Reynolds: Team ‘best ever’ in school history
By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Elkhorn Area High School wrestling coach Ken Reynolds does not mince words when talking about the legacy that will be left by his squad after this season.
“This definitely puts them in the category of best ever – the best ever in Elkhorn wrestling,” Reynolds said. “There’s no doubt they have to be, if not the best team, then definitely one of the top two.”
Reynolds watched a school-record seven of his charges qualify for the WIAA Division1 State Individual Wrestling Meet Feb. 21 at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional Tournament at Sun Prairie High School.
The WIAA Division1 State Individual Wrestling Tournament started today and continues through Saturday in Madison at the Kohl Center.
Elkhorn, Milton and Stoughton each ended the regular season in the top 10 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 1 team rankings. Each school wrestled in the Sun Prairie Sectional, which Reynolds said is the state’s toughest.
“I think that says a lot about the caliber of our kids, and where we belong in those talks,” Reynolds said. “We’re one of the top teams in the state.”
At Sun Prairie, John Olsen (145 pounds) and Konnor Mohr (152) each won sectional titles.
Olsen (37-3) won his first two matches by pin, and beat Milton’s Sean Gohlke (33-11) 4-0 in the sectional final. Olsen wrestles Kaukana’s Drew Kepline (21-3) at 3 p.m. today in his first match at state.
Mohr (39-3) finished 3-0 Saturday, and beat Stoughton’s Patrick Reilly (31-18) 3-2 in the regional final. Mohr qualified for state last season, and wrestles Pewaukee’s Jason Berg (38-13) at 3 p.m. today in his first match at state.
Bryce Fitzgerald (126), Keaton Verhoeven (170), Jordan Barr (182), Dylan Linhart (195) and Richie Heidemann (285) each finished second and advanced.
Fitzgerald (38-6) finished second after losing 11-4 to Stoughton’s Zach Hasselberger in the sectional final. Fitzgerald (38-6) wrestles Menomonie’s Hayden Schlough (33-8) today in his first match at state.
Verhoeven (37-8) lost 5-2 to Stoughton’s Gunnar Helland in the regional finals, and faces Middleton’s Taggert Haase (47-4) today in his first match at state.
Barr (33-8) beat Watertown’s Isaac Elsen 3-1 in a second-place wrestleback to advance to state. Barr wrestles Eau Claire North’s Hunter Dalby (38-6) today in his first match at state.
Linhart (37-5) finished sixth at state last season at 195. Verona Area’s Dakin Coon (37-5) beat Linhart 8-2 in the regional final. Linhart wrestles Homestead’s Gage Zupke (26-0) today in his first match at state.
Heidemann wrestled the day’s last match Saturday at Sun Prairie and pinned Milton’s Hunter Nelson in 1 minute, 17 seconds to advance to state.
“The tournament was over, and there was one wrestleback at 285,” Reynolds said. “There wasn’t a kid on our team that said ‘When are we leaving?’ They were all at the mat, warming-up Richie and talking to him.
“It was such a cool thing to be around. Richie went out and wrestled for Elkhorn. He wrestled for his team, and he won it for himself.”
Heidemann wrestles Fond du Lac’s Donte Johnson (40-6) this afternoon in his first match at state.
At 106 pounds, Elkhorn’s Benji Peak narrowly missed qualifying for state when he lost a 6-4 sudden victory against Sun Prairie’s Drew Scharenbrock. Reynolds said Peak (38-6) beat Scharenbrock (41-8) twice earlier this season.
Kaukauna leads all Division1 teams with eight individual qualifiers. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln, Oak Creek, Hudson, Cedarburg and Elkhorn each qualified seven for state in Division 1. Reynolds said 19 wrestlers from the Southern Lakes Conference qualified for state.
