Wrestling: Shawano earns big Bay win over West De Pere

Four Hawks earn pins
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

SHAWANO — The Shawano Community High School wrestling team took another step toward defending its Bay Conference title on Thursday, claiming a 40-37 dual victory over West De Pere.

The win pushed the Hawks to 3-0 in conference duals, with three more wins needed to claim a second straight title.

“It’s a huge win, a huge conference win,” said Shawano coach Mike Homan. “We knew they were going to be tough and they were. They are so tough in the lighter weights and we’re a little inexperienced there and have some things to work through. We knew it was going to be a knock down, drag out (dual) where we were going to have to get bonus points where we needed them. We were going to have to stay off our backs at times and a credit to our kids for putting in the work, getting after it and getting it done.”

Sophomore Noah Jones was the first Hawk to take the mat at 138 pounds. Jones scored the lone points in the first period with a takedown before scoring six points in the second and third periods to claim a 13-3 major decision win.

The win set the tone for the Hawks, who claimed seven of the first nine weight classes.

Junior Colten Herm kept the momentum rolling in the 145 class, winning by pin in just 56 seconds.

After senior Ben Carroll picked up a forfeit win at 160 pounds, junior Gage Timm took the mat for the 170-pound match.

Timm scored the first takedown and held on to lead 2-0 after one period. The junior then pulled off a reversal in the second period before pinning his opponent at the 3:38 mark.

Patience helped Timm earn the pin, taking advantage of one of the limited opportunities in the first period before working his way out of the down position in the second.

“This (win) is a huge momentum booster for us knowing that they (West De Pere) have been steamrolling some teams over the past weeks. Now, it’s looking a lot better for us on our conference goals,” said Timm.

Facing West De Pere’s Quinton Schuyler Jr. — who was an honorable mention wrestler in the most recent individual ranking by wiwrestling.com — Shawano needed Andrew Popp to rise to the occasion. The sophomore did just that.

Popp grabbed the early advantage before securing a pin at the 1:45 mark of the 195 match.

After senior Keith Tourtillott was awarded a forfeit win at 220 pounds, Shawano junior Nick Kohn took on Bryce Graef — who was an honorable mention wrestler in the 220 weight class — in the 285 class.

Kohn — ranked sixth in the 285 class — wasted little time, getting a quick takedown before finishing off a pin in 38 seconds.

The six-point win gave Shawano a 40-9 advantage, and although the Hawks didn’t win any more matches the rest of the night, the deficit was too great for West De Pere to overcome.

“It’s as big as it can get,” said Popp of the conference win. “Without this win, conference might have been out of reach. With this win, it’s not going to guarantee conference by any means, but it was a big hump in our road and we’re glad to get over it.”

Shawano has conference duals remaining against New London (Jan. 16), Menasha (Jan. 30) and Xavier (Feb. 6).

Shawano junior Carter Schmidt rallied from an early deficit in his matchup at 152 pounds, but eventually was pinned at the 3:09 mark. Sophomore Brenden Stempa battled at the 182 class, but ran out of time in a 7-2 decision loss.

Sophomore Brady Stomberg (106) and freshmen Connor Majeski (120), and Hayden Stange (132) all lost by pins in the first period. Junior Wyatt Brandt (126) dropped a 9-1 major decision. Shawano forfeited the 113-pound weight class.

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