Seven Shawano wrestlers qualify for sectionals

Witt-Birn advances 7, while Clintonville/Marion has 2 march on
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Updated: 4:30 p.m., 2/18

GREEN BAY — Seven Shawano Community High School wrestlers placed in the top four in their respective weight classes at the Division 1 Green Bay Preble Regional on Saturday to qualify for sectionals.

Shawano earned 125 points as a team to finish sixth at the eight-team regional. The Hawks were unable to secure a first-place finish on the day.

Shawano’s Wyatt Brandt (120), Ben Carroll (152), Keith Tourtillott (220) and Nick Kohn (285) all took second place.

Gage Timm (160) came in third, while Reef Anthony (132) and Noah Jones (138) each placed fourth for the Hawks.

Brandt opened his day with back-to-back pins before dropping a 7-0 decision in the final. He bounced back with a major decision win in the second-place match.

"It means a great deal to me that I made it to sectionals and that this year’s wrestling journey hasn’t ended yet," said Brandt.

Kohn had a bye to start the day before pinning his first opponent in 22 seconds. After a 5-1 decision loss in the title match, he pinned his opponent in 58 seconds in the second-place match.

Carroll and Tourtillott each wrestled three matches, with neither senior having to take part in a wrestleback having already defeated the wrestlers they would have faced in second-place matches.

Carroll picked up a pin and 7-5 decision win on his way to the title match, which he lost 4-3. Tourtillott had a technical fall and 12-6 decision win to advance to the first-place match, which he lost a 3-0 decision in.

By the same wrestleback rule, Timm had to settle for third. He opened his day with a technical fall win before losing by pin. He bounced back with a second-period pin in the third-place match.

Anthony and Jones started and ended their days with wins.

Anthony picked up a decision win before a decision loss and loss by pin. He won a 6-4 decision to secure his spot at sectionals.

Jones started out with a pin before two straight losses by pin. He then claimed a 9-3 decision to keep his season alive.

Shawano will now prepare for the Ashwaubenon Sectional, which is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday.

Sectional qualifiers

Shawano: Wyatt Brandt (120); Reef Anthony (132); Noah Jones (138); Ben Carroll (152); Gage Timm (160); Keith Tourtillott (220); Nick Kohn (285).

Team scores: 1. Bay Port 220; 2. De Pere 217.5; 3. Ashwaubenon 158.5; 4. Pulaski 150; 5. Green Bay Preble 125.5; 6. Shawano 125; 7. Manitowoc Lincoln 105; 8. Green Bay West/East/Southwest 21.

Waupaca Regional

Seven Wittenberg-Birnamwood wrestlers advanced to sectionals after either placing first or second in their respective weight classes at the Division 2 Waupaca Regional on Saturday.

Witt-Birn took second place as a team after scoring 198.5 points at the regional.

Damien Wudtke (106), Pierson Potrykus (113), Chad Moegenburg (126), Wyatt Esker (145) and Larken Betry (160) all took first place for Witt-Birn.

Will Urquhart (152) and David Gauderman (182) also qualified for sectionals with second-place finishes.

All of Witt-Birn’s top finishers had a bye to start the day.

Wudtke claimed first in the 106 class with a pair of first-period pins. Moegenburg won two decisions for his top finish.

Betry earned a major decision win before a second-period pin in the final.

“It means a lot to win a regional title, especially after missing last year with an injury,” said Betry. “My endurance was the best it has been all year and helped me put pressure on my opponents, helping me win my matches.”

Potrykus started with a technical fall win before an 8-3 decision win in the final.

Esker pinned his first opponent in the first period before claiming a 3-1 decision win in the title match.

“Today on the mat, I knew I had the ability to win regionals — I just needed to go out there and get the job done,” said Esker. “I focused on my mentality before matches. I also thought my conditioning helped me take first today because I knew I could go hard for six minutes.”

Gauderman had a bye to start his day before dropping a tough 8-7 decision. He responded with a first-period pin and 5-3 decision win to keep his season alive.

Urquhart won two matches by pin to get to the final, where he dropped a 7-4 decision. Urquhart was awarded second having already defeated the opponent he would have faced in the second-place match.

Sectional qualifiers

Wittenberg-Birnamwood: Damien Wudtke (106); Pierson Potrykus (113); Chad Moegenburg (126); Wyatt Esker (145); Will Urquhart (152); Larken Betry (160); David Gauderman (182).

Team scores: 1. Tomahawk 262; 2. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 198.5; 3. Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards 143.5; 4. Lakeland Union/Mercer 127; 5. Waupaca 95; 6. Mosinee 94; 7. Wautoma/Wild Rose 91.

Oconto Falls Regional

Two Clintonville/Marion wrestlers advanced to sectionals after placing in the top two of their respective weight classes at the Division 2 Oconto Falls Regional on Saturday.

Caden Young took first in the 152-pound weight class to lead Clintonville/Marion on the day. Caleb Moore (182) also advanced to sectionals after taking second.

Young dominated on his way to winning the 152 class, picking up a technical fall win in the semifinals before a major decision win in the first-place match.

Moore was guaranteed a spot at sectionals when he showed up to the gym, with only two wrestlers in the 182 class. Moore was pinned in his lone match of the day.

Clintonville/Marion earned 60.5 points to place fifth in the seven-team regional.

Clintonville/Marion’s two sectional qualifiers will join the seven Witt-Birn qualifiers at the Oconto Falls Sectional, which is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Sectional qualifiers

Clintonville/Marion: Caden Young (152); Caleb Moore (182).

Team scores: 1. Oconto Falls 252.5; 2. Antigo 160; 3. Seymour 150; 4. Marinette 140; 5. Clintonville/Marion 60.5; 6. Peshtigo 41; 7. Florence/Goodman/Niagara/ Pembine 26.

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