March 3, 2017 at 10:18 a.m.
River Valley crowns 3 state champs, I-G/Highland has two runners-up
Dustin Hatfield finished his 126 lb. season unbeaten with an overtime 4-2 win over St. John's NW Military Academy. The Blackhawk trailed 2-0 with seconds remaining i n regulation. He was awarded a penalty point and then gained an escape with seven ticks remaining on the clock to go to the extra period. His takedown in the opening frame won it to close out a 44-0 season..
Back to back first went to Shane Liegel at 160 lbs. and Elijah Alt at 170.
Liegel edged Oconto Falls' Nate Trepanier 5-4 to earn his title and finish at 45-4.
Alt won another hard fought match at 3-2 over Luxemburg-Casco's Dalton Smerchek in the title bout. He closed his season at 47-1.
"We are very proud of all our wrestlers that competed over the weekend," said River Valley co-coach Pat Mahoney.
In talking about their individuals, Mahoney said: "Tennessee did a great job all year after moving up from 220. He is a very exciting wrestler and achieved his goal of making it to state.
"Caleb wrestled a good tournament and achieved a place on medal stand. it was a great accomplishment but Caleb is hungry for more.
"Gavin is a true competitor. We thought he deserved a spot in the finals but it didn't work out in our favor. The semi-final match finished controversial but Gavin showed great sportsmanship and heart wrestling back for 5th.
"Zach took a three time state champ to the limit and was a whisker away from winning the title. He knows he is right there and next year the title will be his for the taking.
"Shane wrestled a great tournament. He is RV Wrestlings first ever sophomore state champion. He was very aggressive and never really got out of position.
"Elijah had a fantastic year only losing in the Bi-State Finals to a competitor from MN. He wrestled his opponent earlier in the year and controlled the finals match the entire time.
"Dustin met his finals opponent last week in the Sectional finals. The outcome was the same although we needed overtime. Dustin is the ultimate competitor and has worked his whole life to be a state champ."
Mahoney added, "All of our wrestlers have worked extremely hard to achieve the ultimate goals this year. Again, we could not be more proud of ALL RV Wrestlers. We have never had three state champions in one year and seven state qualifiers is the most ever. Four state finalist is tied for the most ever. We had four state finalists when I was a junior in high school, 1989 - including Dustin's dad and myself."
The Blackhawks are co-coached by Mahoney and Curtis Fiedler.
2017 WIAA Individual State Results for River Valley
D2-120-Caleb Radtke (34-12) placed 6th.
Quarterfinal-Julian Purney (Melrose-Mind./G.-E.-T.) 39-12 won by decision over Radtke (Dec 6-0), Cons. Round 1-Radtke won by decision over Cade Heisdorf (Campbellsport) 33-12 (Dec 8-1), Cons. Semi-Sawyer Strom (Ellsworth) 38-10 won by decision over Radtke (Dec 7-3), 5th Place Match-Abel Brockman (Cedar Grove-Belg.) 39-8 won by decision over Radtke (Dec 6-4)
D2-126-Dustin Hatfield (41-0) placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Hatfield won by decision over Mitch Garvey (Freedom) 33-13 (Dec 7-0), Semifinal-Hatfield won by decision over Owen Matzek (Ellsworth) 13-3 (Dec 8-1), 1st Place Match-Hatfield won in sudden victory - 1 over Aidan Medora (St. John`s NW Mil. Ac./Br. Ac.) 38-4 (SV-1 4-2)
D2-132-Zach Licht (42-4) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Licht won by tech fall over Calen Kirkpatrick (Northwestern) 34-5 (TF-1.5 5:10 (16-1)), Semifinal-Licht won by major decision over Jordan Sarver (Nekoosa/Assumpt./Port Edw.) 43-5 (MD 17-6), 1st Place Match-Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth) 46-0 won by decision over Licht (Dec 8-6)
D2-145-Gavin Wipperfurth (34-6) placed 5th.
