By Chris Bennett
Sports correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School wrestling team won three titles and finished second Jan. 13 in the Norski Invite at DeForest High School.
At DeForest, Aaron Taylor (160 pounds), Coleman Karl (145) and Payton Jacobson (106) each won their weight class.
Taylor (15-11) pinned his way through the tournament in five matches, including a victory against Portage’s Sam Bleich in 36 seconds.
Coach Ken Reynolds said the tournament marked the first time Taylor wrestled at 160.
“We kind of felt like he would be able to be more competitive at 160,” Reynolds said. “I think he turned some heads.”
Jacobson (25-8) also turned in a speedy pin in the tournament. Jacobson pinned DeForest’s Chase Sortreed in 23 seconds. Reynolds said Jacobson, a freshman, is getting the hang of high school wrestling.
“Payton is one of the best competitor I’ve had in a long time,’ Reynolds said. “He’s a real competitor. He’s just been in very tough tournaments. His weight class has always been really tough.”
Karl (24-5) wrestled just twice, and pinned both opponents. Karl pinned Portage’s Dylan Casey in 5:43 and Hartland Arrowhead’s Mason Diel in 2:15.
“Even being a sophomore, we expect that of Coleman,” Reynolds said. “He is solid, and is emerging as a leader of the team. He’s just – plain and simple – good.”
At 200, Dakota Biefeld (21-11), a senior in his first season of wrestling, finished the day 3-1 and in second place.
Reynolds said Biefeld had won 12 of his last 13 matches at the end of the Norski.
Hunter Hummel (285) improved to 19-7 with his second-place finish at the Norski. Grant Truesdale (126) also finished second.
Teddy Woyak (120), Daniel Stilling (132) and Myles Schumacher (182) each finished third. Luke Truesdale (113) finished fourth. Nathan Lightsey (138), Brandon Constable (152) and Nathan Welsh (195) each finished fifth.
Reynolds said the Norski proves the Elks are finding their bearings after what some might have thought was a tough start to the season.
“These kids are quietly starting to surface,” Reynolds said. “Everyone seems to be saying, ‘Elkhorn is not what they were last year.’
“No – we’re not. We’re not the same team from year to year. This team is becoming a formidable opponent.”
The Elks beat Wilmot 63-16 Jan. 11 in a Southern Lakes Conference dual meet at Elkhorn. In that meet, Jacobson (106), Grant Truesdale (126), Stilling (132), Karl (152), Schumacher (182) and Hummel (285) all won matches.
Elkhorn wrestles tomorrow, Jan. 25 at home against Badger in a SLC dual meet.
