Joeshinners.com State Day 1

MATSIDE
State Tournament Facts
What: 67th WIAA individual state wrestling tournament
When: Thursday through Saturday.
Where: Kohl Center, Madison.
Ticket prices: $8 per session. Tickets are available at the Kohl Center.

Thursday
Session 1: Division 1 preliminaries - 3 p.m. Division 1 quarterfinals - approximately 5:15 p.m. Divisions 2 & 3 preliminaries - approximately 7:15 p.m.

Friday
Session 2: Division 1 consolations - 10 a.m.; Divisions 2 & 3 quarterfinals - approximately 11:15 a.m.; Division 1 consolation semifinals - approximately 1:45 p.m.; Divisions 2 & 3 consolation semifinals - approximately 2:45 p.m.
Session 3: Division 1, 2, 3 semifinals at 7 p.m. D1 on mats 1 & 2. D2 on mats 3 & 4. D3 on mats 5 & 6.

Saturday
Session 4, 11 a.m.: Division 1 consolation wrestlebacks on mats 1 & 2; Division 2 consolation wrestlebacks on mats 3 & 4; Division 3 consolation wrestlebacks on mats 5 & 6.
Session 5, 6 p.m.: Championships in all three divisions. D1 on mat 1. D2 on mat 2. D3 on mat 3.
Broadcast information: All six mats of the pre-finals matches will be streamed live on WIAA.tv. The finals for all divisions will be aired tape-delayed on FS Wisconsin. The Division 1 finals are scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Thursday, April 8. The Division 2 finals are scheduled to air at noon Saturday, April 10. The Division 3 finals will air at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3. Check local cable listings for the FS Wisconsin channel in your area.
Other notes
Tournament overall numbers: There are 224 qualifiers for the championships
in D1 and 168 in both Divisions 2 and 3. There are 86 schools represented in D1, 71 in D2 and 63 in D3.
Team-leading qualifiers: Wisconsin Rapids leads the D1 field with 10. Harfford, Kaukauan, and Muskego qualified seven. In D2, Ellsworth led the field with 10, followed by Pewaukee with 8 and Oconto Falls with seven. In D3, Colman led the field with nine, followed by eight teams with six apiece.

Returning champions (15): D1: Jesse Thielke, jr., Germantown, 125, 43-0 (125-2009, 112-2008); Torin Boernke, jr., Marshfield, 130, 31-2 (112-2009); Alex Dieringer, jr., Port Washington, 140, 41-1 (103-2008); Brad Dolezal, jr., Marshfield, 145 44-0 (140-2008); Noah Budi, sr., Kaukauna, 189, 44-0 (2009-160). D2: Jarod Donar, so., Cuba City/Southwestern, 45-0, 125 (119-2009); Zach Zehner, sr., Tomahawk, 43-0, 130 (125-2009); Rudy Chagoya, Tomahawk, sr., 135, 48-1 (130-2009); Joe Raygor, sr., St. Croix Falls, 39-0, 171 (171-2009). D3: Justin Mudlaff ,jr., Random Lake, 119, 43-0 (103-2008, 112-2009); Bubba Gudis, sr., Bruce, 43-0, 130 (119-2009); Brayden Wienke, sr., Clear Lake, 152, 46-0 (145-2009); Buddy Lincks, sr., Waterloo, 160, 38-3 0160-2009); Patrick Kissel, sr., Oostburg, 171, 38-0 (171-2009); Chad Johnson, sr., DeSoto, 215, (41-1) (215-2009).
Undefeated wrestlers (26): D1: Justin Enderby, sr., Pulaski, 45-0, 119; Thielke; Siven Fursth, jr, Janesville Craig, 36-0, 130; Dolezal; Joe Immekus, sr., West Allis Central, 44-0, 160; Matthew Pennings, sr, Green Bay Preble/East, 45-0, 160; Budi; Alex Polizzi, sr, Beloit Memorial, 41-0, 215; Nikola Bogojevic, sr., Superior, 44-0, 285; Bill Mitchell, sr., South Milwaukee, 15-0, 285. D2: Jarod Donar, City/Southwestern, 45-0, 125; Zehner; Ben Schmitt, sr., Belleville/Monticello/New Glarus, 35-0, 160; Raygor; Cody Wedde, sr., Clintonville, 39-0, 171; Matt Tourdot, sr., Sparta, 47-0, 215; Logan Figueroa, sr., Valders, 42-0, 285. D3: Mudlaff; Gudis; Charlie Van Straten, jr., Shiocton, 44-0, 130; Tucker Pittz, jr., Mineral Point, 43-0, 140; Wienke; Kissel; Keith Rudesill, jr., Ladysmith, 34-0, 189; Cole Myren, jr., Whitehall, 37-0, 215; Matt Wyss, sr., Boyceville, 20-0, 285.