Champ. Round 1-Wipperfurth won by decision over Shawn Waalen (Amery) 21-4 (Dec 4-2), Quarterfinal-Wipperfurth won by decision over Matthew Pekarske (Valders) 37-13 (Dec 4-3), Semifinal-Bryce Ash (Oconto Falls) 40-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Wipperfurth (SV-1 8-6), Cons. Semi-Cole Skelton (Ellsworth) 37-9 won by decision over Wipperfurth (Dec 7-3), 5th Place Match-Wipperfurth won by decision over Evan Vosters (Freedom) 36-9 (Dec 8-7)
D2-160-Shane Liegel (42-4) placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Liegel won by decision over Kolten Hanson (Medford Area) 43-4 (Dec 8-7), Semifinal-Liegel won by decision over Brian Corbins (Wisconsin Lutheran) 39-5 (Dec 7-1), 1st Place Match-Liegel won by decision over Nate Trepanier (Oconto Falls) 45-2 (Dec 5-4)
D2-170-Elijah Alt (44-1) placed 1st.
Quarterfinal-Alt won by fall over Brice Delzer (Oconto Falls) 38-14 (Fall 3:36), Semifinal-Alt won by decision over Stephen Buchanan (Neillsville/Green-wood./Loyal) 42-7 (Dec 6-5), 1st Place Match-Alt won by decision over Dalton Smerchek (Luxemburg-Casco) 41-7 (Dec 3-2)
D2-285-Tennessee Hatfield (29-15) failed to place.
Champ. Round 1-Josh Frerk (Denmark) 37-6 won by fall over Hatfield (Fall 1:18)
Iowa-Grant/Highland wrestlers had a good state meet experience as all but one of their five entrants were on the D3 podium - top six in each weight class by divisions.
Sawyer Sarbacker dropped a tough 4-3 match in the D3 title bout at 120. The senior dropped a 4-3 decision to Stratford's A.J. Schoenfuss. He finished the season with a 47-3 record.
Another junior, Brady Peat, was runner-up at 170. He dropped a 5-2 decision to Random Lake's Helton Vandenbusch in the finals. Peat closed the season 44-8.
Sophomore Drew Hennessey fifth finished runner-up at 182 lbs. His roller coaster ride featured pins. He lost his quarterfinal match to Laconia's Caleb Hopp on a 3:37 pin. He then won by a :14 pin in his first consolation round, was pinned in 2:04 and then took fifth with another fast pin at :15. His record was 39-13 on the season.
Junior Max Maylor finished third at 152 with a 9-4 win over Dodgeland's Ryan Neu. He had dropped his semifinal match to unbeaten Stratford wrestler Mason Kauffman 2-1. Maylor had a 49-3 log on the season.
I-G/Highland's fifth wrestler, junior Clayton Kite, lost his first round match 17-13 to Ladysmith's Steven Jerry a 145 lbs. He finished the year with a 33-14 mark.
Iowa-Grant/Highland coach Ryan Allen talked about his wrestlers: "Sawyer's semifinal match was against Depies from Random Lake who was a runner-up last year at 113. Depies did a good job of slowing Sawyer down on his feet and Sawyer had a hard time getting to his shots but Sawyer did a good job of pushing the action in OT and found a way to his leg and scored as time expired. It was an awesome display of Sawyer's will to win. In the finals we really controlled the match. After an escape and takedown in the second period, we had a 3-1 lead. But in the third period, the official didn't like the way we were riding. We got hit with a stalling penalty and then just lost control and gave up a reversal as time ran out. It was very heartbreaking for Sawyer as he has come such a long way since his freshman year. However we are all still very proud of Sawyer and what he has done this year and the last 4 years for I-G/H wrestling.
"In Brady's finals match, we were able to get to the guy's leg, but we just couldn't get two hands on it to finish. Vandenbush did a great job of controlling wrists to keep Brady for scoring. For Brady to get second is a great accomplishment and I am super proud of him. He is a very hard worker and I know he will have big plans for next year.
