Wrestling: Witt-Birn blanks Menominee Indian in CWC dual

Chargers earn 10 pins
By: 
Molly Gretzlock
Intern

WITTENBERG — The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School wrestling team dominated Menominee Indian from beginning to end, earning a shutout Central Wisconsin Conference dual win on Thursday.

The Chargers finished with 10 pins and won 81-0.

Chad Moegenburg opened the night on the mat for Witt-Birn, winning the 126-pound weight class with a first-period pin over Menominee Indian’s Emma Komanekin.

Witt-Birn’s Austin Worzalla and Menominee Indian’s Joe Perez were next to take the mat at 132 pounds.

It was was a hard-fought match by both wrestlers. At the end of the second period, Worzalla led 12-6 and he went on for a 23-7 technical fall win.

Witt-Birn’s Max Kersten took on Tate Zhuckkohosee in the 138 weight class. Kersten came up with a pin halfway through the second period.

Witt-Birn’s Bryce Zoromski and Menominee Indian’s Gregory Turney had a good match at 145 pounds. The match went three periods, with Zoromski earning a 22-9 major decision.

The next two matches were quick pins for the Chargers at the 152 and 160 pounds.

At 152 pounds, Witt-Birn’s Wyatt Esker pinned Nehomah Whiteman in just over 50 seconds. Charger senior Will Urquhart followed with a pin over Scott Webster with about 30 seconds left in the first period.

“As a senior, my goal is to keep everyone motivated and to keep their heads up,” said Urquhart. “We can’t look past anyone this season and have to make sure we are always prepared. We have a young team this season and are hoping to make this a big year for our wrestling program.”

Larken Betry picked up a forfeit win at 170 pounds, upping the host’s lead to 39-0.

At 182 pounds, Menominee Indian’s Glen Miller put up a battle against Kyle Linke. However, at the end, Linke prevailed by pinning Miller in the third period.

At 195, Witt-Birn’s David Gauderman pinned Hunter Connahvichnah in the second period. Witt-Birn’s Mark LaBarge then pinned Kanewin Dickenson 20 seconds into the match at 220 pounds.

At the heavyweight division, Witt-Birn’s Allen Uttecht earned a pin over Asenex Turney with 52 seconds left in the first period.

Damien Wudtke received the Chargers’ second forfeit win of the night at 106 pounds

Moving to the 113 weight division, Witt-Birn’s Pierson Potrykus pinned Brendan Biljan 45 seconds in.

“We are a well-built team and everyone wrestled well,” said Potrykus. “However, there is always room to step up the conditioning and to improve so we can get to where we would like to be.”

At 120 pounds, Witt-Birn’s Dakotah Olsen pinned Chad Reiter-Wilber about halfway through the first period to finish off the win.

“My goal for this team is to get better every week. Not to look at the opponents or their records, but just to simply improve week by week,” said Witt-Birn coach Troy Ostrowski.