Shawano Leader Sports Headlines

By: 

Greg Bates, Times Herald Correspondent

Photo by Josh Thompson Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior Taylor Bushman gets by Oconto Falls’ Elizabeth Manns during a WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal game Friday in Oconto Falls. Witt-Birn lost, 42-29.

Micah Nier tried, but she couldn’t do it herself.

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School forward didn’t get a lot of scoring help from her teammates. That along with Oconto Falls’ smothering defense spelled bad news for the Chargers.

Nier scored 19 points, but it wasn’t enough as Wittenberg-Birnamwood fell 43-29 in WIAA Division 3 regional semifinal Friday night in Oconto Falls.

“We just needed like that one play to get the team going, and we never had that moment tonight,” Chargers forward Taylor Bushman said.

Nier, a junior, was seven for 17 from the field, but the rest of the Wittenberg-Birnamwood team was just three for 22. From beyond the 3-point arc, the Chargers were three for 22; Nier was one for seven.

“Senior Makayla Hartman has been one of our leading scorers all year, had two points from the free-throw line,” Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Mike Balliett said. “We’re not going to win many games when our leading scorers aren’t helping us too much.”

Siri Zeinert tallied five points and the Chargers got the rest of their five points from three players.

Oconto Falls (19-3) started the game playing man-to-man defense and when the game was tied at 11, Panthers coach Mike Kaczmarek knew he needed to make a switch.

“We gave up the baseline too much, too much dribble penetration,” Kaczmarek said. “We went to our 1-2-2 defense that we haven’t played all year. We wanted to take dribble penetration away, and we did that.”

Wittenberg-Birnamwood (18-6, 12-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) didn’t handle the defensive pressure very well and was outscored 32-18 the rest of the game.

Oconto Falls, the No. 1 seed in the regional, jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but Nier nearly single-handily got No. 4-seeded Wittenberg-Birnamwood back into the game. Nier scored seven of her team’s first 11 points as the Chargers tied the score at 11.

The Panthers were up by three after the first quarter and carried over a run into the second to go up 20-11. Oconto Falls took a 22-13 lead into halftime.

The Chargers (18-6) went on a run to start the third quarter to get within four, 25-21.

“That was the point where we should have capitalized on plays and make sure our possessions were solid,” Bushman said. “We kind of made sloppy errors and needed to be more fundamentally sound.”

The Panthers bumped their lead back up to 11, 36-25, with 2:48 left in the game. Wittenberg-Birnamwood couldn’t get its deficit under double digits the rest of the way.

Oconto Falls was led by Carly Lemke with 16 points. McKenna Larsen was held to eight points.

One bright spot looking ahead to next season is that Wittenberg-Birnamwood only loses two seniors: Bushman and Hartman.

“Like I told the girls in the locker room, these two seniors have done a lot for us,” Balliett said. “They’ve been part of three conference championships, they’ve been to the sectionals, been to regional finals.”

Bushman and Hartman have been best friends for a number of years, so to go out together was special.

“We’ve been together in basketball for a long time, we’ve shared each other’s ups and downs,” Bushman said. “We’ve just had each other’s backs and made each other better players.”

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Facing No. 4 Bowler, the top-seeded Marion High School girls basketball team was in no mood for an upset Friday in the WIAA Division 5 regional in Marion.

The Mustangs won 45-22, taking an 11-4 lead after the first quarter, extending it to 22-8 by halftime and outscoring Bowler 12-4 in the third and 11-10 in the fourth.

Cassidy Detert, 5-foot-7 junior forward, led Marion (21-2, 17-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) with 10 points.

The Mustangs corralled Ashlynn Brisk, holding the junior guard who has led Bowler with eight triple-doubles this season to just eight points. Brisk also had six rebounds, two assists and five steals. Sequoia Wayka added five points and three steals.

The Panthers (11-10, 7-8 CWC-10) were playing without freshman Taylor Matsche, who suffered a concussion against Tigerton on Tuesday. Matsche averaged 14 points per game for the Panthers.

Marion will host No. 2 Newman Catholic, which beat No. 3 Elcho 66-33 Friday, in the regional final Saturday night.

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Rhinelander ends Shawano's season with 25-10 edge after halftimeBy: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School sophomore Zeke Gueths goes up for a shot against a Rhinelander defender during the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal Thursday in Stevens Point. Shawano lost, 45-32. Gueths led the Hawks in scoring with 11 points.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Garret Schlise spins around Rhinelander’s Kent Matthews during the WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal Thursday in Stevens Point. Shawano fell to the Great Northern champions, 45-32.

As the Stevens Point Area Senior High School field house slowly emptied after Thursday night’s WIAA Division 2 sectional semifinal, first-year Shawano coach Chris Kellett was saying goodbyes following his team’s 45-32 loss to Rhinelander.

He was almost back to the locker room when a couple of kids stopped him and thanked him for a great season. It was a moment that summed up the word the Hawks have rallied around all season: Family.

“We’re disappointed right now, but what we did for the community was fantastic,” Kellett said. “I want the youth kids involved, I want the parents involved, I want the community involved. I preach family first; we have it on the backs of our shirts. I think this is a great step in building a mountain.”

Half way though the game it looked like it would be another typical Shawano Community High School boys basketball game, close right until the end. The Hawks won in overtime against Antigo to open the regional tourney and then edged Waupaca 31-29 in the regional final.

The Hawks (16-9, 12-4 Bay Conference) held a slight lead throughout the first half Thursday and were up 22-20 at halftime. That trend continued into the third quarter, until the Hodags (20-5, 12-0 Great Northern) took a timeout trailing 27-24 with 4:51 left.

With Shawano’s 6-foot-6 center Zeke Gueths — who scored nine of his team-high 11 points in the first half — in foul trouble on the bench, Rhinelander was able to assert itself, going on a 17-1 run. Shawano managed only 10 second-half points, including only four in the final period.

“They got Zeke in foul trouble early, which was big,” Kellett said. “He got a third (foul) early in the third quarter, and I didn’t want to put him out there on a big that was pretty agile. … Zeke played a heck of a game. Without him we wouldn’t have even been in it.”

Senior Mitch Reinthaler scored with 3:11 left in the third to put the Hodags up 29-27.

With 4:06 left in the game, Shawano found itself trailing 41-28 before senior Dillon Frechette scored on a pair of free throws and junior Zack Sousek found the basket. Most of the other Hawks’ shots down the stretch didn’t fall, and the team shot just 32 percent from the field in the game, while Rhinelander 47 percent.

“We missed a lot of layups early,” Kellett said. “That kind of let them hang around. You have to tip your hat to them.”

Colton Volkmann, a 6-4 senior guard, led the way for Rhinelander with 13 points. Reinthaler added 12 and junior Kent Matthews put in 11.

“They’re a very talented team,” Kellett said. “They’re more than just the big two that everyone talks about. Matthews is a heck of a player for them.”

Kellett said a lot of the credit for the team’s postseason run goes to the team’s eight seniors: Frechette, Travis Geenen, Connor Neumann-Sleeper, Kyle Raddant, Clint Dallas, Jaryd Wilber, Garret Schlise and Alex Frechette.

“They were the catalyst,” he said.

Shawano (32)

D. Frechette 1 2-2 5, Sousek 3 3-6 9, Schlise 1 0-0 2, Lacy 2 0-0 5, Gueths 5 1-2 11

Rhinelander (45)

O’Melia 0 2-2 2, Matthews 4 2-2 11, Dart 1 0-0 2, Volkmann 5 2-2 13, Reinthaler 3 6-7 12, Oleinik 2 0-0 5

Shawano 13 9 6 4 — 32

Rhinelander 9 11 13 12 — 45

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Mitchell Specht (22) lines up a shot while Devon Peterson guards the net during Shawano Hockey League practice Feb. 27 at the Crawford Center in Shawano. The league has three teams participating in state tournaments this year.

