RICHLAND CENTER - The names and faces of the opponents change for the Sugar River wrestling trio of Cole Schmitt, Kalvin York and JC Francois, but the outcome remains constant - it's a state-qualifying trifecta.
The three Raiders all advanced to the WIAA State meet this weekend after placing in the top three at the sectional meet Saturday in Richland Center. York and Schmitt scaled their respective ladders at 140 and 145 pounds and Francois took second at 171.
Schmitt - a three-time sectional and two-time state champion - earned two pins and a major decision en route to his title at 145 pounds. The future Badger grappler defeated Monroe's Kevin Klopfenstein by pin 1 minute, 35 seconds for the championship. Schmitt focused on sharpening his technical skills before going for the jugular.
"You don't want to go into state not wrestling a six-minute match my entire season," Schmitt said.
York earned a major decision, technical fall and a pin on his way to the title at 140 pounds. The Sugar River junior's record stands at 43-0 for the season after his second-period pin of River Valley junior Tim Emerson wrapped up his afternoon.
Raiders head coach Ken Engelke made it a point of emphasis to Schmitt and York that pinning isn't everything.
"You go in with the mindset that pinning isn't the main objective here," Engelke said. "It's getting those extra points, getting that extra takedown and getting that extra score at different points in the match."
"We do talk about that because in a close match you're not likely to pin."
Francois ran into his wall this season at 171 in Dodgeville's Grant Miller. The two bulls locked horns in the regional final the weekend before and Miller earned a second-period pin on the Raider senior. In the sectional final, Francois took Miller the full six minutes, but came up short 12-10. Their particular matchup was the crowd favorite and had everyone on the edge of their seats with Francois running out of gas in the final 30 seconds.
The banged-up Francois was being treated for a back spasm after the match and Engelke was displeased with the three takedowns Francois gave up in the first period to Miller. Francois will be in the video room breaking down the tapes with his coaching staff as the he and Miller seemed destined to see each other at the Kohl Center this weekend.
"We'll take a look at what happened again here and we'll discuss some of those technical things that'll make the difference," Engelke said.
Cole's younger brother, sophomore Ben, and Sugar River's Nick Watson came up short on their bids at a state berth. Schmitt went 1-2 on the afternoon was finished off by Columbus' Mack Jensen in the consolation semifinals. Watson, the Raiders' heavyweight, lost twice in the tough bracket.
Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Lincoln will not make the state tournament during his strong Cardinal career after an early loss put him in the consolation bracket at 135. Lincoln came back and defeated River Valley's Jeffrey Limmex with a three-period pin at 5:59, but looked gassed and was upended by Lodi senior Douglas Schutz in the consolation finals 5-2. Fellow Cardinals Ryan McCarville, Jake Covert and Danny Douglas failed to register wins at the sectional meet.
The three Raiders all advanced to the WIAA State meet this weekend after placing in the top three at the sectional meet Saturday in Richland Center. York and Schmitt scaled their respective ladders at 140 and 145 pounds and Francois took second at 171.
Schmitt - a three-time sectional and two-time state champion - earned two pins and a major decision en route to his title at 145 pounds. The future Badger grappler defeated Monroe's Kevin Klopfenstein by pin 1 minute, 35 seconds for the championship. Schmitt focused on sharpening his technical skills before going for the jugular.
"You don't want to go into state not wrestling a six-minute match my entire season," Schmitt said.
York earned a major decision, technical fall and a pin on his way to the title at 140 pounds. The Sugar River junior's record stands at 43-0 for the season after his second-period pin of River Valley junior Tim Emerson wrapped up his afternoon.
Raiders head coach Ken Engelke made it a point of emphasis to Schmitt and York that pinning isn't everything.
"You go in with the mindset that pinning isn't the main objective here," Engelke said. "It's getting those extra points, getting that extra takedown and getting that extra score at different points in the match."
"We do talk about that because in a close match you're not likely to pin."
Francois ran into his wall this season at 171 in Dodgeville's Grant Miller. The two bulls locked horns in the regional final the weekend before and Miller earned a second-period pin on the Raider senior. In the sectional final, Francois took Miller the full six minutes, but came up short 12-10. Their particular matchup was the crowd favorite and had everyone on the edge of their seats with Francois running out of gas in the final 30 seconds.
The banged-up Francois was being treated for a back spasm after the match and Engelke was displeased with the three takedowns Francois gave up in the first period to Miller. Francois will be in the video room breaking down the tapes with his coaching staff as the he and Miller seemed destined to see each other at the Kohl Center this weekend.
"We'll take a look at what happened again here and we'll discuss some of those technical things that'll make the difference," Engelke said.
Cole's younger brother, sophomore Ben, and Sugar River's Nick Watson came up short on their bids at a state berth. Schmitt went 1-2 on the afternoon was finished off by Columbus' Mack Jensen in the consolation semifinals. Watson, the Raiders' heavyweight, lost twice in the tough bracket.
Brodhead-Juda senior Tyler Lincoln will not make the state tournament during his strong Cardinal career after an early loss put him in the consolation bracket at 135. Lincoln came back and defeated River Valley's Jeffrey Limmex with a three-period pin at 5:59, but looked gassed and was upended by Lodi senior Douglas Schutz in the consolation finals 5-2. Fellow Cardinals Ryan McCarville, Jake Covert and Danny Douglas failed to register wins at the sectional meet.
