BELOIT — The WIAA Division 2 Richland Center Sectional on Feb. 19 is going to have plenty of the stateline area’s talent on the mat.
In the Beloit Turner Regional Feb. 12, Monroe, Brodhead-Juda and Sugar River all advanced out four wrestlers, while Darlington-Black Hawk moved six beyond the Prairie du Chien Regional the same day.
The Cheesemakers only sent 10 wrestlers to compete at regionals, but all 10 placed sixth or higher, with coach Tom Witt calling it a “good day”.
Witt said that senior Garrett Voegeli, wrestling at 120-pounds, was the story of the day.
“Wrestling with a broken thumb, he showed true heart and guts to take second,” Witt said.
After winning his first match with a 13-2 major decision over Brodhead-Juda’s Jameson Wallin, Voegeli (21-7)opted to medical forfeit against Evansville’s Danny Heiser, ranked fourth in the state. In the consolation bracket, Voegeli moved passed Sugar River’s Brennan Keyes due to injury, as Keyes suffered a facial injury and was unable to return to the mat. In the second-place match, Voegeli knocked off Turner’s Zack Ries 15-2.
“Garrett found a way to get it done,” Witt said.
At 132 pounds, Christian Schuh (23-14) finished second, winning twice by pin before losing to Brodhead-Juda’s Joe Lohmar (18-7) in the championship match.
At 145, Christian’s brother, Brady Schuh, took first place, spending all of 91 seconds on the mat on the day. Likewise, regional champion teammate Isaac Bunker also spent little time on the mat, pinning both opponents in just 53 seconds total.
“(Brady and Isaac) did what I expected,” Witt said.
Elsewhere for the Cheesemakers, Carson Menehan was third at 126 pounds, wrestling for the first time since a Dec. 18 knee injury. “He did well. If he is healthy all year he is a sectional qualifier. He will be a good one for us the next three years,” Witt said.
Garrett Minder at 106 pounds was also third. Payton Weckerly, wrestling at 138 pounds, won his first varsity match en route to finishing fifth. At 152, senior Ryan Holst was sixth, and classmate Jace Amacher (160), was fourth. Austin Fuchs was fifth at 220.
Along with Joe Lohmar, Brodhead-Juda advances Jacob Lohmar (113), Marcus McIntyre (138) and Emmit Allen (220). McIntyre was first in his weight class.
Seth Mansfield (145) was third, while Charlie Weiss (17) was fourth. Landon King (285), Karson Miller (160), Mario Reyes (152), Jacob Roth (106) and Jameson Wallin (120) were all fifth.
Sugar River advances Blake Endres (106), Mason Mau (126), Ryker Swenson (152) and Carson Loshaw (195). Mau and Swenson were regional champions, with Endres and Loshaw finishing second.
Also placing for the Raiders were Isaac Erb (220) and Brennan Keyes (120) in fourth place, and Leah Kuhl (132), Ryan Degenhardt (138) and Avery Lettman in sixth place.
Evansville won the team title with 269.5 points, with Turner (212) second, Monroe (147) third and Brodhead-Juda (137) fourth.
Division 2, Prairie du Chien Regional
The WarBirds are sending six to sectionals next weekend.
Breylin Goebel (160) and Owen Huschitt (182) both finished in first place with a tech fall and a pin.
Ethan Aird (106), Owen Seffrood (132), Maddox Goebel (152) and Brady Horne (195) all finished second and advance to sectionals.
Wiley Zasada (285), Ross Crist (220), Joseph Standaert (145) and Eli Aird (113) all finished fourth, with Tye Crist (170) fifth and Phillip McGowan (126) sixth.
The WarBirds finished second as a team (185 points), with host Prairie du Chien (237) winning the team title.
Division 3, Mineral Point Regional
Pecatonica-Argyle is advancing five to the Feb. 19 sectional at Westby.
Tayte Hirsch (182) was the lone regional champion for the Vikings, advancing to the finals vie bye and then pinning Mineral Point’s Alan James in just 69 seconds.
Aidan Gruenenfelder (106), Jakob Orloff (113), Kristian Orloff (145) and Drew Hendrickson (160) all finished second to advance.
Trevor Doescher (129) was third for Pec-Argyle, while teammates Ridge Toay (126), Korvin Ferrell (132) and Levi Krebs (170) were fourth. Sammy Nelson (138) was fifth.
Parkview-Albany advances three wrestlers to sectionals: Wesley Egan (220) and Brennen Brewster (285) were each champions, while Sam Schwengels (170) was second.
Ian Suer (126), Evan Suer (132) Camron Duncan (138) and Jean-Luc Cramer (152) were all third. Slater Valley (9-3), Connor Flippin (113), and Jordan Landen (195) were all fourth, and Jayden Anderson (145) was sixth.
Pec-Argyle (155.5) finished ahead of Parkview-Albany (140) for second place. Mineral Point (287.5) cruised to the team victory.
Those advancing out of sectionals on Feb. 19 will reach the WIAA state tournament, to be held Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison.