Four-time qualifiers (26): D1: Josiah Bobier, sr., Kaukaua, 39-5, 119; Jackson Urso, sr., Stoughton, 32-4, 135; James Miller, sr., Milton, 43-2, 189; Budi; Kyle Wey, sr., Oak Creek, 34-3, 189; Polizzi; James Wixom, sr., Sauk Prairie, 35-2, 171. D2: Zess; Cullan Morrissey, sr., Oconto Falls, 130, 40-1; Nathan Brown, sr., Sheyboygan Falls, 32-5, 125; Dustin McKinney, sr., Unity, 135, 43-1; Ben Chappa, sr., Sheboygan Falls, 31-2, 152; Dylan Iczkowski, sr., Mosinee, 40-1, 189. D3: Gudis; Dylan Schroeder, sr., Mineral Point, 40-1, 125; Lincks; Chad Heise, sr., Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas, 38-2, 152; Garrett Bonte, sr., Glenwood City, 40-1, 160; Bryant Edge, sr., Iowa-Grant, 32-6, 215.

History of champions: For a complete list of individual champions, access the WIAA website: http://www.wiaawi.org/wrestling/individualchamps.pdf

List of qualifiers: Brackets and tournament schedule are available on theWIAA website
at: http://www.wiaawi.org/index.php?id=214 or by accessing the TrackWrestling site at: http://www.trackwrestling.com.

Results: Access results through the WIAA webite at: http://www.wiaawi.org/index.php?id=391 or by accessing the TrackWrestling.com Web site at http://www.trackwrestling.com.

Team of the week

Week 11: West Allis Central. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 5 in the area, upset No. 1-ranked Arrowhead, 34-27, at the Homestead team sectional to earn their first berth to the state team tournament since 2001, the only time Central has qualified for the team tournament. Central also won the Greater Metro Conference dual and tournament titles, a regional title to go a long with the team sectional title this year.

Wrestler of the Week

Shane Hughes, Arrowhead. The junior knocked off the top two area wrestlers at 171 pounds in a four-day span to inject himself into the fray in the state’s toughest weight class this year. Hughes defeated Milwaukee Custer senior Davion Willis, 13-12, to win the 171 title at the Sussex Hamilton Regional. It was Willis’ first loss of the year. Hughes wasn’t done, however, for the week. During the Homstead teams sectional final, Hughes defeated West Allis Central senior Dan Diebitz, 6-5. It was Diebitz’ second loss of the year.

Joe’s Week 10 Team Rankings

Team Rankings Area (Final)
1, Arrowhead, 10-2 2, Muskego, 14-3 3, Burlington, 15-0 4, Pewaukee, 17-2 5, West Allis Central, 25-5 6, Hartford, 24-3 7, Franklin, 16-4 8, Kenosha Tremper, 33-4 9, Mukwonago, 14-3 10, Kewaskum, 13-5

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State Individual Day 1
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Regionals Week Sectional Week
State Individual-Day 1 State Individual- Day 2 State Individual-Day 3 State Team Preview State Team Results All Area Team

