MADISON - Sugar River senior Kalvin York won't get a chance to wrestle for that elusive state championship.
York (39-1), a University of Wisconsin recruit who has finished as the state runner-up the last two years, suffered a heartbreaking 8-5 loss to Ellsworth senior Hayden Hauschildt Friday night in the semifinals of the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament.
York, who is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, carried a 5-3 lead over Hauschildt into the third period. That's when Hauschildt surged, scoring on a takedown to take a 6-5 lead with 1 minute, 15 seconds left in the third period. Hauschildt added a two-point near fall to seal a crushing 8-5 loss for York.
"I just didn't have the fight," York said. "I couldn't find it in myself to go out and finish the match. I didn't really move on the bottom at all. I just laid there. That is what allowed him to turn me for two."
Sugar River coach Ken Engelke said despite the lead, York looked out of sorts in the second period.
"Something wasn't there for him," Engelke said, "Unfortunately, the other kid came through with a big win. You have to wrestle all six minutes; that is not Kalvin at his best. I'm not making any excuses."
With the loss, York will wrestle in a wrestleback match today. Rebounding from his first loss and with expectations of wrestling in a third straight title match could be a challenge.
"I have to find it in myself to go out there, finish strong and finish third," York said.
It wasn't a cakewalk to the semifinal match for York. He controlled a quarterfinal match and hung on to defeat Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (39-6) in the quarterfinals, 4-2. York jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a first period takedown. He then came through with a reversal with 1 minute left in the second period to take a 4-0 lead and cemented his spot in the semifinals.
Albany senior Nick Patchen (35-7) had a flair for the dramatic Friday, wrestling two overtime matches and remaining in contention for a third-place finish at 189.
"I have imagined it for the last four years," Patchen said about medaling at state. "It's better doing it and not imagining it."
Patchen stormed back from a 4-2 deficit against Stanley Boyd-Thorp senior Scott Burzynski in a wrestleback for the second straight match at state. He pulled off a takedown with 20 seconds left to tie it at 4 and force overtime. Patchen went to work in the extra session, with a takedown and a near fall to seal a 9-4 victory.
"I wanted to wrestle smart," Patchen said. "Smart (wrestling) beats aggression. Put them together and it makes it even better."
In a quarterfinal match, Patchen came back from a 4-2 third period deficit against Campbellsport junior Zach Wetzel. He came through with a a reversal and an escape right before the buzzer to tie the match at 5-5 and force a sudden death overtime. Wetzel handed Patchen a heartbreaking loss 7-5 after scoring on a takedown with 26 seconds to go in the overtime.
Patchen didn't panic, despite trailing 4-2 in the third period.
"I thought, 'I have to go,'" he said. "I prayed. I said, 'God, I need your help.' Things didn't work out. Things are the way they are supposed to be."
Division 3
Darlington junior Devin Malott (119) in the quarterfinals couldn't avenge a loss to Bruce-Weyerthaeuser junior Bubba Gudis (43-1) from his freshman year at state. Gudis pinned Malott in 1 minute, 11 seconds.
Malott (39-9) is a three-time state qualifier and ranked seventh in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll attacked right away, going for a cradle.
"I had him in a cradle and he put me on my back," Malott said. "I almost had him."
Malott had his medal hopes dashed after losing a wrestleback against Random Lake freshman Nick Mudlaff, 4-0.
Malott and Mudlaff are friends and wrestling partners at Team Advance, a wrestling training school in Madison.
"As soon as we step on the mat, we are not good friends," Malott said.
Malott is just the second wrestler in Darlington's school history to become a three-time state qualifier, joining Doug Chellevold. Malott holds the school record for most career pins, pins in a season and he eclipsed 100 career wins earlier this year.
Darlington coach Tom Mathias knows a loss in a wrestleback at state won't overshadow Malott's season or career.
