MADISON - In an instant, the Brodhead-Juda high school wrestling co-op had its first ever state champion.
And in the same blink of an eye, a new father-son title-winning duo was formed.
Brodhead-Juda senior Brady Colden at 170 pounds staved off a late takedown attempt in regulation and then scored on one of his own midway through overtime for a 4-2 victory over Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg senior Tony Britton at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center Saturday. It gave Brodhead-Juda its first state title and gave Colden one to match his father and head coach, Tim, who won a state championship in 1986.
"First one ever!" Brady Colden said after taking moment to let it sink in. "My dad was a state champ when he was in high school, but Brodhead has never had a state champ."
For area wrestlers earned top four medals at state. Brodhead-Juda senior Logan Maurer finished second place at heavyweight, Monroe junior Traiten Gorr (220) took fourth place and Black Hawk-Darlington senior Zach Wolf (heavyweight) took fourth place in Division 3.
Colden had to come from behind to earn his medal.
A second-period reversal by Britton put Colden in a 2-0 hole. But in the third period, Colden struck back with a reversal of his own.
Britton had Colden in a precarious spot with seconds winding down in regulation and another reversal appearing imminent. But Colden managed to keep hold of Britton's leg until time expired.
"I just didn't want to let go of that leg," Colden said. "I thought to myself, 'If I hold on, something might happen out of this.'
"And something did."
Another tricky scramble ensued in the heart of the overtime. Colden managed to circle around and gain control of Britton for the sudden death victory.
"He got the single for two (points), and that was pretty exciting," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "He had been pretty calm all day, more calm than I was.
"He's a good scrambler and give credit to Gavin Baade, our 182-pounder. They wrestle every night in practice and get in a lot of scrambles like that."
Tim Colden won his title at 185 pounds for Juda, before the co-op merger of the two teams. He said this will be his final year of coaching the program, with Brady and his longtime teammates and friends set to graduate in the spring.
The Cardinals were hoping another one of those seniors would come through and win a title. Maurer was ranked No. 2 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 state poll, and finished second place. Maurer, who finished third at state last year, lost to Chetek senior Cole LaLiberty 5-2 in the championship match.
Gorr and Wolf each had chances to wrestle back for third place. Gorr defeated Evansville-Albany's Dustin Bjugstad 3-1 in a wrestleback to earn a shot to wrestle for third place. In the third-place match, Gorr lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Wisconsin Lutheran junior Bryce Roberts 3-1.
"How I did this year is really a motivation for me next year because I was really close to being in the finals," Gorr said. "I wanted to get to state and when I got here I knew who I would face. It's a good place for me because I got to wrestle two guys who might be back next year."
Two of Gorr's matches he lost at state came in overtime.
"I could have finished my takedowns better," Gorr said.
In the Division 3 competition, Wolf defeated Weyauwega's senior Andy Bork 7-3 in a wrestleback. In a third-place match, Reedsville senior Jordan Brandt edged Wolf 3-0.
Gorr is the only wrestler who placed who will return next year. He expects to make another state run.
"I just have to get stronger and finish my takedowns," he said. "It's no different than any other tournament. It's you and your opponent. It's just a different atmosphere."
And in the same blink of an eye, a new father-son title-winning duo was formed.
Brodhead-Juda senior Brady Colden at 170 pounds staved off a late takedown attempt in regulation and then scored on one of his own midway through overtime for a 4-2 victory over Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg senior Tony Britton at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center Saturday. It gave Brodhead-Juda its first state title and gave Colden one to match his father and head coach, Tim, who won a state championship in 1986.
"First one ever!" Brady Colden said after taking moment to let it sink in. "My dad was a state champ when he was in high school, but Brodhead has never had a state champ."
For area wrestlers earned top four medals at state. Brodhead-Juda senior Logan Maurer finished second place at heavyweight, Monroe junior Traiten Gorr (220) took fourth place and Black Hawk-Darlington senior Zach Wolf (heavyweight) took fourth place in Division 3.
Colden had to come from behind to earn his medal.
A second-period reversal by Britton put Colden in a 2-0 hole. But in the third period, Colden struck back with a reversal of his own.
Britton had Colden in a precarious spot with seconds winding down in regulation and another reversal appearing imminent. But Colden managed to keep hold of Britton's leg until time expired.
"I just didn't want to let go of that leg," Colden said. "I thought to myself, 'If I hold on, something might happen out of this.'
"And something did."
Another tricky scramble ensued in the heart of the overtime. Colden managed to circle around and gain control of Britton for the sudden death victory.
"He got the single for two (points), and that was pretty exciting," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "He had been pretty calm all day, more calm than I was.
"He's a good scrambler and give credit to Gavin Baade, our 182-pounder. They wrestle every night in practice and get in a lot of scrambles like that."
Tim Colden won his title at 185 pounds for Juda, before the co-op merger of the two teams. He said this will be his final year of coaching the program, with Brady and his longtime teammates and friends set to graduate in the spring.
The Cardinals were hoping another one of those seniors would come through and win a title. Maurer was ranked No. 2 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 state poll, and finished second place. Maurer, who finished third at state last year, lost to Chetek senior Cole LaLiberty 5-2 in the championship match.
Gorr and Wolf each had chances to wrestle back for third place. Gorr defeated Evansville-Albany's Dustin Bjugstad 3-1 in a wrestleback to earn a shot to wrestle for third place. In the third-place match, Gorr lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Wisconsin Lutheran junior Bryce Roberts 3-1.
"How I did this year is really a motivation for me next year because I was really close to being in the finals," Gorr said. "I wanted to get to state and when I got here I knew who I would face. It's a good place for me because I got to wrestle two guys who might be back next year."
Two of Gorr's matches he lost at state came in overtime.
"I could have finished my takedowns better," Gorr said.
In the Division 3 competition, Wolf defeated Weyauwega's senior Andy Bork 7-3 in a wrestleback. In a third-place match, Reedsville senior Jordan Brandt edged Wolf 3-0.
Gorr is the only wrestler who placed who will return next year. He expects to make another state run.
"I just have to get stronger and finish my takedowns," he said. "It's no different than any other tournament. It's you and your opponent. It's just a different atmosphere."
