MATSIDE Going for 40 Hank Stillman, the longtime area referee, recently said he will try to go for 40 years making calls on the mat. Currently in his 38th year, Stillman is one of a few veterans who continue to call the mat home on the weekend. Chuck Graziano, another grizzled veteran who has been refereeing since the early 1980s, is still making calls on the weekend despite several attempts at retiring. "I'll try to go for 40 as long as my body holds out," said Stillman at the Hartford Duals in the second week of the season where he joined Graziano in stripes. "I'd really like to get to 40 years in." Stillman's remark brought to mind the recent loss of many veteran referees. Those losses have caused a bit of a stir recently. Just ask Joe Kaster, the 70-year-old editor of The Crossface who has been a teacher, coach and referee during his days. "Our sport is gasping for referees," said Kaster. "We have a desperate need for officials. I did it, and I loved it. It's a way to stay in the game. It's very rewarding. Every sport needs officials, but there isn't any sport more desperate for refereeing than wrestling." To get started, those interested can to go the WIAA homepage at WIAAWI.org, click on WIAA Info and go to Officials Licensing to find an application and organizational listings. Key Dates Mid-State Classic, Dec. 28 and 29, at UW-Whitewater: Burlington, Cedar Grove-Belgium, Cedarburg, Delvan-Darien, Elkhorn, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Kenosha Tremper, Kettle Moraine, Milwaukee Marquette, Mukwonago, Nicolet, Oconomowoc, Ozaukee, Waukesha North and West Bend East will be among the 38 team present at the tournament featuring teams from Wisconsin and Illinois. Northern Exposure, Dec. 28 and 29, at Merrill: Lake Geneva Badger, Brookfield East, East Troy, Franklin, Racine Park and West Allis Central will be among the 24 teams competing in the dual meet invitational. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 28 and at 10 a.m. Dec. 29. Bi-State Classic, Dec. 29 and 30, at LaCrosse Center. Cuday and Arrowhead will take on No. 1-ranked Wisconsin Rapids at the 56-team invitaitional. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. on Dec. 28. Wrestling begins at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 29 with the finals scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Oshkosh on the Water Classic, Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, at UW-Oshkosh Kolf Center: Germantown, Kewaskum, Milwaukee Bradley Tech, New Berlin Eisnenhower/West, Slinger, Watertown, West Allis Hale, Whitefish Bay and Wilmot scheduled to be among 56 teams. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 29. Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Dec. 30 with finals scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Matside.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
Team of the week Muskego. The Muskego Warriors won the 35-team Marty Loy Classic team title in Fond du Lac with 226.5 points to best the field of 25 teams, four of which are ranked in the state. Muskego, ranked No. 5 in Division 1 by the Crossface and No. 2 in the area, finished ahead of Wausau West (194.5), Hudson (176), Kewaskum (134.5) and DeForest (128) in the top 5 at the tournament. Wausau West is ranked No. 3 in Division 1. Hudson is ranked No. 6 in D1. Kewaskum is ranked No. 8 in D2. DeForest and Wausau West both qualified for the D1 state team tournament a year ago. Muskego came away with a pair of champions at the Marty Loy: senior Derek Olson (17-0 at 152) and sophomore Justin Scherkenbach (16-1 at 112). Muskego had 10 of its 14 wrestlers place at the tournament. Team_of_the_Week.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0
Wrestler of the Week Alex Dieringer, Port Washington. No other area wrestler dominated the Marty Loy Classic as Dieringer at the Marty Loy Classic in Fond du Lac. Dieringer, a junior, a Division 1 state champion two years ago at 103 and a D2 runner-up a year ago at 125, won the 140 title with two pins and two technical falls. Dieringer improved his record to 12-0 this year. In the final at the 25-team tournament, Dieringer posted a 19-4 technical fall over Westby senior Jason Raasch to improve to 12-0 this year. Raasch, a fourth-place finisher at 135 in D3 a year ago, fell to 11-1. Wrestler_of_the_Week_2009-1010.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0

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Quote of the Week "I'm tickled pink," West Allis Central coach Jason Stromberg after his team won the E.H. Stech Invitational title for the first time since 1983. Quote_of_the_Week.htmlshapeimage_6_link_0
Thielke Returns From Broken Jaw By Joe Shinners Much to the surprise of many, Jesse Thielke's broken jaw has healed and he will continue to train with former Olympian Dennis Hall.08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/14_Thielke_Returns_From_Broken_Jaw.htmlshapeimage_7_link_0
Massoglia Transplant a Success By Joe Shinners Mark Massoglia, the long-time Wisconsin wrestling reporter, underwent successful a heart transplant over the summer and has resumed his reporting duties at the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/14_MASSOGIAL_SIDE_Massoglia_Transplant_a_Success.html08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/14_MASSOGIAL_SIDE_Massoglia_Transplant_a_Success.html08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/14_MASSOGIAL_SIDE_Massoglia_Transplant_a_Success.htmlshapeimage_8_link_0shapeimage_8_link_1shapeimage_8_link_2

Photo by Jeff Thelke

Jesse Thielke shows off the Gold Medal he won at the Pan Am Games in Nicaragua

Bulldogs Bite Back at Stech By Joe Shinners West Allis - The long and painful wait for the West Allis Central Bulldogs wrestling team is finally over. The Bulldogs made sure of that with a dominating performance Dec. 18th and 19th to win the 37the annual E.H. Stech Invitational Saturday at Central for the first time in 26 years and bring to an end to a title drought for the host school. More08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/22_Bulldogs_Bite_Back_at_Stech.html08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/22_Bulldogs_Bite_Back_at_Stech.htmlshapeimage_9_link_0shapeimage_9_link_1
Click for more Ed Stech Videos 2009_Ed_Stech_Invitational_Videos.htmlshapeimage_10_link_0

Jesse Thielke (Germantown) 13-0 won by pin over Mitch Teeters (Pewaukee) 10-2 (Pin 2:47)  

Thielke at Ed Stech Invitational 2009_Ed_Stech_Invitational_Videos.htmlshapeimage_11_link_0
Warriors Bounce Back By Joe Shinners Hartford - Much to the chagrin of many, you just can't count the Muskego Warriors wrestling team out just yet. They proved that and more as the Warriors completed a difficult two-week stretch to begin the season Saturday afternoon by winning the team title at the 34th annual Hartford Team Tournament. More08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/17_Warriors_Bounce_Back.html08-09_Articles/Entries/2009/12/14_MUSKEGO_FALTERS_EARLY.htmlshapeimage_12_link_0shapeimage_12_link_1
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