The Shawano Hockey League is doing something right.

The program is experiencing success both on and off the ice. Around 100 kids are in the program, which draws from Shawano and the surrounding communities.

On the ice, three levels — bantam (13 to 14 years old), peewee (11 to 12 years old) and squirt (9 to 10 years old) — will compete in Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association state tournaments this month.

The bantam state tourney is Saturday and Sunday in Sparta. Shawano earned its second consecutive state bid with a 4-1 win over Marinette on Feb. 1.

“The kids just revel in it,” said Gregg Wittman, the Shawano Hockey League president and bantam coach. “It’s such an awe-inspiring experience for them. There’s a lot more fans, a lot more people around. The games, obviously, everything steps up one level.”

The peewee team, which qualified for state with a 3-2, double-overtime win over Marinette on Feb. 2, will play on March 15-16 in Manitowoc.

The squirt team also earned a state bid as host of the Division 4A tournament Saturday and Sunday at the Crawford Center in Shawano. Eight games will be played Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m., and another four on Sunday, including the championship game scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

“It’s good for the organization that they see these successes and that the hockey is getting better,” Shawano Hockey League marketing director Greg Rusch said. “The game of hockey in Shawano is getting a lot better. We have got some really good coaches, and the kids are working hard. This is kind of the fruit for all the hard work they’ve put in.”

According to Rusch, SHL’s recruitment efforts are paying off.

“The numbers are looking pretty good,” he said. “We’ve been hitting the schools a little harder. We go to a lot of parades, the Fourth of July, the homecoming parade here in town, Pulaski Polka Days. We go out there and hand out fliers. We hit all of the local schools in September, letting them know when registration is and so forth.”

Hockey is often said to be an expensive sport, but Rusch disagreed.

“It’s not nearly as bad as people think it is,” he said. “To get into it at a young age, you’re talking $50 for basically almost five months of practice and games. That’s not horrible.

“If you don’t have your own equipment, the league will loan you equipment to see if your kid likes it. As they get older, they start buying their own stuff. To get started, to see if you like it, it’s pretty reasonable.”

Most of the players trying the sport for the first time are mites — kids younger than 9 years old.

“We have about 40-plus mites,” Wittman said. “That’s obviously where the growth has to come from, because those are the families that will replace us as board members and coaches.”

Wittman said SHL follows USA Hockey’s American Development Model, an initiative that provides age-appropriate guidelines and education programs.

“The program is really impressive,” Wittman said. “I’d say over the last two or three years, more and more people are buying into the program. I think that’s the future of the hockey program as a whole.”

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bowler High School junior Ashlynn Brisk, right, is chased by Tigerton’s Sarah Gauthier during Tuesday’s WIAA Division 5 regional game in Bowler. Bowler won, 41-37.

Ashlynn Brisk came up big for the Bowler High School girls basketball team in the first round of the WIAA Division 5 regional Tuesday in Bowler, just as she has all season.

Brisk, a junior guard, notched her eighth triple-double of the season in a 41-37 win over Tigerton, recording 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals, and five assists.

With the win, Bowler will advance to the regional semifinal Friday at top-seeded Marion (20-2, 17-1 Central Wisconsin Conference-10), which blew out No. 8 Gresham (1-21, 1-16 CWC-10) 45-13 Tuesday.

Brisk’s 10th steal came with just 20 seconds left in the game and the fourth-seeded Panthers (11-9, 7-8 CWC-10) protecting a 39-37 lead. She made for the basket but was fouled before she could get off a shot. On the inbounds play, Brisk scored a bucket to put the game out of reach.

“She’s just an all-around fantastic basketball player,” Bowler coach AJ Miller said. “She has more heart than anyone I’ve seen on a basketball court.”

“I expected us to show up and we didn’t tonight,” Tigerton coach Jenny Korth said. “We were a little off. We couldn’t get our buckets to fall. Erin (Robbins) is usually a big part of our scoring and her 3s weren’t hitting in the first half. That hurt us.”

Bowler prepared for Tigerton’s perimeter shooters, Robbins and Emily Wendt, who hurt the Panthers in a 55-43 loss earlier in the season.

Robbins was held to just two 3s and eight points. Wendt had one 3 and also scored 8 points.

“Our plan was to defend the 3,” Miller said. “The last time they played us, I thought they shot an unrealistic percentage to beat us. Tonight, they still shot pretty well, but we did what we had to do to win tonight.”

The two teams battled evenly through the first quarter, separated only by a buzzer-beating 3 by Bowler freshman Taylor Matsche. Another Bowler freshman, forward Brooke Breitrick, scored six of her 10 points in the first quarter. She also had eight rebounds.

In the second quarter, Bowler pulled ahead with an 11-3 run, but Tigerton (4-14, 3-11 CWC-10) responded after halftime with an 11-3 run of its own. Tigerton tied the game at 31-31 in the fourth quarter on a layup by Katie Watters, who led the Tigers with 10 points.

Brisk and Kristina Koenig, also a junior, have led Bowler all season.

“Koenig has fantastic leadership skills,” Miller said. “She wanted that game bad and she put her head down and got it. She’s never really is in the stat line for a lot of points or anything, she just works hard.”

Korth praised Brisk’s play as well.

“She works for her points, she doesn’t get lucky,” Korth said. “She’s busting her rear end to get them points the whole game. … In my book, she is as good as the stats say.”

Tigerton (37)

Robbins 3 0-0 8, Bailey 2 0-3 4, Desrochers 2 0-0 4, Wendt 3 1-2 8, Watters 5 0-2 10, Gauthier 1 1-3 3

Bowler (41)

Matsche 2 0-0 6, Brisk 5 4-8 17, Koenig 1 1-5 3, Malone 1 0-0 2, Breitrick 5 0-0 10, Wayka 1 0-1 3

Tigerton 10 3 11 13 — 37

Bowler 13 11 3 14 — 41

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Wildcats’ season ends in Wausau

In a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2, the Gresham Community High School boys basketball team came up short against top-seeded Wausau Newman Catholic in Saturday’s WIAA Division 5 regional final, losing 62-44.

Newman (19-6, 10-4 Marawood-South) pulled ahead 25-16 in the first quarter. Gresham (18-7, 13-5 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) outscored Newman 17-12 in the second quarter, but there was no rally in the cards as the Cardinals outscored the Wildcats 25-11 in the second half.

Christian Haffner and Scott Cerveny led Gresham with 12 points each. James Kazik knocked in nine.

Nate Prososki scored 15 to lead Newman. Marcus Gabriel and Jake Gajewski had 13.

Loss to Antigo ends Hawks’ season

The Shawano Community High School girls basketball team’s season came to an end Tuesday in the first round of the WIAA Division 2 regional. The fifth-seeded Hawks fell 41-34 to Antigo.

It was a familiar pattern for Shawano (5-18, 4-12 Bay), which kept pace with No. 4 Antigo (9-12, 5-7 Great Northern) for three quarters but was outscored 16-5 in the third quarter.

“We have to play all four quarters, that’s it,” Shawano coach Ryan Koenig said.

Sara Hokenstad, a 5-foot-7 guard, led Shawano with 13 points. Lindsey Kurtz added eight points. Morgan Klitzke had five points before leaving with an injury in the third quarter. Erika Dunnam had six rebounds.

Brittney Wald led Antigo with 20 points.

Koenig said the Hawks’ win-loss record was misleading this season.

