynolds (Lancaster) 28-13
145-Brandon Forseth (36-12) failed to place.
Quarterfinal-Forseth won by decision over Jeffry Janzen (Cashton) 19-22 (14-7)
Semifinal-Ben Lincks (Waterloo) 40-4 won by decision over Forseth (6-1)
Cons. Semi-Nick Bennett (Wes-ton/Ithaca) 27-15 won by decision over Forseth (4-3)
152-Scott Pittz (32-13) placed 3rd.
Quarterfinal-Pittz won by decision over Mathew Koch (Riverdale) 26-15 (5-2)
Semifinal-Pittz (Mineral Point) 32-13 won by decision over Jeremiah Moody (Cambridge) 40-4 (8-5)
1st Place Match-Cullen Pedersen (New Lisbon) 42-1 won by decision over Pittz (6-0)
2nd Place Match-Trenton Cornell (Lancaster) 41-2 won by decision over Pittz (7-2)
195-Nate Cody (24-17) placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Cody won by fall over Austin Robelia (Deerfield) 11-14 (2:00)
Semifinal-Cody won by fall over Michael Hanson (Riverdale) 27-23 (3:06)
1st Place Match-Cody won by decision over Max Sebranek (Hillsboro) 34-9 (8-6)
220-Brenyn Schmit (43-3) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Schmit won by decision over Derek Medearis (New Lisbon) 27-11 (6-0)
Semifinal-Schmit won by fall over Clayton Uselman (Johnson Creek) 37-4 (5:50)
1st Place Match-Chase Nottestad (Westby) 44-1 won by decision over Schmit (3-1)
2nd Place Match-Schmit won by rule over Clayton Uselman (Johnson Creek) 37-4
D3 Sect. C - Necedah Results for Iowa-Grant/Highland
160-Luke Nowak (34-11) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Nowak won by decision over Patrick Engen (Parkview) 26-11 (9-3)
Semifinal-Nowak won by decision over Mason McCauley (Weston/Ithaca) 39-7 (3-1)
1st Place Match-Myles Connor (New Lisbon) 39-6 won by decision over Nowak (8-4)
2nd Place Match-Nowak won by rule over Mason McCauley (Weston/Ithaca) 39-7
170-Brian Halverson (34-14) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Halverson won by decision over Brandon Schmitz (Cashton) 37-10 (4-2)
Semifinal-Halverson won by decision over Ben Vander Grinten (Deerfield) 30-14 (11-4)
1st Place Match-Ethan Soderstrom (Lancaster) 20-3 won by decision over Halverson (8-1)
2nd Place Match-Halverson won by rule over Brandon Schmitz (Cashton) 37-10
182-Cody Rider (32-14) placed 3rd.
Quarterfinal-Rider won by decision over Mike Finney (De Soto) 27-13 (7-1)
Semifinal-Rider won by fall over Logan Meyer (Waterloo) 31-11 (1:12)
1st Place Match-Dalton Lunde (Royall) 42-1 won by fall over Rider (3:33)
2nd Place Match-David Chadd (Lancaster) 44-3 won by injury default over Cody Rider (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 32-14
220-Kyle Soderstrom (31-16) failed to place.
Quarterfinal-Chase Nottestad (West-by) 44-1 won by fall over Soderstrom (2:35)
Cons. Semi-Tyler Wanek (Riverdale) 37-14 won by decision over Soderstrom (6-4)