Elk grapplers win first regional title since 1980

by Heather Perkins Views: 17
Above: After winning the Southern Lakes Conference championship Feb. 4, the Elkhorn High School wrestling team added another feather to its cap with a regional championship Feb. 11. Team members shown celebrating the win are: front row – Bryce Jacobson, Benji Peak, Danny Stilling, Riley Remington, kneeling – Richie Heideman, Braeden Mohr, Myles Schumaker, Colman Karl, and standing – Caroline Terry, Rachel Larson, coach Kevin Wallace, Leo Ehlen, Ted Woyak, coach Eddie Wilging, Hunter Hummel, Grant Truesdale, Nathan Welsh, Jon Palmer, Q Woyak, James, Welsh, Jake Wilging, Isaac Taylor, coach Ken Reynolds, coach Chris Behrens. Below: Hunter Hummel, shown here during his conference championship match Feb. 4, took fourth Feb. 11 at 285 pounds and advanced to sectionals. (Submitted photo)

By Chris Bennett

Sports Correspondent

Elkhorn scored eight pins in its first nine matches and finished first Feb. 11 in WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal wrestling tournament at Westosha Central High School in Paddock Lake.

      Coach Ken Reynolds said it is the Elks’ first regional title since 1980. Elkhorn wrestled Stoughton Tuesday in a WIAA Division 1 Team Sectional dual meet at Elkhorn Area High School.

Stoughton is ranked No. 1, and Elkhorn is ranked No. 4 in Division 1 in the most recent Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll.

Tuesday’s winner will advance to the WIAA Division 1 State Team Tournament March 3-4 in Madison at the University of Wisconsin Field House.

Individually, Elkhorn wrestles Saturday in a WIAA Division 1 sectional tournament at Janesville Craig. The top two in each weight class advance to the Division 1 State Individual Wrestling Tournament Feb. 23-25 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

The top four in each weight class at Westosha Central advanced to the sectional at Craig. Elkhorn finished with five regional champions, and qualified 13 wrestlers for the sectional tournament.

“We felt we were the best team, and that’s really what I wanted them to do – come out and make a statement,” Reynolds said. “That’s what we did.”

Daniel Stilling (35-0) remained undefeated and won the regional title at 132 pounds. Stilling pinned Milton’s Levi Garrett (21-16) in 3:33 in the title match.

Benji Peak (37-2) finished third last year in Division 1 at 113 pounds, and won a regional title this season at 126. Peak beat Craig’s Nathan Ellis (34-3) 6-1 for the title.

Bryce Jacobson (36-4) pinned Badger’s Steven Dublin (25-15) in 2:39 for the regional title at 152 pounds. Jacobson advanced to state last season at 152.

Riley Remington (36-4) pinned Beloit Memorial’s Linzell Burks (22-12) in 1:30 for the regional title at 170.

The Elks’ Richie Heidemann advanced to state last season at 285, and finished second at 220 at regionals. Heidemann (35-7) lost 3-1 to Janesville Parker’s Logan Murdy (36-2) in overtime in the title match.

Myles Schumacher (28-13) beat Parker’s Izaiah Jones (30-7) and secured second place in a wrestleback. Schumacher improved to 28-13 with the win.

Grant Truesdale (35-8) lost 6-4 to Milton’s Dalton Shea (38-6) in the title match at 113 and finished second.

James Welsh (14-13) finished third at 145. Quentin Woyak (23-16) at 106, Coleman Karl (30-15) at 120, Jacob Wilging (14-12) at 160, Nathan Welsh (1-2) at 182 and Hunter Hummel (25-12) at 285 each finished fourth.

The Elks scored 230 points. Milton finished second (207), Badger third (185) and Craig fourth (150). Wilmot finished fifth (114), Parker sixth (83), Memorial seventh (80) and Central eighth (52.5).

 

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