“We had a lot of close games,” Koenig said. “I think we lost five or six games by five points or less. We could have been almost .500 this year if the ball bounces a different way.”

Chargers advance with win over Truckers

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School girls basketball team beat Clintonville 36-20 to advance in the WIAA Division 3 regional tournament Tuesday in Wittenberg.

The fourth-seeded Chargers (18-5, 12-2 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) will travel to No. 1 Oconto Falls (18-3, 13-3 Bay) in Friday’s regional semifinal.

Both teams sputtered in the first half. Leading 12-11 at halftime, Witt-Birn asserted some control with a 7-2 run in the third quarter and took complete control in the fourth, outscoring the Truckers 17-7.

“We got off to a sluggish start in the first half,” Witt-Birn coach Mike Balliett said. “In the second half our offense played better and our defense remained strong, enabling us to extend our lead.”

Micah Nier led the CWC-8 co-champs with 10 points. Taylor Bushman had nine points, nine rebounds and 13 steals. Erika Alwes added eight points.

Autumn Voight and Taylor Carpenter led Clintonville (3-19, 2-14 Eastern Valley) with nine points apiece.

Other scores

Division 4: No. 11 Menominee Indian lost to No. 6 Crandon 64-16.

Division 5: No. 1 Marion defeated No. 8 Gresham 45-13.

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Sectional features 3 conference champsBy: 

Leader Staff

Fresh off its first regional title since 2010, the Shawano Community High School boys basketball team has little time to celebrate.

Shawano will open the WIAA Division 2 sectional tournament against Great Northern Conference champion Rhinelander (19-5, 12-0 Great Northern) at 7 p.m. Thursday in Stevens Point.

The winner will face either Rice Lake (20-2, 11-0 Big Rivers Conference) or La Crosse Central (21-3, 11-1 Mississippi Valley) in the sectional championship Saturday in Marshfield, with a state tournament berth on the line. Shawano is seeking its first sectional title in boys basketball since 1982.

Shawano, which finished third in the Bay Conference, is the only team in the sectional that did not win its conference championship. All four teams were the top seeds in their regionals, and Rice Lake and Central are ranked among the top teams in the state.

“We’re had (an underdog) mentality all year,” first-year Shawano coach Chris Kellett said. “Not many people expected much from us all year and we’ve kind of used that as motivation. … We’re going to have our work cut out for us, but we’re up to the challenge.”

The Hawks (16-8, 12-4 Bay) have already faced one team from the Great Northern Conference in the tourney. Shawano defeated Antigo, which placed third in its conference, 45-36 in overtime in the regional semifinal Thursday. Antigo hit five 3s in the game, but the Red Robins also gave Shawano problems inside, where 6-foot-5 center Jack Lund hurt the Hawks with 14 points.

Rhinelander, which is making its third straight sectional appearance under fourth-year coach Derek Lemmens, defeated Antigo (15-7, 7-5 Great Northern) 48-44 at home and 37-27 on the road in the regular season.

Shawano and Rhinelander also both lost home games to Merrill (9-14, 3-9 Wisconsin Valley) this season. Rhinelander fell 37-25 in December, and Shawano dropped a 46-45 decision in January.

Hodags play tough schedule

Rhinelander opened the season with three straight losses (to Stevens Point — ranked No. 5 in Division 1, Wisconsin Rapids, Merrill) but then ran off 11 straight wins before dropping a nonconference tilt to Kaukauna (15-9, 10-8 Fox Valley Association) on Feb. 1. The Hodags’ other loss came at the hands of Marshfield (18-6, 9-3 Wisconsin Valley) two weeks later.

The difficult nonconference schedule, starting with Stevens Point and including showcase games in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Dells, helped prepare the Hodags for the tournament, Lemmens said.

“Our schedule is designed to make us a better team,” he explained. “We try to play top teams so that our weaknesses can be exposed early on and we can become a stronger team. This has helped prepare us for our conference and the playoffs.”

Over their 24 games, the Hodags have usually started and closed well, outscoring opponents 127-114 in the opening period and 434-334 in the final quarter. Rhinelander has been outscored in the second and third periods.

Lemmens said he plans to stress defense and protecting the basketball going into the game with Shawano.

“We have had lapses defensively and we can’t afford to have those against this team,” he said. “All five guys have to be working together.”

Kellett expects to see a mix of defenses.

“They’ve done some different things defensively,” Kellett said. “They’ve gone man most of the time, but lately they’ve been playing some 1-3-1 and some 2-3. I expect to see a lot of the zone stuff we’ve seen on film recently.”

Lemmens described Shawano as a balanced team that executes very well.

“I love watching teams that play together and do things as a team,” he said. “The concern you have is their balance and the fact that you have to account for all five guys on the floor. They have a good balance of speed and size and will force everyone to be alert at all times defensively.”

Mitch Reinthaler, a 6-5 senior, leads the Hodags inside, and 6-4 senior Colton Volkmann is the top outside threat. Volkmann scored 37 points, including 11 3-pointers, in the Hodags’ two regional games, and Reinthaler has tallied 30.

“Volkmann is an absolute shooter,” Kellett said. “We’re going to have to chase him all over the place. Reinthaler is a tremendous athlete. We’ve got to keep him off the boards and force him to take tough shots.”

Rhinelander, seeking its first state tourney berth since 2001, opened the tourney with a 57-40 win over Mosinee (13-10, 6-5 Great Northern), then beat Wausau East (12-11, 4-8 Wisconsin Valley) 54-50 Saturday.

Rice Lake, Central both ranked

Rice Lake defeated Big Rivers runner-up Menomonie (17-7, 8-4) 59-53 Saturday, and La Crosse Central edged Mississippi Valley Conference runner-up Holmen (19-5, 10-2) 63-62 in double overtime.

Rice Lake ranked third in Division 2 in the most recent Associated Press poll, and Central was No. 7. They play Thursday in Osseo.

Rice Lake is led by 6-9 junior Henry Ellenson, who is averaging 26.9 points and 13 rebounds per game. Ellenson has several NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers.

The sectional championship will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday in Marshfield.

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Led by senior Dillon Frechette’s 14 points, the top-seeded Shawano Community High School boys basketball team won a WIAA Division 2 regional title Saturday, beating No. 3 Waupaca 31-29 at home.

The Hawks (16-8, 12-4 Bay) opened the game with a 12-1 run in the first quarter, but slowed on offense from there. The Comets (15-9, 10-6 Eastern Valley) climbed back into it, cutting the Shawano lead to 16-8 by halftime and 22-19 after three.

Frechette, a senior guard, hit on three 3s in the second half to keep the Hawks ahead. Zack Sousek added six points.

Brando Vasquez had 15 to lead Waupaca.

Shawano will open the sectional tournament Thursday against Rhinelander (19-5, 12-0 Great Northern), which beat Wausau East (12-11, 4-8 Wisconsin Valley) 54-50 Saturday.

Also advancing to the sectional were La Crosse Central, a 63-62 winner over Holmen, and Rice Lake, which defeated Menomonie 59-53 Saturday. Rice Lake (18-2) ranked third in the most recent Associated Press poll, and was Central (19-3) was No. 7.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior Braxton Potrykus receives his first-place medal after winning the WIAA Division 2 152-pound title at the state wrestling tournament Saturday in Madison.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School sophomore Garrett Siolka wrestles in the Division 3 113-pound state final Saturday against Weston/Ithaca sophomore Hunter Dischler in Madison. Siolka lost, 17-5.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior Braxton Potrykus won a title, Bonduel put three wrestlers on the podium and Jake Reiter finished fourth for Clintonville at the WIAA state wrestling meet Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Bonduel senior Jacob Wudtke and sophomore Garrett Siolka both finished second in their Division 3 brackets, while junior Dan Tauchen made the podium in sixth place.

