MADISON - The gold medal match in the 152-pound class at the WIAA Division 2 state tournament tonight will pit two Rock Valley Conference wrestlers against each other in a rubber match at the Kohl Center - Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri and Evansville-Albany senior Nolan Kicmol.
Hauri (33-2), a three-time state qualifier ranked No. 1 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, has split two matches this season with fifth-ranked Kicmol. Hauri defeated Luexemburg-Casco senior Devan Vandenbush 7-3 in a semifinal match Friday night at the Kohl Center to punch his ticket to the championship match. Two years ago as a freshman, Hauri finished sixth at state at 106.
"I didn't come here to place," Hauri said. "I came here to win it. It's a lot to take in. I'm just trying to get my mind ready for tomorrow."
Hauri is looking forward to a rematch against Kicmol.
"It's a really big match for all of the marbles," he said. "I think it will be an intense match."
It wasn't a complete domination for Hauri in his semifinal match. Vandenbush (45-7) scored on a takedown in the first period to take a short-lived 2-0 lead. Hauri tied the match on a reversal at the end of the first period. He then came through with a three-point near fall in the third period to take a commanding 5-2 lead.
Kicmol (45-4) had to work a lot harder to survive his semifinal match edging Mautson senior Jarrett Dolata (43-4) 3-2.
"I have been up here three years," Kicmol said of the state tournament. "Whether it's the championship or not, I want to get as high as I can. No matter how things finish it's been a great career."
Hauri and Kicmol are two of four area wrestlers who clinched a medal with their performances at state Friday. The other two area wrestlers who will medal are Evansville-Albany junior Branden Lange (heavyweight) and Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (132) in Division 3.
Hauri advanced to the semifinals after he defeated Ellsworth junior Cedric Kosnopfal 5-3. Hauri's victory was fueled by a first-period takedown.
He was called for stalling in the third period that cut his lead to one point. Hauri responded by scoring on an escape with 37 seconds to go in the third period to seal the win that assured him a top six medal.
"I was a little bit worried," Hauri said of being called for stalling. "I knew my conditioning was good enough. I knew I had to keep working and grinding. I'm glad I secured it (medal). It's really good to medal."
Kicmol's path to a medal wasn't as dramatic in the quarterfinals. He beat third-ranked Freedom junior Sam Peters in a major decision 12-2. It marks the second straight year that Kicmol will medal. He took third at 145 last season. Kicmol rolled to an early 5-0 lead against Peters sparked by a three-point near fall in the second period and rode that to the victory.
"I just had to do what my teammates have trained me to do all year," Kicmol said. "I had to go out and push the pace. No matter what the score is you never what to let up because everyone is good and can beat you."
Kicmol thanked his coaches for the support.
"Our coach Rob Kostroun has been a supporter and he brings a big smile to me every day," he said. "We ain't done yet."
Oconto Falls senior Dan Ausloos (36-3) upset third-ranked Evansville-Albany junior Branden Lange, pinning him in a quarterfinal match in 1:50. Lange looked to be maneuvering for a takedown and slipped a little. In a split second, Ausloos threw Lange down and pinned him.
Lange (42-6) rebounded pinning Two River senior Damien Bullock (40-12) in 4:11 in a wrestleback. With the win, Lange assured himself of a medal.
Brodhead-Juda senior Trent Davis lost two tough matches to end his career at state, finishing the season 34-10. In a quarterfinal match, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser-Prairie Farm's Justis Knutson slipped by Davis 5-1. Knutson had a takedown early in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Davis answered back pulling off an escape with 23 seconds left in the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the final two periods, Davis was able to get up from the down position, but before he could squirm away on an escape, Knutson would lead him out of bounds. For a long stretch, Davis trailed 3-1 needing a takedown or reversal to tie the match.
"I just felt like it was do or die time especially in the third period," Davis said. "I tried to roll, get an escape and a takedown."
In a consolation wrestleback, Spooner-Webster junior Joshua Carroll (35-5) beat Davis 5-1.
"No matter how I do I know these are the best wrestlers in the state," he said.
Davis had the opportunity to reach the state tournament with his coach and father, Bill Davis.
"It's pretty amazing," Trent Davis said. "Not only is my coach there for me, but my dad is there for me. I get the best of both sides at the end."
In the Division 3 state tournament, Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King's season came to an end. King (120) lost to junior Cian Fischer of Weyauwega-Fremont, 11-0. Stratford sophomore Max Schwabe (40-10) knocked off King in a consolation wrestleback 9-0. King finished the season 33-9.
Cochrane-Fountain City senior Tate Murty (40-2) pinned Ubersox in 3:50 in a quarterfinal match. Ubersox came back to beat Mineral Point junior Cade Carey 10-0 in a consolation wrestleback to assure himself of a medal.
