SOUTH WAYNE — The WarBirds wrestling team returns four competitors that reached sectionals — including one state qualifier.

Darlington senior Kolbe Ubersox finished third at state last year in the WIAA Division 3 132-pound weight class. After finishing second at the Mineral Point sectional, Ubersox entered the state games with a season record of 43-4. He then won his first match by pin fall, but was then was pinned by eventual state champion Tate Murty of Cochrane Fountain City. Ubersox rebounded and won his next three matches, including a rematch against Fennimore’s Trevor Wanek, who defeated him in the sectional.

Other returning sectional wrestlers include Black Hawk junior Cayden Milz (17-12 regular season at 145), Black Hawk senior Hunter Bredeson (16-11 regular season at 152) and Darlington juniors Carson Lobdell (18-14 regular season at 170) and Leif Bredeson (13-15 regular season at 285). 

Wrestling at regionals for the WarBirds as underclassmen last year include sophomore Aiden McGuire (106, 11-17 regular season), junior Eric Hocking (113, 3-19), junior Cody Blosch (126, 15-16), Alex Cruz (138, 1-3) and junior Bailey Schilling (195, 17-13).

Last year Paul King reached state at 120 but has since graduates, as did sectional qualifiers Brody Milz (220), Tyler Mosley (182) and Grady Rielly (160). 

One of the highlights of last season for the WarBirds was beating Mineral Point in a dual for the first time in 27 years, dating back to 1990. The rematch comes early this year, slated for Dec. 13 in Darlington — just the third date of competition this season for the WarBirds.