Potrykus ended a decades-long title drought for the Chargers. The last time a Wittenberg-Birnamwood wrestler did that was in 1966.

Also making the podium for Witt-Birn this year were August Peplinski, who finished fourth, and Bobby Uttecht, who placed sixth.

Division 3

Wudtke (41-7) lost his third match in as many weeks Saturday to Reedsville junior Grant Wedepohl, this time 5-0 in the 170-pound title match.

“We were hoping the third time would be a charm,” Bonduel coach Chris Rank said.

Wedepohl earned a takedown late in the first period to go up 2-0. After giving up an escape to begin the third period, Wudtke attempted a cement mixer, a move he used in sectionals to get Wedepohl on his back, but he was prepared for it this time.

“If I got in trouble here, I knew I was definitely going to try to hit that, but he knew it was coming,” Wudtke said.” He blocked it better than anyone could have.”

Wudtke, who qualified for state last year but missed the podium, got taken down with a minute to go and couldn’t get away.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Wudtke said. “I know right now I’m disappointed and I feel bad about it, but I know I can’t feel disappointed with how I performed down here.

“I never was the best. I was that kind of kid that everybody would turn their head and laugh at after a match when I was in middle school. Now that I’m in high school and at this level, it’s kind of funny.”

Siolka also exceeded expectations.

“I really did not expect to get into the championship,” Siolka said. “I just expected to come down here and get on the podium. Next year I’m just going to have to set my goal as a state champ.”

Trouble appeared just 16 seconds into Siolka’s 113-pound final against Weston/Ithaca sophomore Hunter Dischler (45-2), who won a state championship a year ago at 106. Dischler had a takedown move Siolka (42-8) couldn’t defend, and Dischler would use it four times in the first two periods.

Siolka, who also made state but missed the podium last year, was able to put together three escapes, but was behind 8-3 heading into the final period. He opened with an escape in the third, but Dischler got two more takedowns and scored on two nearfalls in the final minute to win 17-5.

“I can’t be more proud of the way this young man (Siolka) did this year,” Rank said. “For him to step up and do what he did this weekend was just phenomenal.”

Rank said Siolka will have more opportunities in the future.

“There are many young wrestlers that would like to be in the situation Garrett was in tonight,” Rank said.

Tauchen (39-10) lost twice Saturday, 5-3 to Oconto senior Brandon Tousey (33-6) in the 152-pound fifth-place match and 5-1 to New Holstein senior Cole Fritsch (36-5) in the consolation semifinal.

Division 2

The 152-pound title match came down to Potrykus (45-2) and Wautoma/Wild Rose senior Bryce Bennot, friends who grew up in the same wrestling clubs.

“They’re buddies from way back,” Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Troy Ostrowski said. “When we got to finals, I had to tell him, ‘He’s not your friend in this match.’”

Potrykus trailed 1-0 for the first two periods, but tied it early in the third period with an escape. With just 41 seconds left, Potrykus got a takedown to go ahead 3-1.

“Us wrestling a lot, and we wrestled last year, we definitely knew each other’s style,” Potrykus said. “I knew it would be a little bit tougher.”

Potrykus, only the fifth individual champion in the Chargers’ history, then gave up an escape before scoring another takedown in the final seconds for a 5-2 win.

“I’ve probably never been happier,” Potrykus said. “Pure happiness, finally reaching the dream you’ve been working toward for 10 years. It proves hard work pays off.”

Uttecht (41-9) lost the 126-pound fifth-place match, 2-0, to Sparta junior John Roddick (43-10), who scored a takedown with 8 seconds left in the first period. Earlier in the day, Uttecht lost a 10-0 major decision to Cuba City senior JJ Donar (43-6).

Peplinski (48-8) lost his 182-pound third-place match 2-1 to Somerset junior Max Praschak (39-4) on a takedown with 34 seconds left. Peplinski beat West Salem/Bangor senior Nick Bulsman (31-11) 4-2 earlier Saturday.

Reiter (43-7) finished in fourth place at 195, getting pinned 3 minutes into the third-place match by Berlin junior David Meza (37-10). Reiter beat Ellsworth junior Brock Steldt (41-16) in the consolation semifinal 9-5.

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Siolka, Wudtke, Potrykus go for gold at state wrestlingBy: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School senior Jacob Wudtke hugs his coach after his 5-3 win over Kyle Heinsohn of Cameron in the Division 3 170-pound quarterfinal at the WIAA individual wrestling tournament Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School junior Dan Tauchen wrestles with Scott Pittz of Mineral Point in the 152-pound quarterfinal match at the WIAA individual wrestling tournament Friday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Tauchen lost by a 4-0 decision.

Two Bonduel High School wrestlers and one from Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School will battle for championships Saturday at the WIAA state wrestling tournament in Madison.

Bonduel sophomore Garrett Siolka and senior Jacob Wudtke each won two matches Friday to advance to the Division 3 championship round.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood will be represented by senior Braxton Potrykus in the Division 2 finals, which begin at 6 p.m.

Division 3

Wudtke and Siolka are the first Bonduel wrestlers to reach the finals since Ben Tauchen did it in 2011. The last time Bonduel had multiple wrestlers in the finals was 2000.

“I can’t put it in any other words, I’m so proud of these young men,” Bonduel coach Chris Rank said. “Our goal was always to get them on the podium. That doesn’t always happen. We achieved that goal.”

Wudtke (41-6) defeated Iowa-Grant/Highland senior Brian Halverson (36-15) 5-2 in their 170-pound semifinal.

Wudtke trailed 2-0 through much of the second period before tying the match with a takedown with about 15 seconds remaining. Working from the bottom in the final period, Wudtke took the lead on an escape, and Halverson looked for a takedown for the win. It was Wudtke, however, who scored the points near the edge of the mat with only a handful of seconds remaining.

“Jacob is wrestling extremely tough,” Rank said. “He was aggressive and smart.”

In the title match, Wudtke will face Reedsville junior Grant Wedepohl (42-1), who stopped Lancaster senior Ethan Soderstorm (21-4) with a 3-0 decision in the semifinals.

Wudtke beat Cameron junior Kyle Heinsohn (41-6) 5-3 in the quarterfinal match.

In their 113-pound semifinal, Siolka (42-7) defeated Stratford sophomore Anthony Glinecki (43-3) with a 9-5 decision.

After falling behind 5-1 in the first minute, Siolka cut the margin to 5-3 with a takedown. Starting the second period from the bottom, Siolka took the lead, 6-5, on an escape and then a takedown in the final 30 seconds of the period.

“Truly amazing,” Rank said. “To me, a sign of a true champion: not giving up hope and having the confidence that he could come back, and he did. … For a sophomore, he’s calm and confident and doesn’t panic.”

Glinecki seemed to have Siolka in trouble in the final period, but the Bonduel sophomore not only survived but also put Glinecki on his back for a 3-point nearfall.

In the title match, Siolka will face sophomore Hunter Dischler (44-2), of Weston/Ithaca, who defeated sophomore Adam Becker (37-8) of Johnson Creek 9-4.

Siolka pinned Deerfield freshman Cal Hansen (44-2) in 3:09 in the quarterfinals.

Bonduel junior Dan Tauchen (39-7) had a bye Thursday and lost 4-0 Friday to Mineral Point sophomore Scott Pittz (34-13) in a 152-pound quarterfinal.

“He wasn’t feeling the best,” Rank said. “I don’t know if the nerves got to him or what, but that wasn’t the Danny that we’re used to seeing on the mat. Hopefully he’s feeling a lot better tomorrow.”

