MBC, BRC well represented at WIAA state wrestling championships

The 2018 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Championships begin Thursday afternoon in Madison and western Wisconsin will be well represented in the tournament.

The Middle Border Conference is sending 17 wrestlers to the state meet and the Big Rivers Conference has 10 wrestlers who will be competing. Both conferences have strong reputations around the state and there should be plenty of area wrestlers who bring home medals from this weekend’s action.

Here are previews on each of the MBC and BRC wrestlers who will be competing at state.

Middle Border Conference (17)

There aren’t many conferences in the state that can say that they are advancing 17 wrestlers to the WIAA state individual championships. The MBC continues to rank as one of the strongest wrestling conferences in the state, especially in Division 2. The MBC is sending wrestlers to state in 11 weight classes with 182, 220 and 285 being the only classes that aren’t represented. And in four weight classes, the MBC has advanced two wrestlers to state.

106: Walker Ingham, Amery (40-2). Ingham was the second place finisher at the sectional tournament in Amery. A freshman, Ingham will open the state tournament Thursday night against Whitewater senior Tyler Gamble (30-5). Ingham and Gamble are both ranked in the top 10 Division 106-pounders in the state.

113: Jordan Penard, Amery (31-8). Penard, a freshman, advances as the sectional champion, meaning he won’t compete until the Friday morning round. He’s currently ranked second in the state in Division 2. His opening opponent will be the winner of Thursday’s match between Richland Center sophomore Max Schmidt (13-1) and Kewaskum senior Adam Bruss (35-15).

120: Jacek Nickowski, Baldwin-Woodville (20-3) and Charlie Stuhl, Ellsworth (32-7).

Nickowski advances as the sectional champion, after defeating Stuhl in an exciting sectional finals match, 1-0. As the sectional titlist, Nickowski gets an opening bye. His opponent Friday morning will be the winner of Thursday’s match between Kewaskum sophomore Mason Promrey (38-13) and Lakeland Union senior Deejay Nordrum (37-9).

Stuhl will be in action Thursday night, opening up against River Valley senior Caleb Radtke (36-11). The winner of that match will draw undefeated senior Lucas Schevikhoven of Shoreland Lutheran. Stuhl placed second at state last year at 106 pounds.

126: Owen Matzek, Ellsworth (32-7) and Alex McCray, Baldwin-Woodville (35-4).

Matzek is the sectional champion, defeating McCray 7-3 in the sectional finals. Matzek’s opening match Friday will be against either Joey Bianchi (37-6), a Two Rivers junior, or Gabe Kingsley (28-9) a Wisconsin Dells senior.

McCray starts the state tournament Thursday against Miguel Sanson (39-8), a senior from Delavan-Darien. The winner of that match will face the top-ranked D2 126-pounder in the state, Luxemburg-Casco junior Bryce Bosman, in Friday’s quarterfinals.

132: Mike Smith, Amery (37-4) and Jordan Bonte (29-13), Baldwin-Woodville.

This is the third straight class where the MBC advances two wrestlers to state. MBC coaches all season said the conference’s lower-weight wrestlers ranked among the best in the state and this proves it. Smith advances as the sectional champion. The Amery junior will wrestle in Friday’s quarterfinals against either Edgerton sophomore Cole Bavery (40-3) or Kewaskum sophomore Braden Maertz (40-10). Smith was the state’s third place finisher at 120 pounds last year.

138: Sam Stuhl, Ellsworth (38-1).

Stuhl is seeking to become the 15th wrestler to win four straight WIAA individual championships. Stuhl pinned Hayward’s Tim Coyne in 49 seconds in the 138-pound sectional championship match. In Friday’s quarterfinals, Stuhl will draw the winner of Thursday’s match between Campbellsport junior Taylor Heltems (22-10) and Denmark freshman Ethan Schwartz (35-8).

145: Jared Lansing, Ellsworth (39-5).

Lansing is another of Ellsworth’s sectional champions, beating Barron’s Tristan Massie 14-5 in the sectional final. That gives Lansing a bye into Friday’s state quarterfinals. Lansing’s opening match will be against the winner of Thursday’s bout between Wrightstown sophomore Matthew Maitland (34-10) and Prairie du Chien senior Blake Garcia (33-10).

152: Preston Anez, Somerset (36-6) and Cedric Kosnopfal, Ellsworth (28-13).

Anez and Kosnopfal will both be making their initial trip to the state tournament after clashing in the sectional finals, where Anez won in overtime. The sectional title gives Anez a bye to Friday’s quarterfinals. He will face the winner of Thursday’s match between Mauston senior Jarred Dolata (41-3) and Cedar Grove-Belgium senior Bryce Morgan (34-10). Dolata was the top-ranked D2 152-pounder most of the season, but dropped to second in the rankings after losing in the sectional final.

