By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Elkhorn won three individual titles and finished third in the team standings Feb. 13 in a WIAA Division 1 Regional Wrestling Tournament at Elkhorn Area High School.
The top four finishers in each weight class at the regional meet advance to the sectional meet Saturday at Verona Area High School.
The top two finishers in each weight class at the sectional meet advance to the WIAA Division 1 State Individual Wrestling Tournament Feb. 25-27 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
“We hoped to finish better but, in reality, that’s where we’re going to end up,” Elks coach Ken Reynolds said. “We made a good run. We were leading going into the finals. The kids had done well to that point.”
The team that wins the regional advances to the team sectional competition. The Elks finished with 197 points.
Milton won the regional (224) and Badger finished second (211.5). Milton wrestled at Stoughton Tuesday in a Division 1 team sectional dual meet.
The Elks wrestled for seven regional titles and won three.
Benji Peak (26-3) pinned Janesville Parker’s Brett Perkins in 36 seconds in the final at 113 pounds.
“(Peak’s) definitely one of the best wrestlers in the state,” Reynolds said. “There’s not much else to say. He’s on a mission, a quest.”
Daniel Stilling (34-4) beat Janesville Craig’s Nathan Ellis 11-6 in the final at 120 pounds. Reynolds said Stilling, who prefers to pin opponents, scored on his feet against Ellis and in the regional.
“When he wrestled (Ellis), he adjusted,” Reynolds said. “He knew he’s not going to pin everyone. Once he knew he wasn’t going to get the pin he wrestled smart and got the win.”
Jordan Barr (23-5) pinned Craig’s Nicholas Knaub in 2:37 in the title match at 220 pounds.
“I’m really happy for him,” Reynolds said. “He set himself up for (sectionals). He was definitely a shark.”
Grant Truesdale (32-8) finished second at 106 after losing 6-0 to Milton’s Dalton Shea in the title match.
Bryce Jacobson (35-5) and Konnor Mohr (19-4) finished second in what Reynolds said are the toughest weight classes in the regional and sectional.
“Bryce could have very easily taken fourth and Konnor could have easily taken fourth,” Reynolds said. “Those weight classes are loaded with the best athletes.”
Jacobson lost 6-4 to Milton’s Evan Whitehead in the title match at 152 and Mohr lost 3-2 to Milton’s Taylor Prochazka in the title match at 160.
Richie Heidemann (19-5) lost 6-4 to Badger’s Cole Mikrut in the title match and finished second at 285. Heidemann beat Mikrut in the 285-pound title match Feb. 6 at the Southern Lakes Conference tournament at Waterford.
James Welsh (21-18) finished fourth at 132 and Riley Remington (27-8) finished fourth at 170 and advanced to what Reynolds said is one of the state’s toughest sectional meets.
“I think if Elkhorn gets anyone through (to state), it will be well-earned,’ Reynolds said. “Nobody has an easy road. It’s going to be a tough day.”