"Obviously, making it through a tough regional and sectional is an accomplishment in itself," Mathias said. "It's a tough way to end the season. He worked hard to be up there and place. Sometimes, it doesn't work out in your favor. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
York (39-1), a University of Wisconsin recruit who has finished as the state runner-up the last two years, suffered a heartbreaking 8-5 loss to Ellsworth senior Hayden Hauschildt Friday night in the semifinals of the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament.
York, who is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, carried a 5-3 lead over Hauschildt into the third period. That's when Hauschildt surged, scoring on a takedown to take a 6-5 lead with 1 minute, 15 seconds left in the third period. Hauschildt added a two-point near fall to seal a crushing 8-5 loss for York.
"I just didn't have the fight," York said. "I couldn't find it in myself to go out and finish the match. I didn't really move on the bottom at all. I just laid there. That is what allowed him to turn me for two."
Sugar River coach Ken Engelke said despite the lead, York looked out of sorts in the second period.
"Something wasn't there for him," Engelke said, "Unfortunately, the other kid came through with a big win. You have to wrestle all six minutes; that is not Kalvin at his best. I'm not making any excuses."
With the loss, York will wrestle in a wrestleback match today. Rebounding from his first loss and with expectations of wrestling in a third straight title match could be a challenge.
"I have to find it in myself to go out there, finish strong and finish third," York said.
It wasn't a cakewalk to the semifinal match for York. He controlled a quarterfinal match and hung on to defeat Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (39-6) in the quarterfinals, 4-2. York jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a first period takedown. He then came through with a reversal with 1 minute left in the second period to take a 4-0 lead and cemented his spot in the semifinals.
Albany senior Nick Patchen (35-7) had a flair for the dramatic Friday, wrestling two overtime matches and remaining in contention for a third-place finish at 189.
"I have imagined it for the last four years," Patchen said about medaling at state. "It's better doing it and not imagining it."
Patchen stormed back from a 4-2 deficit against Stanley Boyd-Thorp senior Scott Burzynski in a wrestleback for the second straight match at state. He pulled off a takedown with 20 seconds left to tie it at 4 and force overtime. Patchen went to work in the extra session, with a takedown and a near fall to seal a 9-4 victory.
"I wanted to wrestle smart," Patchen said. "Smart (wrestling) beats aggression. Put them together and it makes it even better."
In a quarterfinal match, Patchen came back from a 4-2 third period deficit against Campbellsport junior Zach Wetzel. He came through with a a reversal and an escape right before the buzzer to tie the match at 5-5 and force a sudden death overtime. Wetzel handed Patchen a heartbreaking loss 7-5 after scoring on a takedown with 26 seconds to go in the overtime.
Patchen didn't panic, despite trailing 4-2 in the third period.
"I thought, 'I have to go,'" he said. "I prayed. I said, 'God, I need your help.' Things didn't work out. Things are the way they are supposed to be."
Division 3
Darlington junior Devin Malott (119) in the quarterfinals couldn't avenge a loss to Bruce-Weyerthaeuser junior Bubba Gudis (43-1) from his freshman year at state. Gudis pinned Malott in 1 minute, 11 seconds.
Malott (39-9) is a three-time state qualifier and ranked seventh in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll attacked right away, going for a cradle.
"I had him in a cradle and he put me on my back," Malott said. "I almost had him."
Malott had his medal hopes dashed after losing a wrestleback against Random Lake freshman Nick Mudlaff, 4-0.
Malott and Mudlaff are friends and wrestling partners at Team Advance, a wrestling training school in Madison.
"As soon as we step on the mat, we are not good friends," Malott said.
Malott is just the second wrestler in Darlington's school history to become a three-time state qualifier, joining Doug Chellevold. Malott holds the school record for most career pins, pins in a season and he eclipsed 100 career wins earlier this year.
Darlington coach Tom Mathias knows a loss in a wrestleback at state won't overshadow Malott's season or career.
"Obviously, making it through a tough regional and sectional is an accomplishment in itself," Mathias said. "It's a tough way to end the season. He worked hard to be up there and place. Sometimes, it doesn't work out in your favor. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
