Five area wrestlers to take mat on first day of state tournament

Updated: 9:45 p.m., 2/27

MADISON — Five area high school wrestlers took the mat on the first day of competition at the 77th annual WIAA Individual Wrestling Championship Tournament at the Kohl Center on Thursday.

All five wrestlers earned the right to wrestle on Friday.

Shawano

Shawano senior Keith Tourtillott went 1-1 at the Division 1 220-pound weight class.

Tourtillott earned the pin in 3 minutes, 10 seconds over Rhinelander junior Ben Sinclair in his first match.

Tourtillott got a late first-period takedown to grab a 2-0 lead. The senior then started the second period in the top position, allowing an early escape before taking down Sinclair at the 1:01 mark of the period.

A few seconds later, Tourtillott secured the win by pin.

Tourtillott dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Oak Creek junior Ben Kawczynski in his second match of the day.

After a scoreless first period, Kawczynski grabbed the lead with an early escape in the second period. He then took down Tourtillott to go up 3-0.

Tourtillott drew a pair of stalling calls in the final period, but was unable to get a takedown to surge ahead.

The Shawano senior is set to wrestle Sparta junior Madden Connelly on Friday morning.

Wittenberg-Birnamwood

Wittenberg-Birnamwood's Chad Moegenburg (126) and Wyatt Esker (145) both won their matches to advance to Friday in Division 2.

Moegenburg, a senior, dominated from the second he stepped on the mat against Prairie du Chien freshman Luke Kramer. Moegenburg went on for a 10-0 major decision win.

"I went in from the start with a great mindset knowing I've been on the big stage at this tourney and just treated it like another match," said Moegenburg. "I wanted to fire on all cylinders and keep pressure on him."

Moegenburg took down Kramer in a hurry and nearly pinned him about 30 seconds into the match. The senior didn't allow an escape and led 3-0 after the first period.

Moegenburg started the second period in the bottom position, escaping in less than 10 seconds before getting a takedown with 30 seconds left in the period to make it 8-0. The Witt-Birn wrestler got another takedown in the third period to seal his win.

"A shutout like that makes me feel super confident knowing that I'm on my A game and I can roll with that momentum into tomorrow morning," said Moegenburg.

Esker, a junior, advanced after a 5-2 decision win over Richland Center senior Warrick Wolf.

Esker took the lead with a takedown in the first period, but was taken down in the second period. Starting in the bottom position in the third period, Esker escaped after about 30 seconds and then secured the win with a late takedown.

"I went out there confident knowing I could get the job done. I took it one period at a time," said Esker.

"It felt good getting my first win at state. I had my nerves for never being down there before and I was able to come through with the win. I feel good and ready to get back at it."

Bonduel

Bonduel's Max Sokolski (138) and Isaac Banker (195) also earned wins to extend their state trips.

Sokolski earned a thrilling 3-1 win in overtime, while Banker won with a third-period pin.

After a scoreless first period, Sokolski fell behind when Random Lake junior Parker Scholler escaped from the bottom position. Sokolski escaped from the bottom position in the third period to tie it, but was unable to score again.

The Bonduel junior got a takedown with less than 15 seconds remaining in overtime to advance.

"It was a close match, but a win is a win. The goal is to make it to the second day and continue wrestling and that's what I did," said Sokolski.

Banker's match with Horicon senior Dakota Reinwald also went scoreless in the first period.

Banker, a junior, took control of the match in the second period, getting a two-point nearfall after starting in the top position. After surrendering a point on a penalty, Banker got a three-point nearfall.

Starting in the bottom position for the third period, Banker pulled a reversal and then pinned Reinwald 15 seconds into the period.

"I just had to keep wrestling my match, being confident with the work I've put in," said Banker of how he broke his opponent down. "I knew it would all work out if I just kept wrestling how I knew how."

Sokolski will take on De Soto sophomore Aiden Brosinski on Friday, while Banker takes on Lancaster senior Dustin Wolf.

Bonduel junior Jayson Toellner will open his state tournament on Friday. He was awarded a bye on Thursday after placing first at sectionals.

Toellner will wrestle Cochrane-Fountain City junior Zach Foley.

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