"Max lost to Kauffmann in the semi's 2-1. In the first 20 seconds Max was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for being too physical and that ultimately decided the match. I didn't agree with the call but it happened and we weren't able to score to overcome it. It was a very unfortunate circumstance but Max, being Max, came back and rolled to an outstanding 3rd place finish. Max has been dominant all year long and to not finish on top is disappointing to him and I know he will be pushing even harder now so he can go for gold next year. I am very proud of Max for his dedication to I-G/H wrestling.
"Drew had some high's and some lows this weekend at state. He lost in the quarters in a back and forth match where Drew wrestled hard but got caught out of position and pinned. His next match was a 14 second pin. Then he lost a match where again we were in the match battling and one mistake put Drew on his back and we got pinned. Then again, Drew comes back and gets a 15 second pin for 5th place. So, Drew is right there with the best guys in the state but he is going to have to clean up some of those mistakes before next year. I am very proud of Drew and his great season. He is only a sophomore and next year should be very exciting for him.
"Clay lost a close one up there on Thursday but scored 13 points in his first match at state. I was proud of the way he came out firing and giving it all he had. That kid ended up placing 4th and Clay had him on his back several times, proving that Clay could wrestle with the top guys in the state. I know this experience will help Clay for next year as he tries for gold his senior year."
2017 WIAA Individual State Results for Iowa-Grant/Highland
D3-120-Sawyer Sarbacker (45-2) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Sarbacker won by major decision over Jake Nadeau (Glenwood City) 37-10 (MD 8-0), Semifinal-Sarbacker won in sudden victory - 1 over Josh Depies (Random Lake) 37-3 (SV-1 4-2), 1st Place Match-A. J. Schoenfuss (Stratford) 35-5 won by decision over Sarbacker (Dec 4-3)
D3-145-Clayton Kite (33-13) failed to place.
Champ. Round 1-Steven Jerry (Ladysmith) 32-7 won by decision over Kite (Dec 17-13)
D3-152-Max Maylor (46-2) placed 3rd.
Quarterfinal-Maylor won by decision over Ryan Neu (Dodgeland) 40-4 (Dec 14-7), Semifinal-Mason Kauffman (Stratford) 32-0 won by decision over Maylor (Dec 2-1), Cons. Semi-Maylor won by tech fall over Stetson Potrykus (Wittenberg-Birn.) 39-9 (TF-1.5 4:03 (19-3)), 3rd Place Match-Maylor won by decision over Ryan Neu (Dodgeland) 40-4 (Dec 9-4)
D3-170-Brady Peat (42-7) placed 2nd.
Quarterfinal-Peat won by decision over Jacob Banker (Bonduel) 35-7 (Dec 6-1), Semifinal-Peat won by major decision over Luke Clark (Saint Croix Falls) 40-3 (MD 14-3), 1st Place Match-Helton Vandenbush (Random Lake) 46-1 won by decision over Peat (Dec 5-2)
D3-182-Drew Hennessey (36-11) placed 5th.
Quarterfinal-Caleb Hopp (Laconia) 45-8 won by fall over Hennessey (Fall 3:37), Cons. Round 1-Hennessey won by fall over Stephen Schostok (Ken. Christian Life) 36-11 (Fall 0:14), Cons. Semi-Marshall Westfall (Athens) 36-10 won by fall over Hennessey (Fall 2:04), 5th Place Match-Hennessey won by fall over Will Raatz (Edgar) 35-7 (Fall 0:15)
Mineral Point sophomore Caden Carey came away from the WIAA Division 3 Sate Individual Wrestling Championships with a fifth place at 113 lbs.
He was the lone Pointer, out of three, to make it through the first round.
Carey edged Ladysmith's Trent Vollendorf for the fifth place win.