WiWrestling.com Rankings
Click for Complete List
(Final) Individual Division 1
103  1 Joe Umlauf Wausau West 9 2 Bobby Nachreiner Hartford 9 3 Zach Bruley Oshkosh North 11 4 Austin Hietpas Kaukauna 11 5 Wyatt Booth Merrill 11 6 Tyler Rice Kenosha Tremper 9 7 John Wells Milton 10 8 Alex Blaney Bay Port 9 9 Quinn Miracle Chippewa Falls 9 10 Gabriel Grahek Milwaukee Marquette 9 11 Jason Munoz Wisconsin Rapids 11 12 Kris Neumann Madison Edgewood 12  HM Mitchel Gundrum West Bend East 11 HM Austin Gonzalez Janesville Parker 9 HM Jordan Baumgartner Hudson 12 HM Alex Valentine LaCrosse Central 12 HM Tanner Dworak Tomah 10 HM Kameron Bourgeois Whitnall 11 HM Matt Ehlen Burlington 10 HM Ezekial Torres Milwaukee Bradley Tech 12 HM Daulton Vallesky Kettle Moraine 10 HM Casey Dentino Brookfield East 10 112  1 Ryan McQuade Appleton West 11 2 Tony Perl Sheboygan North 11 3 Justin Scherkenbach Muskego 10 4 Izzy Balsiger Chippewa Falls 10 5 Sam Kortes Franklin 11 6 Nate Hettinga Wausau West 10 7 James Bennett Holmen 10 8 Gordon Johnson Hudson 11 9 Steve Van Wychen Kaukauna 12 10 Nick Urso Stoughton 10 11 Austin Christenson Waterford 10 12 Derek Gill Burlington 10  HM Mason Bohm Shawano 11 HM Jake Jaborek Wisconsin Rapids 11 HM Skyler Pederson West Allis Central 10 HM Garrett Guttenberger Mukwonago 11 HM Jacob Syndergaard Pulaski 10 HM Ian Johnson Deforest 12 HM Logan Scheel Oshkosh West 10 HM Zurik Adler Tomah 12 HM Peter Wolff River Falls 12 HM Luc Stewart Ashwaubenon 11 HM Ferriez Johnson Milwaukee Bradley Tech 11 119  1 Justin Enderby Pulaski 12 2 Logan Cudd River Falls 11 3 Dominic Garcia Kenosha Tremper 10 4 Josiah Bobier Kaukauna 12 5 Jake Cain Middleton 9 6 Keegan Einerson Wisconsin Rapids 10 7 Jared Kust Shawano 11 8 Brennan Casey-Schmidt Janesville Parker 11 9 Rickie Pody Wausau West 12 10 Tyler Semrad Waukesha West 12 11 Nate Hennes Hartford 10 12 Adam Yde Hartland Arrowhead 10  HM Andrew Moyle West Allis Hale 10 HM Blake Koch Reedsburg 11 HM Hank Mattson Mukwonago 9 HM Landon Shea Milton 10 HM Jaron Cashaw Appleton West 11 HM Alex Kueck Neenah 10 HM Matt Natzke Merrill 12 HM Cody Szohr Germantown 11 HM Mike Miller Sauk Prairie 10 HM Danny Laurent Waukesha North 11

125 1 Jesse Thielke Germantown 11 2 Garrett Whitehead Milton 10 3 Justin Meins Port Washington 11 4 Zach Mommaerts Oconomowoc 12 5 Chad Stuiber Ashwaubenon 12 6 Ben Westover Wisconsin Rapids 11 7 Steven Fisher Greenfield 12 8 Peter Buchholz Racine Horlick 12 9 David Cabral Franklin 11 10 Justin Wolfenden Brookfield East 12 11 Cameron Kleven Oshkosh West 10 12 Tanner Owens Hudson 10

Click for Complete WiWrestling.com Rankings
State Rankings
Crossface Team
(Final)
Division 1: 1, Wisconsin Rapids; 2, Kaukauna; 3, Milton; 4, Wausau West; 5, Arrowhead; 6, Hudson; 7, Pulaski; 8, Muskego. Honorable mention – Marshfield, Hartford, Mukwonago, Stoughton, Merrill, West Allis Central, Hortonville, Green Bay Preble/East, Ashhwaubenon.
Division 2: 1, Luxemburg-Casco; 2, Oconto Falls; 3, Ellsworth; 4, Lodi; 5, Pewaukee; 6, Tomahawk; 7, Sparta; 8, Kewaskum. Honorable mention: Freedom, River Valley, Wrightstown; Marshall, Delavan-Darien, Campellsport, Amery, Sheboygan Falls, Seymour, Marshall, Valders, Nekoosa/Port Edwards.
Division 3: 1, Coleman; 2, Mineral Point; 3, Boyceville; 4, Edgar; 5, Cadott; 6, Reedsville; 7, DeSotoa; 8, (tie) Clear Lake and Glenwood City. Honorable mention: New Lisbon, Westby, Brillion, Oostburg, Random Lake, Iowa-Grant, Arcadia, Lomira Shiocton.

Crossface Individual
(Note: Rankings of all three divisions combined, top five individuals in state; area wrestlers ranked, through Thursday.)

Crossface All-State Team

Division 1  103 pounds 1. Joe Umlauf, Wausau West 2. John Wells, Milton 3. Wyatt Booth, Merrill 4. Jason Munoz, Wisconsin Rapids 5. Quinn Miracle Chippewa Falls 6. Austin Heitpas, Kaukauna 7. Zach Bruley, Oshkosh North 8. Bobby Nachreiner, Hartford  Honorable mention: Kris Neumann, Madison Edgewood; Tanner Dworak, Tomah; Tyler Rice, Tenosha Tremper; Alex Valentine, Lacrosse Central; Mitchell Gundrum, West Bend East  112 1. Justin Scherkenbach, Muskego 2. Izzy Balsiger, Chippewa Falls 3. Tony Perl, Sheboygan North 4. Jon Schuster, Wausau West 5. Derek Gil, Burlington 6. James Bennett, Holmen 7. Gordan Johnson, Hudson 8. Steve VanWychen, Kaukauna  Honorable mention: Jake Jaborek, Wisconsin Rapids; Nick Urso, Stoughton; Ian Johnson, DeForest Austin Christensen, Waterford 
Click for Complete All-State Crossface Rankings

