By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School’s wresting team performed well Jan. 16 but did not defend their title at the Norski Invite at DeForest High School.
Elkhorn finished second with 167.5 points. River Valley won the meet (186). Elkhorn entered the Norski as the two-time defending champion.
Daniel Stilling (120) and Barr (220) each won their weight class. Stilling (23-3) pinned River Valley’s Caleb Radtke in 1:10 in the title match. He pinned Arrowhead’s Bohdi Peterson in 1:53 in a semifinal match and won by technical fall against DeForest’s Bailey Lara in the quarterfinals.
“He’s really on the top of his game,” Reynolds said, “He dominates again. He’s really been a great addition to the team.”
Barr (14-1) beat West Bend West’s Matt Elsinger 6-1 in the final at 220. He pinned River Valley’s Tennessee Hatfield in 5:24 in the semifinals.
“He had a really good day,” Reynolds said. “He’s starting to peak at the right time.”
Heidemann (10-2) finished second at 285. Hartford’s Quinn Meinerz beat Heidemann 5-0 in the title match.
“He needs to get that edge back,” Reynolds said. “Right now, he’s kind of comfortable with where he’s at. He’s got to get that competitive edge back, and he will.”
Peak (19-3) beat Hartford’s Spencer Rahn by technical fall in the third-place match at 126 pounds. Peak is currently wrestling up two weight classes.
“I think it’s a really bold move,” Reynolds said. “It says a lot about his character and what wrestling means to him.”
James Welsh (14-12) finished third at 132 after bearing Portage’s Dylan Casey 10-7 in the third-place match. Riley Remington (16-5) finished third after pinning Evansville’s Tyler Schmidt in 3:25 in the third-place match at 152
Bryce Jacobson (23-4) finished third at 160. Jacobson beats Evansville’s Miles Liesse 12-3 in the third-place match.
Kevin Pauley (145) finished fourth. Isaac Taylor (138) and Myles Schumacher (182) finished fifth.
Elkhorn defeated Union Grove 50-24 Jan. 14 in a Southern Lakes Conference dual meet at Union Grove. Welsh, Taylor, Remington, Jacobson, Barr, Heidemann, Grant Truesdale (106) and Teddy Woyak (113) won for the Elks.