Kosnopfal, a junior, will draw Tomahawk junior Wyatt Wenninger (35-9) in Thursday’s opening round.

160: Nathan Fehlen, New Richmond (28-9).

Fehlen was the lone Tiger to advance, with New Richmond competing in Division 1. He qualifies for state for the second straight year at 160 pounds. Fehlen has a rough draw, getting defending 160-pound state champion Tyler Dow of Stoughton (49-1).

170: Dalton George, Ellsworth (29-7) and Garret Hecht, Somerset (35-9).

George, a senior, is the sectional champion, giving him an opening bye at state. His opening match on Friday will be the winner of Thursday’s match between Bryce Schumacher (34-4), a Little Chute junior, or Dillon Martin (41-4) a Wautoma/Wild Rose senior.

Hecht, a senior, draws Jefferson senior Jake Neff (47-7) in the opening round of state action on Thursday night.

195: Ryan Larson, St. Croix Central (17-2) and Ty Sanford, Prescott (33-4).

Larson and Sanford waged one of the most memorable championship battles at the sectional meet, with Larson winning in overtime. That gives the SCC junior a bye in the opening round on Thursday. In Friday’s quarterfinals, Larson will face the winner of Thursday’s match between Lomira senior Matt Hanke (42-6) or Luxemburg-Casco senior Austin Leroy (38-11).

Sanford was the fourth place finisher at the state tournament last year at 195 pounds. In this year’s opening round, Sanford draws Adams-Friendship senior Cameron Caldwell (28-9).

Big Rivers Conference (10)

The BRC will have 10 wrestlers competing in the opening round of the Division 1 bracket, which begins at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

106: Leo Draveling, Hudson (34-10).

Draveling advances as the second place finisher at the Wausau West sectional meet. Draveling’s opening draw is another sophomore, Blake Peiffer of Port Washington, who is 43-2 this season.

132: Mitchell Anderson, Hudson (29-13).

After winning the regional title, Anderson lost a 3-1 decision to D.C. Everest’s Thomas Severson in the sectional final. Anderson opens action at state Thursday against Burlington junior Zach Weller (42-8). A three-time state qualifier, Anderson wrestled at state last year at 120 pounds.

138: Mason Phillips, Eau Claire North (31-2).

Phillips was the fourth place finisher last season at 126 pounds at the state tournament and he’s the top-ranked D1 138-pounder in the state this year. Phillips shredded the competition at the sectional tournament. At state on Thursday, he opens against Appleton North senior Brytton Goymerac (39-5).

152: Nathan Fuller, River Falls (41-4).

Fuller was the sectional champion, defeating Bergh Diebel of Wisconsin Rapids 9-4 in the sectional final. Fuller’s opening draw at the state tournament is Bryce Henschel (37-9), a senior from West Bend East.

160: Jacob Anderson, Hudson (41-2).

Anderson, Hudson all-time leader in career wins and the Raiders’ first three-time sectional champion, was the fifth place finisher in the D1 state 152-pound bracket last season. He was unstoppable at the sectional meet, with two pins and a technical fall victory. In the opening draw at state, Anderson will face Oregon senior Devin Keast (28-9).

170: Levi Smith, Eau Claire Memorial (41-2).

Smith has put together an outstanding season, but was defeated by Marshfield’s Bentley Schwanebeck-Ost in the sectional finals. Smith has a tough draw in the opener at state, getting Pewaukee senior Jacob Sklenar (47-3).

182: Jared Woodhull, Chippewa Falls (31-9).

Woodhull, a senior, is the only Cardinal to reach the state tournament after finishing second at the Division 1 sectional meet. His opening draw at the state meet is Homestead junior Jacob Zupke (40-40.

195: Chance Kamrowski, River Falls (40-6).

Kamrowski gets to state after finishing second at the sectional tournament. The Wildcat senior will face South Milwaukee senior Adam Jones (41-3).

285: Mitchell Williamson, River Falls (30-1) and Cole Godbout, Hudson (39-5).

Both of these MBC heavyweights are highly respected, as both reside among the top four D1 285-pounders in the state rankings. Williamson defeated Godbout 7-3 in the sectional final match. Williamson’s opening draw at the state tournament on Thursday is Holmen junior Jesse Fiers (39-11). Godbout finished second at the state tournament last year at 220 pounds. Godbout’s opening draw at state is Waunakee senior Alan Olkowski (41-6).

Spring Valley (1)

Spring Valley had one wrestler advance through the St. Croix Falls Division 3 sectional tournament. That wrestler is junior Carter Merth (28-9), who was the third place finisher at 170 pounds. This is the second straight year where Merth has advanced to the state level. This year, his opening draw in Thursday night’s action is against Random Lake junior Grayson Vandenbush (44-4).