Ubersox (41-4) still has a chance to take third at state.
Hauri (33-2), a three-time state qualifier ranked No. 1 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, has split two matches this season with fifth-ranked Kicmol. Hauri defeated Luexemburg-Casco senior Devan Vandenbush 7-3 in a semifinal match Friday night at the Kohl Center to punch his ticket to the championship match. Two years ago as a freshman, Hauri finished sixth at state at 106.
"I didn't come here to place," Hauri said. "I came here to win it. It's a lot to take in. I'm just trying to get my mind ready for tomorrow."
Hauri is looking forward to a rematch against Kicmol.
"It's a really big match for all of the marbles," he said. "I think it will be an intense match."
It wasn't a complete domination for Hauri in his semifinal match. Vandenbush (45-7) scored on a takedown in the first period to take a short-lived 2-0 lead. Hauri tied the match on a reversal at the end of the first period. He then came through with a three-point near fall in the third period to take a commanding 5-2 lead.
Kicmol (45-4) had to work a lot harder to survive his semifinal match edging Mautson senior Jarrett Dolata (43-4) 3-2.
"I have been up here three years," Kicmol said of the state tournament. "Whether it's the championship or not, I want to get as high as I can. No matter how things finish it's been a great career."
Hauri and Kicmol are two of four area wrestlers who clinched a medal with their performances at state Friday. The other two area wrestlers who will medal are Evansville-Albany junior Branden Lange (heavyweight) and Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox (132) in Division 3.
Hauri advanced to the semifinals after he defeated Ellsworth junior Cedric Kosnopfal 5-3. Hauri's victory was fueled by a first-period takedown.
He was called for stalling in the third period that cut his lead to one point. Hauri responded by scoring on an escape with 37 seconds to go in the third period to seal the win that assured him a top six medal.
"I was a little bit worried," Hauri said of being called for stalling. "I knew my conditioning was good enough. I knew I had to keep working and grinding. I'm glad I secured it (medal). It's really good to medal."
Kicmol's path to a medal wasn't as dramatic in the quarterfinals. He beat third-ranked Freedom junior Sam Peters in a major decision 12-2. It marks the second straight year that Kicmol will medal. He took third at 145 last season. Kicmol rolled to an early 5-0 lead against Peters sparked by a three-point near fall in the second period and rode that to the victory.
"I just had to do what my teammates have trained me to do all year," Kicmol said. "I had to go out and push the pace. No matter what the score is you never what to let up because everyone is good and can beat you."
Kicmol thanked his coaches for the support.
"Our coach Rob Kostroun has been a supporter and he brings a big smile to me every day," he said. "We ain't done yet."
Oconto Falls senior Dan Ausloos (36-3) upset third-ranked Evansville-Albany junior Branden Lange, pinning him in a quarterfinal match in 1:50. Lange looked to be maneuvering for a takedown and slipped a little. In a split second, Ausloos threw Lange down and pinned him.
Lange (42-6) rebounded pinning Two River senior Damien Bullock (40-12) in 4:11 in a wrestleback. With the win, Lange assured himself of a medal.
Brodhead-Juda senior Trent Davis lost two tough matches to end his career at state, finishing the season 34-10. In a quarterfinal match, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser-Prairie Farm's Justis Knutson slipped by Davis 5-1. Knutson had a takedown early in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Davis answered back pulling off an escape with 23 seconds left in the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the final two periods, Davis was able to get up from the down position, but before he could squirm away on an escape, Knutson would lead him out of bounds. For a long stretch, Davis trailed 3-1 needing a takedown or reversal to tie the match.
"I just felt like it was do or die time especially in the third period," Davis said. "I tried to roll, get an escape and a takedown."
In a consolation wrestleback, Spooner-Webster junior Joshua Carroll (35-5) beat Davis 5-1.
"No matter how I do I know these are the best wrestlers in the state," he said.
Davis had the opportunity to reach the state tournament with his coach and father, Bill Davis.
"It's pretty amazing," Trent Davis said. "Not only is my coach there for me, but my dad is there for me. I get the best of both sides at the end."
In the Division 3 state tournament, Black Hawk-Darlington senior Paul King's season came to an end. King (120) lost to junior Cian Fischer of Weyauwega-Fremont, 11-0. Stratford sophomore Max Schwabe (40-10) knocked off King in a consolation wrestleback 9-0. King finished the season 33-9.
Cochrane-Fountain City senior Tate Murty (40-2) pinned Ubersox in 3:50 in a quarterfinal match. Ubersox came back to beat Mineral Point junior Cade Carey 10-0 in a consolation wrestleback to assure himself of a medal.
Ubersox (41-4) still has a chance to take third at state.
