MADISON - The last time Evansville had a state wrestling champion, Jimmy Carter won the presidential election over Gerald Ford and the "Rocky" movie was introduced in the U.S. - both in 1976.
Evansville-Albany senior Nolan Kicmol ended the 42-year state champion drought by beating Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri 10-2 in the state title match at 152 pounds Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Brian Benash was the last state champion from Evansville in 1976. Mitch Hull was the first state champion from Evansville in 1975. Hull went on to wrestle for Wisconsin, internationally and coached U.S. wrestling. It's elite company for Kicmol to join.
"I'm glad I can get the drought out of town," said Kicmol, who plans to wrestle at the University of
Wisconsin-Platteville next year. "I don't know if it has sunk in. It's been a 14-year-long process. If there was one way I could have it go, that is the one way I wanted. I want someone to do it again next year and the year after that. My job now is to help someone else win a state championship."
It could be his brother, Branden Lange, who finished fifth at heavyweight. Kicmol was excited to end his final prep wrestling career with a medal along with Lange.
"Just getting up there (state) the last two years is something I will never forget in my life," Kicmol said. "We have accomplished a lot together. When we get really old, we will remember this. It was awesome to see him get on the podium."
The title match at 152 was a showdown between Rock Valley Conference wrestlers in Kicmol, ranked No. 5 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, and Hauri, who is ranked No. 1. Kicmol scored on a takedown with 10 seconds to go in the first period to take an early lead. He took control of the match with two 3-point near falls in the second period that fueled an 8-0 lead.
Kicmol defeated Hauri at the conference tournament. However, Hauri turned the tables and beat his Evansville-Albany rival 10-6 in overtime in the Sugar River regional. Hauri noticed Kicmol made some changes in the style of his wrestling at state compared to their previous two matches.
Hauri said in the previous matchups, Kicmol used more of a Greco-Roman style of wrestling and tried to throw him.
"He (Kicmol) used more of a folk style, and I wasn't ready for it," Hauri said. "I talked to the Evansville-Albany and Brodhead-Juda coaches and this is the first time they think two wrestlers from the Rock Valley have faced each other for the title. I think it's great for the Rock Valley. It shows the competition and the talent we have."
The other two area medal winners were Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox, who took third at 132 in Division 3, and Lange, who was fifth at heavyweight in Division 2. Ubersox beat Kewaunee senior Cam Hanrahan 8-3. In a third-place match, Ubersox (43-4), ranked No. 3, edged Fennimore junior Trevor Wanek 7-6.
Denmark senior Josh Frek (44-2) defeated Lange 9-2. In the fifth-place match, Lange pinned Elkhart Lake's Jon Roll in 1:39. With the win, Lange finishes the season 43-7.
Kicmol is focused on helping Lange make a state run next year even though he will be wrestling in college.
"I see him making a run for the gold next year," Kicmol said of Lange at heavyweight. "I believe he's good enough to win a state title."
Evansville-Albany senior Nolan Kicmol ended the 42-year state champion drought by beating Brodhead-Juda junior Jackson Hauri 10-2 in the state title match at 152 pounds Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Brian Benash was the last state champion from Evansville in 1976. Mitch Hull was the first state champion from Evansville in 1975. Hull went on to wrestle for Wisconsin, internationally and coached U.S. wrestling. It's elite company for Kicmol to join.
"I'm glad I can get the drought out of town," said Kicmol, who plans to wrestle at the University of
Wisconsin-Platteville next year. "I don't know if it has sunk in. It's been a 14-year-long process. If there was one way I could have it go, that is the one way I wanted. I want someone to do it again next year and the year after that. My job now is to help someone else win a state championship."
It could be his brother, Branden Lange, who finished fifth at heavyweight. Kicmol was excited to end his final prep wrestling career with a medal along with Lange.
"Just getting up there (state) the last two years is something I will never forget in my life," Kicmol said. "We have accomplished a lot together. When we get really old, we will remember this. It was awesome to see him get on the podium."
The title match at 152 was a showdown between Rock Valley Conference wrestlers in Kicmol, ranked No. 5 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, and Hauri, who is ranked No. 1. Kicmol scored on a takedown with 10 seconds to go in the first period to take an early lead. He took control of the match with two 3-point near falls in the second period that fueled an 8-0 lead.
Kicmol defeated Hauri at the conference tournament. However, Hauri turned the tables and beat his Evansville-Albany rival 10-6 in overtime in the Sugar River regional. Hauri noticed Kicmol made some changes in the style of his wrestling at state compared to their previous two matches.
Hauri said in the previous matchups, Kicmol used more of a Greco-Roman style of wrestling and tried to throw him.
"He (Kicmol) used more of a folk style, and I wasn't ready for it," Hauri said. "I talked to the Evansville-Albany and Brodhead-Juda coaches and this is the first time they think two wrestlers from the Rock Valley have faced each other for the title. I think it's great for the Rock Valley. It shows the competition and the talent we have."
The other two area medal winners were Black Hawk-Darlington junior Kolbe Ubersox, who took third at 132 in Division 3, and Lange, who was fifth at heavyweight in Division 2. Ubersox beat Kewaunee senior Cam Hanrahan 8-3. In a third-place match, Ubersox (43-4), ranked No. 3, edged Fennimore junior Trevor Wanek 7-6.
Denmark senior Josh Frek (44-2) defeated Lange 9-2. In the fifth-place match, Lange pinned Elkhart Lake's Jon Roll in 1:39. With the win, Lange finishes the season 43-7.
Kicmol is focused on helping Lange make a state run next year even though he will be wrestling in college.
"I see him making a run for the gold next year," Kicmol said of Lange at heavyweight. "I believe he's good enough to win a state title."