Dieringer Finds Proper Perspective
By Joe Shinners Perspective is what Port Washington junior wrestler Alex Dieringer is all about. He’s been at the top of the podium almost everywhere he goes. Yet he’s experienced frustrating losses in the public eye, and still understands that for him wresting is about one thing: having some fun out there on the mat. Thankfully for Dieringer, he’s had many more good days than bad days as he embarks on his third trip to the individual state wrestling tournament as one of the top five wrestlers overall in the state. The individual state wrestling tournament runs from Thursday through Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. As usual, Dieringer will be the favorite to win a state title, this year in Division 1 at 140 pounds after Port shifted up to Division 1 after a one-year stint in D2 a year ago. His main competitors are expected to be Wisconsin Rapids sophomore Rylan Lubeck (45-3) and River Falls senior Cam Loomis (39-2). Dieringer, the state D1 state champion at 103 pounds two years ago as a powerful lightweight, is looking to regain his state championship form after a frustrating loss in the D2 finals at 125 a year ago. That’s when Dieringer lost to Tomahawk’s Zach Zehner, now a senior, by a 7-6 decision in the 125 D2 final after a poorly timed headthrow was perfectly countered by Zehner. That loss has been gnawing at Dieringer ever since. More

140 – Alex Dieringer, jr., Port Washington, 45-1 Photo by Diane Kinzer

Photo by Patrick Granger

145 - Wilmot's Ryan Gartner, Sophmore, shoots on Delevan's Kyndle Bennett for a takedown.

State Titles Fuel Thielke’s Drive
By Joe Shinners This is the time that drives Jesse Thielke. Talk to him after a match when it matters. The kid is focused, driven and not in a mood to discuss pleasantries. There’s still work to do. Sure, he’s got the national ranking (top 10 in his weight class in several national polls), national age group titles (too many to list), USA wrestling national team experience last summer in his age group and two individual Division 1 state tournament titles to his credit already.

Make no mistake about it,
however. This is a time when Thielke wants to win big. He wants to win in front of a big crowd in his state. He wants to win in front of those who have always had high expectations of him. It’s been that way since he was only a youth wrestler who won almost every tournament and then burst on the high school scene as many young kids do with high expectations. The only difference between the other young kids and Thielke is that Thiekle delivers when it matters.
More

Other Wrestlers to Watch at State

Alex Dieringer, jr., Port Washington, 140, 41-1: Ranked No.l in D1. Won the 103 title two years ago in D1. Finished second at 125 in D2 a year ago.

Jake Sueflohn, jr., Arrowhead, 135, 44-1: Finished third two years ago at 119, second last year at 125 and is currently ranked No. 1 at 135.
Bobby Nachreiner, fr., Hartford, 103, 42-5: Solid freshman campaign after strong youth career, Nachreiner enters ranked No. 2 in the state behind top-ranked Wausau West freshman Joe Umlauf (49-2). Both are in the top half of the draw in D1.
Justin Scherkenbach, so., Muksego, 112, 42-4: Enters ranked No. 3 in D1 in the state after failing to place a year ago.

Derek Gill, so., Burlington, 112, 38-3: Advanced to D1 semifinals at 103 a year ago before finishing 6th.
Dominic Garcia, so., Kenosha Tremper, 119, 49-1: Ranked No. 3 at 119 after failing to place a year ago at 112.
Tyler Quartullo, jr., Muskego, 130, 36-4: Two –time state qualifier and place-winner finished fifth a year ago at 119.
Joe Immekus, sr., West Allis Central, sr., 152, 44-0: Ranked No. 3 in the state, Immekus is the only undefeated wrestler in his weight class.
Al Yde, Arrowhead, sr., 160, 43-6: Three-time state qualifier looks to better sixth-place finish as a sophomore.
Roland Dunlap, Muskego, so. , 171, 22-1: One of the most talented sophomores in the area in a loaded D1 bracket, Dunlap finished fifth at 171 a year ago after an injury-plagued season that limited him this year.