Tauchen then edged Spring Valley/Elmwood sophomore Jed Schlegel (37-7) 1-0 in the consolation bracket, assuring himself of at least sixth-place and a spot on the podium.

Division 2

In the 152 semifinal, Potrykus (44-2) defeated junior Jonny Chamberlain (40-2), of Chetek/Weyerhauser/Prairie Farm, 8-1.

Both wrestlers spent most of the match on their feet looking for a takedown. After a scoreless first period, Chamberlain scored first on an escape in the second period. The pair continued without a takedown until the closing seconds when Potrykus countered a Chamberlain attack, got the takedown and rolled the Chetek wrestler on his back for a 3-point nearfall.

Potrykus increased his lead to 6-1 with an escape to open the third period, and the duo spent the rest of the period again on their feet until Potrykus got the takedown in the closing seconds.

In the title match, Potrykus will face senior Bryce Bennot (43-4), of Wautoma/Wild Rose, who stopped Mosinee senior Elliot Sparbgy (26-5) with a 3-1 sudden victory in the semifinal.

Potrykus won a 13-5 major decision over Pewaukee freshman Jacob Raschka (46-5) in the quarterfinals.

At 182 pounds, Witt-Birn sophomore August Peplinski (47-7) lost a tough 6-5 decision to Ellsworth senior Dennis Schutz (25-3) in their semifinal match.

Peplinski trailed 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 after two. Starting the final period on the bottom, he cut the lead to 3-2 with an escape, then took the lead with a takedown on the edge of the mat with 1:03 remaining. Schutz tied it with an escape, then grabbed a single leg that turned into a takedown and a 6-4 lead with 29 seconds remaining. Peplinski managed an escape in the closing seconds but ran out of time.

In the 182-pound quarterfinal, Peplinski pinned Kiel senior Aaron Field (37-9) in 3:09.

Senior Bobby Uttecht (41-7) was pinned by Ellsworth senior Jens Lantz (39-1) in 2:50 of their 126-pound quarterfinal match Friday morning, but defeated Delavan senior Cody Chelminiak (40-6) 7-3 in the consolation bracket. Lantz is seeking his fourth state championship Saturday.

Clintonville senior Jake Reiter was pinned in 3:27 by St. Croix Falls senior Joe Rademacher (41-1) in a 195-pound quarterfinal. Reiter rebounded with a 7-1 decision over River Valley senior Zach Koch (33-10) in the consolation bracket.

Consolation wrestlebacks begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by fifth-place matches and then third-place matches, leaving the spotlight on the championship bouts in the evening.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School senior Dillon Frechette drives to the basket against Antigo’s Cameron Noskowiak during a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal game Friday in Shawano. Shawano won in overtime, 45-36.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Shawano Community High School sophomore Zeke Gueths gets ready to make a free throw in overtime against Antigo during a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal game Friday in Shawano. Shawano won, 45-36.

In a game where points were hard to come by, perhaps the most important came with 4.2 seconds left on the clock Friday.

With the Shawano Community High School boys basketball team trailing Antigo 34-32 in the WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal, Zeke Gueths went to the free-throw line with a chance to tie the game.

Facing a raucous Antigo student section, Gueths was automatic, sinking both shots and sending the game into overtime.

The top-seeded Hawks (15-8, 12-4 Bay) didn’t waste the second chance, outscoring fourth-seeded Antigo 11-4 in the extra period for a 45-36 victory.

“Don’t miss,” Gueths said when asked after the game what he was thinking at that moment. “I’ve shot so many free throws in practice. I can’t even describe it.”

Gueths, a 6-foot-6 sophomore center, went back to the line twice in the overtime period and made all four of his shots. Senior guard Garret Schlise added a pair of baskets off assists from Zack Sousek and Dillon Frechette. Sousek, a junior guard, also put in a pair of free throws.

“Zeke sat for probably a full quarter,” Shawano coach Chris Kellett said. “It’s tough to come in off the bench and knock down those shots with 4 seconds left in a game. … Can’t say enough about the character of Zeke.”

Both teams played solid defense, with most of the scoring coming outside the paint. Antigo (15-7, 7-5 Great Northern) hit five 3s in the game; Shawano hit three.

“(Antigo coach Jesse Shaw) had a game plan,” Kellett said. “They slowed it down, they spread us out. They played it at their pace, which is what they needed to do.”

Two of the Hawks’ 3s came from Frechette, a senior guard who led the team in scoring with 10 points. Gueths finished with eight points, and Sousek added nine.

Shawano led 13-12 at halftime, but Jack Lund, a 6-5 junior center, scored seven of his 14 points in the third quarter as the Red Robins took a 21-18 lead into the final period.

Shawano made 12 of 16 free throws in the second half.

Shawano will host No. 3 Waupaca (15-8, 10-6 Eastern Valley) in the Division 2 final Saturday in Shawano. The Comets upset No. 2 Hortonville (12-11, 11-5 Bay) 55-47 Friday.

Antigo (36)

Cameron Noskowiak 2 0-0 6, Below 1 0-0 3, Cassius Noskowiak 2 3-4 8, Lund 5 2-2 14, Osborne 1 3-4 5

Shawano (45)

D. Frechette 4 0-0 10, Sousek 2 5-10 9, Schlise 2 1-3 5, Lacy 1 0-0 2, Gueths 1 6-6 8, Quinn 1 2-5 4, Knueppel 2 0-0 4, Raddant 1 0-0 3

Antigo 4 8 9 13 2 — 36

Shawano 8 5 5 16 11 — 45

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Haffner leads Wildcats to regional final

Christian Haffner scored 35 points to lead the second-seeded Gresham High School boys basketball team to a 66-41 win over third-seeded Wisconsin Valley Lutheran in the WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal Friday in Gresham.

Haffner, a junior guard who eclipsed 1,000 career points this week, also had six assists for the Wildcats (17-6, 13-5 Central Wisconsin Conference-10). Neil Cerveny added 11 points. Killian Eggert led the team with nine rebounds. Scott Cerveny had six points and nine assists.

Nicholas Lilienthal and Branson Witucki each had 15 points to lead Wisconsin Valley Lutheran (12-12).

Gresham will travel to top-seeded Wausau Newman Catholic (18-6, 10-4 Marawood-South) Saturday.

Truckers lose regional semifinal

The second-seeded Clintonville High School boys basketball team was upset by No. 3 Tomahawk 29-23 in the Division 3 regional semifinal Friday in Clintonville.

Tyler Petermann led Clintonville (9-13, 5-11 Eastern Valley) with seven points.

Jared Jarvensivu led Tomahawk (11-12, 11-10 Great Northern) with eight points.

Other scores

Division 4: No. 8 Bonduel lost to No. 1 Auburndale 46-31 in the regional semifinal Friday in Auburndale.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School sophomore Garrett Soilka wrestles Drew Rihn of Cumberland at the WIAA state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Soilka won by technical fall to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School senior Jacob Wudtke wrestles Brandon Schmitz of Cashton at the WIAA state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Wudtke won a 5-3 decision.

Both Bonduel High School wrestlers competing in the preliminary round of the WIAA Division 3 state wrestling tournament registered victories Thursday in Madison.

Two of Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s four wrestlers competing Thursday in Division 2 also advanced — Bobby Uttech and August Peplinski, as did Clintonville senior Jake Reiter.

Both of Menominee Indian’s entries — Kyle Winker and Keenan Richmond — fell in tight matches, as did Shawano Community High School senior Cody Urban.

Bonduel sophomore Garrett Siolka (40-7) won by technical fall, and senior Jacob Wudtke (39-6) posted a 5-3 decision.

