RICHLAND CENTER - Two area wrestlers, Albany's Nick Patchen and Sugar River's Kalvin York, each won championships in their respective divisions Saturday and earned trips to Wisconsin's wrestling paradise: the Kohl Center in Madison for the state tournament.
Patchen, a senior, punched his first-ever ticket to the WIAA State Tournament by beating Lakeside Lutheran's Philip Behl in the 189-pound championship match, 4-3.
"It feels better than I thought it would," an ecstatic Patchen said afterwards. "I've been waiting three years for this and it's finally here."
Patchen fell behind 2-0 after being taken down in the first, but a reversal in the second with 1:43 remaining tied up the score. In the third, Behl caught a point with an escape early on, but a reversal by Patchen with a minute left gave him the final points he needed. During the match, Behl went to the trash can four separate times with a badly bloodied nose.
"I just wanted it so bad," Patchen said of his comeback win, saying his drive and determination was ultimately the difference in the match.
Patchen (34-6), pinned Whitewater's Nick Romani (16-15) in 1 minute, 30 seconds in the opening round before pinning Iowa-Grant's Jordan Halverson (26-13) in the semifinals at 1:35.
Last year, Patchen was the No. 1 seed in the regional, but failed to qualify for sectionals.
"My goal this year was state. The last couple years I haven't made it," he said.
York, undefeated as a senior at 38-0, will make his fourth trip to state in the 145-pound class after topping River Valley's Tim Eversom (40-5), 5-0, in the sectional championship.
York pinned Clinton's Josh Collins at 1:43 in the first round and won by major decision over Lodi's Tony Zeman (39-7), 11-3.
In the championship match, York took a 2-0 lead with just 17 seconds left in the first on a reversal. In the second, York picked up another point for an escape and pulled in a reversal with 11 seconds left in the period.
"The first two rounds were a little more aggressive for Kalvin," Sugar River coach Ken Engelke said. "They were a little high. He opened up a little bit more in those matches. But in the finals, he secured the win. He got the job done."
York has finished as the runner-up at state the past two years.
"With the type of team we had this season, we were counting on Kalvin all year to stay healthy and to maintain the top level. So this is a tribute to him. And with him going to state, it helps the program."
The Raiders also sent junior Dylan Riley (125) to Richland Center. Riley (20-22) fell to Portage's T. Stolp-Apel (28-9) in the first round by technical fall, 15-0.
Brodhead-Juda sent four wrestlers to sectionals, including 125-pound senior Jeremy Rosheisen. Rosheisen (29-16) fell to River Valley's Dylan Shaffer (43-2) in the first round by pin. In the second round, Rosheisen won 8-4 over Cuba City-Southwestern's Dillon Schmeider.
In the third place match, with a chance to qualify for state, Rosheisen fell 8-4 to Clinton's Bryan Banh (28-8).
"Jeremy had a great year. He's been with us for four years and I think we got the most out of his ability," Brodhead-Juda head coach Tim Colden said. "We're really going to miss him next year, he was a real good captain for us."
The Cardinals also had juniors Devon Seitz (140) and Cody Spooner (189), and freshman Ethan Voights (160) at the meet.
Seitz (21-13) lost his opening round match to Prairie du Chien's Will Davis (26-17), 8-1. In the second round, Seitz was eliminated by Portage's John Nolan, 7-4.
Voights (17-11) was beaten by No. 1 seed Scott Liegel (42-0) of River Valley in the opening round. Voights then was pinned in the second round by Benton-Platteville's Josh Eastlick (42-5).
Spooner (14-16), was pinned by Philip Behl in the opening round. In the second round, Spooner was pinned late in the first period by Richland Center's Tyler Overman (21-7).
Patchen, a senior, punched his first-ever ticket to the WIAA State Tournament by beating Lakeside Lutheran's Philip Behl in the 189-pound championship match, 4-3.
"It feels better than I thought it would," an ecstatic Patchen said afterwards. "I've been waiting three years for this and it's finally here."
Patchen fell behind 2-0 after being taken down in the first, but a reversal in the second with 1:43 remaining tied up the score. In the third, Behl caught a point with an escape early on, but a reversal by Patchen with a minute left gave him the final points he needed. During the match, Behl went to the trash can four separate times with a badly bloodied nose.
"I just wanted it so bad," Patchen said of his comeback win, saying his drive and determination was ultimately the difference in the match.
Patchen (34-6), pinned Whitewater's Nick Romani (16-15) in 1 minute, 30 seconds in the opening round before pinning Iowa-Grant's Jordan Halverson (26-13) in the semifinals at 1:35.
Last year, Patchen was the No. 1 seed in the regional, but failed to qualify for sectionals.
"My goal this year was state. The last couple years I haven't made it," he said.
York, undefeated as a senior at 38-0, will make his fourth trip to state in the 145-pound class after topping River Valley's Tim Eversom (40-5), 5-0, in the sectional championship.
York pinned Clinton's Josh Collins at 1:43 in the first round and won by major decision over Lodi's Tony Zeman (39-7), 11-3.
In the championship match, York took a 2-0 lead with just 17 seconds left in the first on a reversal. In the second, York picked up another point for an escape and pulled in a reversal with 11 seconds left in the period.
"The first two rounds were a little more aggressive for Kalvin," Sugar River coach Ken Engelke said. "They were a little high. He opened up a little bit more in those matches. But in the finals, he secured the win. He got the job done."
York has finished as the runner-up at state the past two years.
"With the type of team we had this season, we were counting on Kalvin all year to stay healthy and to maintain the top level. So this is a tribute to him. And with him going to state, it helps the program."
The Raiders also sent junior Dylan Riley (125) to Richland Center. Riley (20-22) fell to Portage's T. Stolp-Apel (28-9) in the first round by technical fall, 15-0.
Brodhead-Juda sent four wrestlers to sectionals, including 125-pound senior Jeremy Rosheisen. Rosheisen (29-16) fell to River Valley's Dylan Shaffer (43-2) in the first round by pin. In the second round, Rosheisen won 8-4 over Cuba City-Southwestern's Dillon Schmeider.
In the third place match, with a chance to qualify for state, Rosheisen fell 8-4 to Clinton's Bryan Banh (28-8).
"Jeremy had a great year. He's been with us for four years and I think we got the most out of his ability," Brodhead-Juda head coach Tim Colden said. "We're really going to miss him next year, he was a real good captain for us."
The Cardinals also had juniors Devon Seitz (140) and Cody Spooner (189), and freshman Ethan Voights (160) at the meet.
Seitz (21-13) lost his opening round match to Prairie du Chien's Will Davis (26-17), 8-1. In the second round, Seitz was eliminated by Portage's John Nolan, 7-4.
Voights (17-11) was beaten by No. 1 seed Scott Liegel (42-0) of River Valley in the opening round. Voights then was pinned in the second round by Benton-Platteville's Josh Eastlick (42-5).
Spooner (14-16), was pinned by Philip Behl in the opening round. In the second round, Spooner was pinned late in the first period by Richland Center's Tyler Overman (21-7).