Davion Willis, sr., Milwauke Custer, sr., 171, 50-1: Two-time state qualifier has emerged as a threat to win the state title and posts the best record among D1 171-pounders.
Jordan Gruettner, so., Muskego, 189: 42-4: Quietly has become one of the top 189-pounders in the state. Seeks to place in second state tournament appearance.
Cody Seibel, sr, Kewaskum, 30-1, 215: Missed D2 tournament a year ago, but returns for second time in a loaded bracket. The top four wrestlers have only two losses.
Jake Laux, sr., Kettle Moraine, sr., 215, 41-2: Ranked No. 2 in the state behind Beloit Memorial senior Alex Polizzi, Laux’s only losses have been to Polizzi.
Bill Mitchell, sr., South Milwaukee, sr., 285, 15-0: Hampered by slow-healing thumb injury, Mitchell rebounded to qualify for state after finishing fourth a year ago and is currently ranked No. 4 in D1.
Jake Zess, sr. East Troy, 43-3: Four-time D2 state qualifier placed fifth at 125 a year ago.
More

Willis’ Road to Redemption
Began on Mat, Classroom

By Joe Shinners It’s been a long and trying road that Milwaukee Custer senior wrestler Davion Willis has walked. At times, he’s stumbled. But as he enters the stretch run of his final wrestling campaign, Willis can say he has straightened up and regained a steady footing in life over four years of effort. He’s excelled on the mat, in the classroom and in the community thanks to his determination and drive. He can thank wrestling, a saving grace for the young man who once never thought of goals or following a path to success that he is now on. It wasn’t always rosy for Willis, one of the top 171-pound wrestlers in the state. Life can be and was cruel to him early on. His mother died when he was only 7 years old. His relationship with his father has been distant, to say the least. It was tough sledding when he was growing up in Chicago. Nothing came easy.

Davion Willis Photograph by Patrick Granger

Willis Throttles Dunlap to Reach Semis

By Joe Shinners
Madison – This one was for those who doubted whether or not Milwaukee Custer senior Davion Willis was the real deal.
Willis defeated Muskego sophomore Roland Dunlap, 6-2, Thursday night in the 171-pound Division 1 quarterfinals at the Kohl Center in Madison in the most anticipated area matchup on the first day of the tournament. Both won preliminary matches earlier in the afternoon.
Willis, who advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year in his third trip to state, ran his record to 52-1 this year and dropped Dunlap, in his second trip to state, to 23-2 in a battle between two of the top-ranked 171-pounders in the state.
Willis will face Appleton West junior Sami Khatib (37-7) in the semifinals. In the other semifinal at 171, Arrowhead junior Shane Hughes (34-12) faces Wisconsin Rapids sophomore Devin Peterson (48-2).
“It feels good,” said Willis. “(Dunlap’s) got a hell of a double-leg takedown. He’s a good wrestler. But I prepared all week for him.”
The preparation worked.

Dunlap was unable to open up his offense against Willis’ brute strength and control of the tieups. “I was focused on this match because I knew if I won it, basically I’m in the finals,” said Willis. “I still have to go out there and perform tomorrow. I have to get myself ready mentally. But I am not surprised I won and I’m in the semifinals.” Willis’ escape and takedown in the second period opened the scoring as he took a 3-0 lead, and Willis never was in trouble the rest of the match. “What surprised me and stood out to me about Davion is that he’s pretty doggone strong,” said Muskego coach Muskego coach Ted Price. “His strength neutralized Roland’s quickness. Davion is the real deal.” Willis reiterated that he is solely focused on winning a state title. His loss to Hughes in the regional two weeks ago, and his pin of Hughes in the sectional last week, only fueled his desire for a title. “When I said this is my medal, I meant it,” said Willis. “That loss to Hughes, I took that personally. I couldn’t sleep. It the first thing I thought about every day and the last thing I thought about.” Price sent five of seven state qualifiers into the quarterfinals and came away with two semifinalists in sophomores Justin Scherkenbach and Jordan Gruettner.

More

Davion Willis Photograph by Patrick Granger

WIAA State Wrestling
Quarterfinal Results

DIVISION 1 QUARTERFINALS
103 pounds John Wells, Milton, def. Joe Umlauf, Wausau West, 6-0; Bobby Nachreiner, Hartford, maj. dec. over Casey Dentino, Brookfield East, 16-3. Gabriel Grahek, Milw. Marquette, def. Jason Munoz, Wis. Rapids Lincoln, 10-5. Tyler Rice, Kenosha Tremper, def. Zach Bruley, Oshkosh North, 9-3.
112 Justin Scherkenbach, Muskego, def. Izzy Balsiger, Chippewa Falls, 16-14; Sam Kortes, Franklin, maj. dec. over Zurik Adler, Tomah, 11-3; Ryan McQuade, Appleton West, def. James Bennett, Holmen, 14-8; Tony Perl, Sheboygan North, def. Derek Gill, Burlington, 7-4.
For Complete Results Click Here