Siolka beat Cumberland sophomore Drew Rihn (22-20) by technical fall, 15-0, in their 113-pound match. Siolka needed just 6 seconds to register a take down and led 7-0 after the first period and 12-0 after two. The match ended when Siolka got another near fall with 1:32 left to go.

“I knew when I went in there I needed a take down right away,” Siolka said. “I got a take down and a near fall and went from there.”

Siolka, making his second trip to state, said there is nothing like competing at state.

“The excitement, the adrenaline, when we walk out of the tunnel, it’s just something that you can never get out of your head,” Siolka said.

Siolka will face freshman Cal Hansen (43-1), of Deerfield, in the quarterfinals Friday morning.

Wudtke, also making his second trip to state, took a 5-0 lead after two periods in his 170-pound match against Cashton senior Brandon Schmitz (37-11), getting a take down in the final seconds of each of the first two periods and adding an escape in the second period.

“He was more speed, I was more strength,” Wudtke said. “It felt good. Right away in the first period I got a quick throw. Right after I got that throw, I felt I was in control of the match.”

Schmitz scored an escape and take down late in the third.

Wudtke will face Cameron junior Kyle Heinsohn (40-5) in the quarterfinal Friday morning.

Bonduel junior Dan Tauchen (38-7) had a bye Thursday. He will wrestle Mineral Point sophomore Scott Pittz (33-13) in the quarterfinals Friday. Pittz beat Mishicot junior Mason Matthias (39-10) 7-2 in the opening round Thursday.

Division 2 and 3 quarterfinals begin at approximately 11:15 a.m. Friday, with consolation matches beginning at approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday. Semifinal matches begin at 7 p.m.

Division 1

Shawano senior Cody Urban (15-9) lost his opening-round 160-pound match to Sauk Prairie’s Brandon Sprecher (41-3) by pin in 3:31. Urban trailed 10-4 when he was pinned. Urban qualified for the state tournament after Bay Port senior Jacob Jossart, who finished second and defeated Urban at the Green Bay Preble/Green Bay East sectional, withdrew on Tuesday.

Division 2

Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Bobby Uttecht (40-6) beat Marshall sophomore Jensen Langer (47-10) 3-2 in their 126-pound match. Uttecht, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after two, will face Ellsworth senior Cody Chelminiak (40-4) in the quarterfinal.

Sophomore August Peplinski (46-6) scored all of his points in the second period on an escape and take down, and beat Abbotsford/Colby senior Cody Meyer (41-6) 3-0 in their 182-pound match. Peplinski will face Kiel senior Aaron Field (37-7) in the quarterfinal.

Senior Ben Vosters (46-4) lost to Kiel junior Tanner Woepse (36-9) 11-9 in their 120-pound match. At 160 pounds, freshman Alex Peplinski (42-11) lost 5-1 to East Troy sophomore Jeremy Dedick (33-14).

Senior Braxton Potrykus (42-2) had a bye Thursday and will face Pewaukee freshman Jacob Raschka (45-5) in the 152-pound quarterfinal.

Reiter (41-5) won his 195-pound preliminary match, beating Valders junior Brandon Brennan (19-7) 13-7. Reiter led 8-7 before scoring on an escape, take down and near fall in the final 30-plus seconds. He will face Saint Croix Falls senior Joe Rademacher (40-1) in the quarterfinal.

Division 3

Both Menominee Indian wrestlers lost their matches. Senior Kyle Winker (126, 44-8) lost to Mineral Point junior Frank Baker (37-10) by a 10-6 decision. Senior Keenan Richmond (40-12) held a 5-2 lead in the second period and entered the final period ahead 5-3, but lost a 9-5 decision to Mineral Point senior Brenyn Schmit (44-3).

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

The Bonduel and Wittenberg-Birnamwood high school girls basketball teams will share the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 title. Both teams won their final regular season games Tuesday to close the CWC season with identical 12-2 records.

Marion, meanwhile, won the Central Wisconsin Conference-10 title outright.

Bonduel (18-4, 12-2 CWC-8) beat Iola-Scandinavia (11-11, 6-8 CWC-8) 39-29 Thursday in Iola.

“It was a perfect setup,” Bonduel coach Missy Dowden said. “We told them it would take 12 wins to get a conference championship, and that’s what they set out and did.”

The Bears were led by junior forward Jennifer Dowden, who eclipsed 1,000 career points by scoring 13.

“She didn’t know,” Missy Dowden, Jennifer’s mother, said. “After the game, I had to yell it out to all our fans. She started crying and was pretty happy about it.”

Taylor Weier added nine points, and Alexa Reinke had eight rebounds. Reinke and Danee Collier also had two assists and two steals.

Leighten Fisher led Iola-Scandinavia with nine points.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood (17-4, 12-2 CWC-8) beat Stevens Point Pacelli (1-20, 1-13 CWC-8) 63-22 in Stevens Point.

Mikayla Hartman and Kaitlin Mahan led the Chargers with 11 points each. Taylor Nier added 10.

Sami Kay Shafranski led Pacelli with eight points.

“I thought we played good defense and had a balanced scoring attack,” Witt-Birn coach Mike Balliett said. “We were able to get all 15 girls playing time.”

It is the third straight year the Chargers have finished at the top of the conference, and the fourth time in five years.

The Chargers were on a eight-game winning streak when Bonduel handed them their first conference loss, 31-29, Jan. 21 in Bonduel. Bonduel then beat Wittenberg-Birnamwood 49-47 Feb. 13 in Wittenberg.

Bonduel beat Amherst, which led the conference for several games, 60-44 Saturday to keep pace with the Chargers.

Marion, which lost back-to-back home games to Port Edwards and Shiocton early in the season, bounced back with a 14-game winning streak, including a 38-31 win over Port Edwards Feb. 7, to take control of the CWC-10.

Marion (19-2, 17-1 CWC-10) beat Rosholt (11-11, 9-9 CWC-10) 43-14 Thursday in Rosholt.

In junior varsity action, Bonduel beat Iola-Scandinavia 59-26, completing a perfect 19-0 season.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Gresham junior Riley Tejada looks for a shot against Wild Rose’s Ashley Mendoza during both teams’ regular season finale Thursday in Gresham. Gresham lost, 43-18.

The Gresham High School girls basketball team is down to one chance to avoid a winless season after losing to Central Wisconsin Conference-10 foe Wild Rose 43-18 Thursday in Gresham.

The Wildcats’ last chance will come Tuesday in the WIAA Division 5 regional tournament, where eighth-seeded Gresham (0-21, 0-17 CWC-10) will travel to top-seeded Marion to open the tournament.

“Obviously, it’s the last home game. You hate to go out that way,” Gresham coach Nick Yaeger said. “It’s been a long season for us. They need to stay positive; we still have one more game left.”

Gresham struggled to handle the ball Thursday, a problem for the team all season.

“That’s been a nemesis for us the whole year, pressure,” Yaeger said. “Obviously, if you can’t handle pressure, you’re not going to do really well. Ultimately, if you turn the ball over, you’re not shooting. If you can’t shoot, you can’t score. It hurts us.”

The Wildcats did not score more than seven points in any quarter and were shut out in the third period.

Gresham held Wild Rose (18-4, 15-3 CWC-10) to five points in the second quarter.

“They had some turnovers,” Yaeger said. “They’re one of the top teams in the conference. I felt like we were hanging tough down by 13 at the half. You hate to say it, but the last time we played them they scored 60-plus points.”

Senior Tylena Bohl and junior Riley Tejada scored five points each to lead Gresham.

