LA CROSSE — In a rematch of last year’s semifinal match, Isaac Bunker pinned Stoughton’s Griffin Empey in 56 seconds to win the 285-lb title at La Crosse’s Bi-State Classic on Friday, Dec. 20.
Entering the match, Bunker knew Empey, the 2021 champion, would be a tough opponent. Empey had defeated Bunker 11-1 in the semifinals. This year, Bunker was determined to put on a better show.
“I knew I wasn’t going to go down without a fight,” Bunker said. “He wasn’t going to embarrass me like last year. I was going to leave everything I had on the mat with no regrets. With a little bit of luck and a little bit of skill, I was able to pull off the upset.”
Bunker earned his spot in the championship with five pins, all of which came within the first period. His quickest match was a 26-second pin in the semifinals against Belmont-Platteville’s Porter Mandurano.
At 19-0 Bunker has started his senior season with a bang and he has no intentions of slowing down. His goal is to beat Monroe’s single-season pin record before the end of his high school wrestling career.
Collectively, Monroe finished 31st of 70 teams with 95 points. The Cheesemakers brought eight wrestlers to the meet, with six of them being underclassmen.
Connor Eckdahl (138) and Owen Voegli were the next highest point getters for the Cheesemakers, with 10 and 9.5 points, respectively. Eckdahl won his first match with a pin of Sam Cohen in 3:46. He then fell to Logan Henningson in the first period. Voegli won by tech fall (15-0) before falling to Roger Flege by pin.
Connor Eckdahl (138) and Owen Voegli (106) were the next highest point getters for Monroe, with 10 and 9.5 points, respectively. Eckdahl won his first match with a pin of Sam Cohen in 3:46. He then fell to Logan Henningson in the first period. Voegli won by tech fall (15-0) before falling to Roger Flege by pin.
Garrett Minder (113) received a bye in the first round before advancing with a tech fall (17-2) over Nick Malchow. Minder was eliminated from the tournament, as he was pinned by Logan Schwanz.
Jack Dubach (145), the only other Monroe senior at the tournament, also made it to the third round. He won his first match by a 15-1 major decision and his second by a 10-9 decision. He nearly went the distance against Caleb Delebrea but fell with just eight seconds left in the match.
