By Troy Sparks
SLN CORRESPONDENT
Whitewater will send six wrestlers to the WIAA Division 2 Sectionals on Saturday at Cedar Grove-Belgium. As a team, Whitewater finished in the top two in the regionals last Saturday at East Troy.
With scoring 224 points, the Whippets finished second as a team at the regionals behind host East Troy, which had 242 points. The top team in the regionals and the top two individuals in each weight class advanced to the team and the individual sectional meets. East Troy won more head-to-head matches than Whitewater.
“Unfortunately, the team competition is over based on their second-place finish as a team,” Whitewater coach John Schimming said. “This closed out a nice season for the Whippet team. Now the team will focus on our individuals who will be competing this weekend at Cedar Grove-Belgium in the sectional.”
Qualifying for the sectional round were freshman Trenten Zahn (113, 18-15), sophomores Jaden Salmieri (132, 29-13) and Aldo Soto (170, 22-5) and seniors Tyler Gamble (106, 28-3), Tommy Cushman (138, 21-19) and Jimmy DuVal (182, 39-2).
This is Zahn’s first time wrestling in the postseason. He pinned his way to the finals in his weight class. Zahn pinned Josiah Connor-Dolgner (Greendale Martin Luther) in 1 minute and 32 seconds. It took 3:38 for Zahn to pin Ben Schimanski (Shoreland Lutheran). Jacob Greidanus (Delavan-Darien) pinned Zahn in 1:25 but Zahn faced Schimanski in the second-place wrestle back final and won by rule (16-12).
Salmieri received a first-round bye. He pinned Ben Stiesma (Martin Luther) in 4:37 and beat Jared Greidanus (Delavan-Darien) 11-6 to win a regional championship. Cushman and DuVal also brought home championships.
“All three of these individuals wrestled very well in all of their matches to bring home the championship,” Schimming said. “Jaden and Jimmy defended their titles from a year ago. Tommy pinned all three of his opponents on his way to his first ever championship in a high school tournament.”
Cushman was a regional champion, winning all three of his matches by pin, all in the third period. He pinned Joshua Barr (Delavan-Darien) in 4:22. Cushman put away Austin Williams (Martin Luther) in 4:58 and won by fall over Jake Olejnik (Catholic Memorial) in 4:26.
For more on the wrestlers qualifying for sectionals, pick up the Feb. 15 edition of the Whitewater Register.