Seniors Karina Marchan and Jasmine Hanson led Wild Rose with nine points each.

“We’re really young, that’s the good thing about this,” Yaeger said. “We’re only losing two seniors. We need to put some time in the summer. We need to have the ball in our hands. That’s the only way we get better.”

Bohl and Brittny Andrews are the only Gresham players that won’t be back next year.

Wild Rose (43)

Mendoza 0 4-6 4, K. Marchan 4 1-1 9, Shepard 2 2-2 7, Hanson 3 2-4 9, Schmidt 1 4-8 6, Stoll 0 2-2 2, B. Marchan 1 0-0 2, Dorsett 0 1-2 1, Schmidt 1 0-0 2, Dorsett 0 1-2 1

Gresham (18)

Bohl 2 0-0 5, Jensen 1 1-2 3, Andrews 0 2-2 2, Hoffman 1 0-0 2, Tejada 1 3-5 5, Ferguson 0 1-3 1

Wild Rose 19 5 11 8 — 43

Gresham 4 7 0 7 — 18

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Shawano Community High School senior Cody Urban failed to qualify Saturday for the WIAA Division 1 state wrestling tournament, but disappointment turned to excitement Tuesday.

Bay Port senior Jacob Jossart, who defeated Urban on Saturday to deprive him of a state berth, has withdrawn from the tournament.

That means Urban (15-8) will take Jossart’s spot and face Sauk Prairie senior Brandon Sprecher (40-2) in the 160-pound preliminaries Thursday afternoon in Madison.

“My coach just came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, you’re going to state,’” Urban said of finding out the news Tuesday evening. “I was just so surprised.”

Urban said losing the second-place match Saturday to Jossart was a disappointment.

“Going into that final match, I felt I had a chance,” Urban said. “Then, knowing that my career was over, but then …”

Urban said the Jossart family reached out to him through his aunt, who works with Jossart’s mother. He could not say why Jossart would not be able to compete, and no other information on Jossart’s reason for withdrawing was available by the Leader’s press time.

According to the WIAA tournament procedures on substitutions, replacements are allowed for injury, illness, discipline or extenuating circumstances.

If Urban wins his opening match, he will face either South Milwaukee junior Tanner Dorangrichia (39-7) or West Bend East junior Jordan Gundrum (45-0) Thursday night.

Hortonville senior Nate Rynish (38-8) won the Green Bay sectional and will wrestle Middleton senior Nathan Dresen (40-7) Thursday.

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School sophomore Trevor Pedersen goes for a layup Tuesday during a WIAA Division 4 regional game against Menominee Indian in Bonduel. Bonduel won, 63-46.

The eighth-seeded Bonduel High School boys basketball team rallied from a slow start to beat No. 9 Menominee Indian 63-46 Tuesday to open the WIAA Division 4 regional tournament.

Bonduel will face top-seeded Auburndale (21-1, 14-0 Marawood-South) on the road Friday.

“I’ll take the win,” Bonduel coach Duke Copp said. “It was a battle.”

The Bears (11-12, 5-9 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) fell behind 16-10 in the first quarter. The Eagles (9-12, 9-9 CWC-10) came out in a triangle-and-two defense and were able to take away Bonduel shooters Connor Rosin and Zach Zernicke.

“It took us a while to adjust,” Copp said. “Once we did, I think things went well. … We haven’t really practiced it that much, so we kind of had to wing it tonight.”

The Bears responded in the second quarter with a press defense and and took a 30-23 lead by halftime, getting two big 3-point shots from junior Colton Dobratz, who led the Bears with 16 points.

“He’s been hot numerous times this year,” Copp said. “Tonight we needed someone to score and he hit some big shots.”

The young Menominee Indian team, which has only one senior in Dallas Madosh, had trouble taking care of the ball on offense, stalling for only seven points in the second quarter.

“We didn’t take care of the ball, we didn’t execute and we had crucial turnovers,” Menominee Indian coach Brandon Frechette said. “For a time we were trying to live or die by the 3-pointer. It was an excellent learning experience for a young team.”

Rosin, a junior point guard, scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bears seal the game.

Junior Michael Pecore led the Eagles with 12 points. Dustin Waupoose added 10.

Copp knows Auburndale, which is ranked No. 4 in Division 4 by The Associated Press, will be a tough test.

“I’ve seen them on film a couple of times,” Copp said. “They’re really good; they play hard. They’re one of the top teams in the state. We’re going to go play it.”

Menominee Indian (46)

Pecore 5 2-2 12, Madosh 4 0-3 8, Waupoose 3 4-5 10, Frechette 2 1-2 6, Smith 1 2-4 4, Corn 1 0-0 3, Lasley 1 0-0 3

Bonduel (63)

Pedersen 2 7-8 13, Rosin 3 6-9 13, Dobratz 6 2-2 16, VanderLinden 1 0-4 2, Zernicke 1 6-6 9, Czarapata 3 1-2 7, Berry 0 2-2 2, Fischer 0 1-2 1

Menominee Indian 16 7 13 10 — 46

Bonduel 10 20 9 24 — 63

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By: 

Leader Staff

The path to the podium won’t be easy for any of the 11 area wrestlers who qualified Saturday for the WIAA state individual wrestling tournament, which begins Thursday.

Six of the area wrestlers will compete in weight classes featuring returning state champions.

The Division 2 field includes six returning champions, including senior Jens Lantz (38-1), of Ellsworth, who is attempting to become only the 13th wrestler in the history of the state to win four individual championships. He was the 120-pound champion last season, the 113 winner in 2012 and the 103 gold medalist in 2011.

Lantz moved up to 126 this year, which is the same weight as Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Bobby Uttecht (38-6). If Uttecht wins his first match, he will face Lantz in the quarterfinals.

There also are six champions returning in Division 3, including two-time champion Ethan Soderstrom (20-3), of Lancaster, who won at 160 last year and 152 as a sophomore. He moves up a weight class to 170, the same division as Bonduel senior Jacob Wudtke (38-6), who would need to win three matches to get a shot at Soderstrom in the final, if the Lancaster senior gets through his first two matches after a first-round bye.

Bonduel junior Dan Tauchen (38-7), fresh off his sectional championship, is in a tough weight class at state. Senior Trenton Cornell (41-2), of Lancaster, moved up to 152 this year after winning a state championship last year at 145. Tauchen earned a bye but Cornell did not, so the earliest they could meet would be in a semifinal match Friday.

Bonduel sophomore Garrett Siolka (39-7) also has a defending champion in his 113-pound weight class: sophomore Hunter Dischler (41-2), who won the 106 title last season, of Weston/Ithaca. Neither wrestler has a bye, so both would have to win three matches to meet in the final Saturday.

Witt-Birn senior Ben Vosters (46-2) also could face a 2013 champion. Senior J.J. McClelland, of Viroqua, won the 113 title last season and qualified at 120 this year with a 41-5 record.Vosters would have to win two matches and McClelland one to meet in the semifinals.

Last year’s champion at 160 maintains that weight in an attempt to repeat as title holder. Senior Gable Frandsen (50-1), of Ellsworth, is back to defend his 160-pound title, which might be bad news for Witt-Birn freshman Alex Peplinski (42-9). If he wins his first match, Peplinski will get a shot at Frandsen in the quarterfinals.

Division 2 and 3 preliminaries begin at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at the Kohl Center on the University of Wisconsin campus. Quarterfinals are scheduled to begin about 11:15 a.m. and semifinals 7 p.m. Friday, with the championship matches beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.

As sectional champions, Tauchen and Witt-Birn senior Braxton Potrykus (42-2) received first-round byes and won’t wrestle until Friday morning.