Another sophomore, Danny Pittz dropped a tough 4-3 match to Cumberland's Logan Steglich a 106 in the opening round.
Junior Riley Workman lost another tough one at 7-6 to Reedsville's Isaac Roffers in their 160 lb. hook-up.
"Danny wrestled well," said Pointer coach Scott Schmitz. "He broke his leg halfway through the football season and then has a lower back problem that is still unresolved. It took a lot of guts for him to just go our there. He had a nice season."
Riley had a bad draw," Schmitz added. "That kid took 3rd place last year. Riley had a nice record this year and has another one left. He needs to do more wrestling through the summer for him to get on the awards' stand."
"Caden had a nice win Thursday night," Schmitz said. "He had a tough kid in the quarters. got put on his back and couldn't recover. He wrestled Birchman (Fennimore) and came close this time, losing just 2-0. Then he came back and wrestled a good match placing 5th."
"It wasn't quite the tournament we's like, but the kids wrestled hard and that's all you can ask," the coach said. "They will all be back next year too."
2017 WIAA Individual State Results for Mineral Point
D3-106-Danny Pittz (30-4) failed to place.
Champ. Round 1-Logan Steglich (Cumberland) 38-8 won in tie breaker - 1 over Pittz (TB-1 4-3)
D3-113-Caden Carey (30-15) placed 5th.
Champ. Round 1-Carey won by fall over Easton Groskreutz (Weyauwega-Frem.) 31-10 (Fall 5:12), Quarterfinal-Lucas Schevikhoven (Shoreland Lutheran) 42-2 won by major decision over Carey (MD 17-4), Cons. Round 1-Carey won by medical forfeit over Carter Brunke (Athens) 28-15 (M. For.), Cons. Semi-Alex Birchman (Fennimore) 32-10 won by decision over Carey (Dec 2-0), 5th Place Match-Carey won by decision over Trent Vollendorf (Ladysmith) 34-9 (Dec 3-2)
D3-160-Riley Workman (31-14) failed to place.
Champ. Round 1-Isaac Roffers (Reedsville) 43-7 won by decision over Workman (Dec 7-6)
Dodgeville junior John Phelan won his first match at 152 lb. in Division 2 at the State Individual Wrestling championships, but then ran into two buzzsaws.
He pinned Logan Van Handel of Little Chute in 3:20, but then was pinned by Rice Lake's Chase Schmidt in 3:02 in the quarterfinals.
Lakeland's Jake McCormick set Phelan's shoulders to the mat in 4:41 to end his season with a 37-12 record and his first state tournament appearance.
"John had an extremely successful wrestling season. John began his state tournament in style with a dominating performance over Logan Van Handel of Little Chute. John opened a big lead before pinning his opponent in 3:20. John's opening victory in his first appearance at the State Tournament was also John's 100th career victory. In the quarter finals, John faced eventual runner-up Chase Schmitt of Rice Lake. John opened the match with a quick takedown, but was ultimately pinned by Schmitt in 3:02 after a failed attempt at a head throw. In his consolation match against Lakeland's Jake McClintock, John seemed to be in control of the match and was close to pinning his opponent with a cradle in the last 30 seconds of the match. Unfortunately as he tried to secure the pin, we got a little out of position and reversed for a pin with 19 seconds remaining. I know he was pretty disappointed after his last match and we know he should have placed, but unfortunately things can turn in a hurry at the state tournament. John had a great year and the experience that he gained at State will definitely help him reach his goals for his senior season.
2017 WIAA Individual State Results for Dodgeville
D2-152-John Phelan (36-10) failed to place.
Champ. Round 1-Phelan won by fall over Logan Van Handel (Little Chute) 28-12 (Fall 3:20); Quarterfinal-Chase Schmidt (Rice Lake) 38-3 won by fall over Phelan (Fall 3:02); Cons. Round 1-Jake McClintock (Lakeland) 41-12 won by fall over Phelan (Fall 4:41)
