wrestling

10 Red Raiders make all-conference wrestling lists

Published by admin on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 9:32pm

The Pulaski High School wrestling team was well represented on all-conference lists put out by the Fox River Classic Conference after a strong winter season.

The Red Raiders had 10 wrestlers honored, with Nate Preslaski earning the Coach of the Year honor after the team went 7-0 in FRCC duals.

Pulaski scored 440 points in those seven duals, 27 points higher than any other team. The Red Raiders surrendered just 86 points, the lowest mark in the conference by 43 points.

8 Hawks make all-conference wrestling list

Published by admin on Mon, 03/14/2022 - 11:13am

Eight Shawano Community High School wrestlers earned all-conference spots in the Bay Conference this winter.

Six of the wrestlers made the first team after the team won the conference title for the fourth straight year.

Drake Herm, Carsen Herm, Noah Jones, Caden Young and Jackson Smits made the first team with undefeated records in conference duals. Piper Novitski landed on the girls first team list.

Smits went 6-0 in Bay duals, with five pins and a forfeit win. He ended his senior year with a 32-9 record and wrestling at state.

Bahr out as Menominee Indian wrestling coach

Published by admin on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 3:32pm

Kirk Bahr has stepped down as the Menominee Indian High School wrestling coach after two decades.

Bahr was the head varsity coach for 20 seasons, while also coaching a year in the youth program.

“The reason I am stepping down as head coach is to spend more time with my family,” said Bahr, who was named the Central Wisconsin Conference Coach of the Year three times, including this winter. “My wife Angela and my 9-year-old son Bennett don’t get to see me much during the winter months, and it is time for me to be home more.”

Oconto Falls’ Whiting named NEC Wrestler of Year

Published by admin on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 3:28pm

Oconto Falls High School senior Clayton Whiting was named the North Eastern Conference’s Wrestler of the Year after another spectacular season on the mats.

Whiting lost just once while racking up 50 wins on the season. After the regular season wrapped up, he won regional and sectional titles before winning the Division 2 182-pound weight class state title to become one of just 22 wrestlers in Wisconsin history to win four state titles.

Pulaski’s Gibbons 2nd, Wells 3rd at state

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 12:08pm

Pulaski High School sent five individual wrestlers to the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, held Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison. Of those, three athletes placed in the top six.

Trenton Gibbons placed second in the Division 1 182-pound weight class, while Mason Wells was third at 220 pounds and Ethan Eggert grabbed fifth at 113 pounds. Brady Gille (138) and Chase Woosencraft (170) dropped both of their state matches.

Witt-Birn’s Gauderman places 3rd at state

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 12:03pm

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School junior David Gauderman lost just once at state on his way to a third-place finish in the Division 3 220-pound weight class at the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, which ran Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Senior teammate Pierson Potrykus also competed at state, losing his lone match at 126 pounds.

Gauderman had a bye and didn’t wrestle his first state match until Friday morning. He pinned Stratford’s Cole Marten in 1:43 to advance. Gauderman took Marten down about 90 seconds into the match before pinning him.

Comins takes 6th at D3 106 weight class

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:58am

Lena High School junior Dylan Comins posted a 2-3 record on his way to a sixth-place finish in the Division 3 106-pound weight class at the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, which ran Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

“I accomplished what I wanted to, just to make the podium,” said Comins, who finished the season with a 50-10 record, helping him set a new school record for wins in a season.

He expressed disappointment at ending his state experience with a loss. “I didn’t wrestle up to my potential in my last match, but I’m happy with my state run.”

Shawano’s Young, Smits fall short of state podium

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:54am

Shawano Community High School wrestlers Caden Young and Jackson Smits fell short of top-six finishes during the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, which ran Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Young went 2-2 in the Division 1 170-pound weight class while Smits, a senior, dropped his lone state match at 220 pounds.

Bogacz claims 6th at D3 160 weight class

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:51am

Bonduel High School junior Tyson Bogacz earned a sixth-place finish in the Division 3 160-pound weight class at the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, which ran Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Bogacz finished with a 1-3 record at state and capped the season with a 43-11 record.

“I wish I could’ve been higher on the podium,” said Bogacz. “My sixth-place finish this year just means I have a lot of work to do this offseason. I learned more than enough from this experience.

Oconto Falls’ Bozile places 6th at D2 126 weight class

Published by admin on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:47am

Along with Clayton Whiting’s state title, Oconto Falls had Graeson Pankratz and Cole Bozile competing at the 2022 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament, which ran Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Bozile came away with a sixth-place finish in the Division 2 126-pound weight class, while Pankratz fell a win short of making the podium at 120 pounds.

“It’s pretty awesome to wrestle my last matches at state,” said Pankratz, a senior. “Not many people get to do that.”