THE BRACKETS

State rankings by wiwrestling.com are indicated after the wrestler’s win-loss record

DIVISION 3

Bonduel

113: Sophomore Garrett Siolka (39-7, No. 7) vs. sophomore Drew Rihn (35-7, No. 12) of Cumberland

152: Junior Dan Tauchen (38-7, No. 4) vs. TBD

170: Senior Jacob Wudtke (38-6, No. 7) vs. senior Brandon Schmitz (37-10, No. 6) of Cashton

Menominee Indian

126: Senior Kyle Winker (44-7, No. 8) vs. junior Frank Baker (36-10, No. 10) of Mineral Point

220: Senior Keenan Richmond (40-11, No. 8) vs. senior Brenyn Schmit (43-3, No. 5) of Mineral Point

DIVISION 2

Wittenberg-Birnamwood

120: Senior Ben Vosters (46-2, No. 6) vs. junior Tanner Woepse (35-9, No. 11) of Kiel

126: Senior Bobby Uttecht (38-6, No. 7) vs. sophomore Jensen Langer (47-9, No. 9) of Marshall

152: Senior Braxton Potrykus (42-2, No. 2) vs. TBD

160: Freshman Alex Peplinski (42-9, No. 10) vs. sophomore Jeremy Dedick (32-14, No. 11) of East Troy

182: Sophomore August Peplinski (44-6, No. 3) vs. senior Cody Meyer (41-5, No. 8) of Abbotsford/Colby

Clintonville

195: Senior Jake Reiter (40-5, No. 5) vs. junior Brandon Brennan (19-6, No. 9) of Valders

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By: 

Gerrard Diaz, [email protected]

When Bonduel High School junior Dan Tauchen won the 152-pound championship at the WIAA Division 3 wrestling sectional Saturday in Shawano, it was his first tournament championship ever, but part of a much longer tradition.

Tauchen’s performance earned him a trip to this week’s WIAA state championships, a trip his family has been making for years.

“This is the sixth consecutive time a Tauchen brother has made it down to state,” Tauchen said.

Tauchen’s older brothers — Ben, Sam and Joey — all wrestled; Ben made it to state as a sophomore, junior and senior, and Joey as a junior and senior.

“We grew up on a farm and whenever we’re on carpet or whatever, we’d start to roll around,” Dan Tauchen said. “I was always the youngest and the smallest, so I was always at the bottom of the pile.”

Tauchen (38-7) and Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Braxton Potrykus (42-2) were the only champions among the 28 area wrestlers who qualified for sectionals.

Also qualifying for state were Bonduel second-place finisher Jacob Wudtke (170, 38-6) and third-place finisher Garrett Siokla (113, 39-7); Menominee Indian third-place finishers Kyle Winker (126, 44-7) and Keenan Richmond (220, 40-11); Witt-Birn second-place finisher Bobby Uttecht (126, 38-6) and third-place finishers August Peplinski (182, 44-6), Alex Peplinski (160, 42-9) and Ben Vosters (120, 46-2); and Clintonville third-place finisher Jake Reiter (195, 40-5).

The top two wrestlers in each Division 1 sectional advanced to state; the top three advanced in Divisions 2 and 3.

DIVISION 3

BONDUEL SECTIONAL

Bonduel

Both Tauchen and his coach were surprised by how aggressive Auburndale’s Wyatt Weiler (33-5) came out in their match. Weiler had a first-period takedown and a second-period reversal to go up 4-0 on Tauchen.

“I just knew I could still come back,” Tauchen said. “I tied it up. I knew I was in better shape.”

Late in the second period Tauchen got a reversal, followed by another in the third period to send the match into overtime. Tauchen went on to get a takedown to win the match 6-4 in overtime.

“Danny wrestled a fantastic match,” Bonduel coach Chris Rank said. “The Auburndale wrestler came out really strong and aggressive and, by the second period, you could tell he was running out of gas a little bit. We know how hard Danny works. We kept thinking, ‘He’s going to come back.’”

Wudtke, a senior, was pinned in his 170-pound championship match by Reedsville’s Grant Wedepohl (40-1) in 2:54, but pinned Weyauwega-Fremont’s Brandon Loehrke (31-9) in 5:53 in the second-place match.

Siolka (39-7), a sophomore, beat Edgar’s Kodi Chase (28-13) by a tie-breaker in the 113-pound third-place match. Siolka led 2-0 going into the third period, but gave up a takedown, sending the match into overtime.

Bennett Gunderson (195, 26-17) and Mitch Sokolski (160, 31-11) both made first-round exits for Bonduel.

Menominee Indian

Winker punched his ticket to state by beating Bonduel junior Travis Wollenberg (33-9), winning a 6-4 decision in the 126-pound third-place match.

“I felt good about it,” Winker said. “I knew I had to go at him.”

Winker, wrestling his fourth match of the day, lost to Stratford’s Alex Heiden (38-5), getting pinned in 2:38, in the 126-pound second-place match.

Richmond lost the championship match of the 220-pound bracket to Manawa’s Casey Johnson (43-1) by a 7-3 decision.

“He’s lost to that kid from Manawa four times this year, and that’s the fifth,” Menominee Indian coach Kirk Bahr said. “He closed the gap. The closest match he had against him was 13-3. He closed the gap tonight.”

Richmond forfeited the second-place match to Coleman’s CJ Pillath (38-9).

Vel Hawkins (106, 23-16) and Blake Stoehr (120, 28-15) both lost their first-round matches for Menominee Indian. Antonio Mahkimetas (145, 14-14) won in the quarterfinal, but lost his next two matches. Kyle Komanekin (160, 14-15) lost his first two matches of the day.

DIVISION 2

SEYMOUR SECTIONAL

Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Potrykus won the 152-pound championship, edging out Mosinee’s Elliot Sparby in a 3-2 decision.

Stetson Potrykus (106, 43-7), Zach Urquhart (113, 34-14), Griffin Magee (145, 31-16), Hunter Kreger (170, 32-11) and D.J. Ostrowski (195, 18-8) made early round exits for Witt-Birn and did not place.

Clintonville

Reiter, a senior, beat New London’s Andrew Clauss (17-16) 18-8 in the third-place match.

Clintonville senior Charlie Poppe (170, 34-10) lost his first-round match.

DIVISION 1

GREEN BAY PREBLE/EAST SECTIONAL

Shawano Community High School

Senior Cody Urban (160, 15-8) just missed qualifying for state with a third-place finish. Urban pinned Neenah’s Forrest Yineman (12-15) in 2:56 in the third-place match, but was pinned by Bay Port’s Jacob Jossart (39-9) in 2:45 in the second-place match.

Dalton Parson (126, 23-14), Mike Meisner (182, 26-13) and Jayce Hinkfuss (220, 28-13) all made first-round exits.

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The Bonduel High School girls basketball team pulled even with Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 title race Saturday with a key victory over Amherst.

The Bears (17-4, 11-2 CWC-8) beat Amherst (16-4, 9-3 CWC-8) 60-44 in Bonduel.

After giving up 12 points to Amherst’s Jamiee Pitt in the first half, Bonduel shut her down in the second half, holding her to just two points.

Bonduel, meanwhile, was led by Deanna Zernicke, who scored 17 points and hit four 3s in the game. Alexa Reinke chipped in 14, and Jennifer Dowden scored 10. Dowden also had eight rebounds, four blocks and four assists.

Bonduel will close out league play with a road game against Iola-Scandinavia (11-10, 6-7 CWC-8) on Thursday.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood (16-4, 11-2 CWC-8) will also finish its conference schedule Thursday against Stevens Point Pacelli (1-19, 1-12 CWC-8).

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