By Adam Knoll
Sports Correspondent
Last Saturday, the Whitewater High School wrestling team took part in a tournament in Beloit that featured five matches against other schools from throughout the area and the Whippets held their own, going 3-2 as a team.
Whitewater began by falling to Union Grove, 46-27, with Nathan Barrett, Daniel Soto, Tyler Gamble, Jose Alvarez and James Ehlen all netting victories. The overall match was close until a few tough opponents went against the Whippets, resulting in a team loss against Union Grove.
Next, the Whippets edged out Badger 36-32 behind Soto, Ehlen and Gamble each earning their second win of the day. Notching their first victories in that round were Irving Sedano, Robby Liberto and Thomas McManaway.
In the team’s third match, the Whippets knocked out Mayville 40-27. During that match, Ehlen, Soto and Gamble again came out victorious. Mayville only won five matches during this meet.
Last it was Columbus that the Whippets faced and fell to, 60-7 though it’s important to note that Columbus only won matches on the backs of a forfeit victory and by beating varsity underclassmen, otherwise it was a perfect match for Whitewater.
“(We are) proud of the wrestlers at this point of the season,” head coach John Schimming said at the end of the night. “The first three weeks had a lot of competition and the team is looking forward to some time to heal up.”
Whitewater had two perfect wrestlers on the night as Soto and Ehlen both went 5-0. Not far behind were Gamble and Sedano, each of whom only suffered one loss each.
In other wrestling action last week, Whitewater lost to Turner at the Bill McCreary Dual Tournament. Gamble, Sedano and Soto all won their matches. The Whippets also beat Badger, 36-32, in a very tight match that saw the final tally stand at seven victories to six in favor of the Whippets.
Whitewater also came out on top over Clinton earlier last week, 46-21, but fell to Belleville, 48-30, and Cambridge, 54-30.
Some time to rest and recover is certainly called for, as Schimming said. The team will get back into action after the holidays.
