By Adam Knoll
Sports Correspondent
The Whitewater High School wrestling team headed to Kettle Moraine Feb. 3 to finish up their dual meet portion of the season. Against a strong opponent, the Whippets wrestled well, and came away with a 49-28 victory.
Thomad McManaway led off the event with a pin in the second period. Whitewater’s strategy was to use Moraine’s aggressiveness against them, wear them down and then finish off the deal. That is precisely what happened most of the night.
Nathan Barrett followed up with a first period pin, putting Whitewater up 12-0. Tommy Duval lost a tough fought match against a Division 1 opponent.
Michael Lippens had to fight from behind for most of his match, but ended up with a second period pin. Daniel Soto, taking on the No. 4 ranked wrestler in Division 1, secured a first period pin to put Whitewater up 24-6.
Tyler Gamble had a difficult match to an opponent much taller than himself. Jameson Hutchins was able to find strength in the second period, earning a pin.
Irving Sedano won a major decision and Jimmy Cushman won a victory, using the fabled second period pin to put his opponent away.
James Ehlen finished the night with a pin as well, giving Whitewater a very impressive margin of victory.
On the junior varsity side, Victor Fernandez and Jimmy DuVal both closed out their seasons with a win.
“The coaching staff was very happy with the effort of the wrestlers and were happy to see them have the success they had showing that their hard work has been paying off,” head coach John Schimming said in a statement about the meet.
Two champions
The team traveled to East Troy next to participate in the Rock Valley Conference Tournament.
Johns Saylor and James Ehlen both won the championships in their respective weight classes. Saylor by a 16-1 decision, and Ehlen with a pin in the third period following a couple of very tense early rounds. This is Ehlen’s first title in three straight finals appearances.
Irving Sedano also wrestled well, as did Daniel Soto, each of them going 4-1 on the day and taking third place.
Sedano had three major decision victories and Soto has three pins, one of which came at 7 seconds into the match, breaking a Whitewater record that has stood since 1975.
Tommy DuVal and Nathan Barrett both just missed medals. Although both gave it their all, each lost their third place matches. Jameson Hutchins also came in fifth after a 3-2 day.
Overall, Whitewater finished a respectable fourth.
“I felt they wrestled well today, especially the last round we had some really nice wins. The student-athletes need to take the momentum they may have had on Saturday and keep it going as we travel back to East Troy to compete in the Region wrestling tournament this coming Saturday. The top two individuals in the region tournament will advance to the sectional tournament the following week,” Schimming said.
