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WarBirds return skill
Brady Horne returns for his senior season with the WarBirds. Last year, he was a sectional qualifier at 182 pounds.
Brady Horne returns for his senior season with the WarBirds. Last year, he was a sectional qualifier at 182 pounds.

DARLINGTON — The WarBirds sent four to sectionals a season ago, and three of those wrestlers return this year: Seniors Owen Huschitt (14-4, 170), Brady Horne (18-3, 182) and Wiley Zasada (9-8, 195). Matt King, who went 17-5 on the season, finished fifth at the state meet at 220 pounds.

Horne and Zasada were regional champs a winter ago, while Huschitt finished second. Six others that wrestled at regionals are back this season, including one junior (Bryan Lazaro-Mendoza) and five sophomores: Breylin Goebel, Ethan Aird, Tye Crist, Eli Crist and Carson Mosely. 

Lazaro-Mendoza, Goebel and Aird were all fourth at the WIAA Division 2 Prairie du Chien regional, while Tye Crist was fifth, and Eli Crist and Mosely were sixth overall.

The season opens Nov. 30 with a dual at Iowa-Grant/Highland. The home opener for the WarBirds is Dec. 3 against Cuba City/Southwester/Benton, with the WarBird Invitational the next morning at Darlington High School against Sugar River, Boscobel, Laconia, Mount Horeb, Pecatonica-Argyle and Western Dubuque Epworth. 

Darlington-Black Hawk will also take part in invitationals at the Alliant Energy Center Dec. 18, Lancaster Jan. 8 and Monroe Jan. 22. The WarBirds have their rivalry showdown at Mineral Point Jan. 14, and host Fennimore Jan. 21. The SWAL conference meet is slated for Feb. 5.

Darlington-Black Hawk will compete in Division 2 again this year, with the Feb. 12 regional taking place in Prairie du Chien once again. Richland Center will host the sectional Feb. 19. Individual state is slated for Feb. 24-26 at the Kohl Center in Madison, while team state is set for March 4-5 at the UW-Fieldhouse in Madison.