MADISON - Make it three in a row for Sugar River's Cole Schmitt, even if the feeling was bittersweet once again.
The Raider senior watched his friend, teammate and practice partner Kalvin York fall short against Tomahawk's Nick Hagar Saturday for the second straight year at the WIAA state individual tournament - this time in the 140-pound Division 2 championship - before defeating Waupaca's Cody Stichman for his third straight state championship at 145.
Schmitt wasted little time securing his lead with a leg takedown 22 seconds into the match. He grabbed a four-point advantage late in the second period at 7-3 before grinding out the final two minutes of his illustrious prep career.
Ever the quality leader, Schmitt said the victory was not as satisfying as it could have been, because York and 171-pound senior JC Francois - who finished third - couldn't join him at the top of the podium.
"It just cheapens the win for me. I'm out there wrestling with so much emotion, because they're not there with me," Schmitt said. "It kills me not seeing them at the top of the podium with me. Now one pushes me harder than them (in practice)."
York finished the season at 45-1 and Hagar at 49-0. The match wasn't decided until the fourth sudden death overtime period, when Hagar escaped York's grasp with 16 seconds to go. Sugar River head coach Ken Engelke felt that in a match of that magnitude the winner would be whoever dug deeper.
"Somebody's going to have their hand raised," Engelke said. "He worked hard, he wrestled well, but he's wrestled better. I know he's got a little more at times."
Black Hawk's Jake Kaempfer came up on the short end in his Division 3 160-pound title match versus Spring Valley-Elmwood senior Trent Larrieux. The Warrior senior lost 1-0 after Larrieux secured a point on an escape with 54 seconds remaining in the second period.
The second-place finishing Kaempfer got to his feet a couple of times in the third period, desperately trying to get free on Larrieux's hold, but Larrieux drove him back to the mat and time eventually ran out.
"I'm pretty sure he's the only kid all year that was able to hold me down," Kaempfer said.
The Raider senior watched his friend, teammate and practice partner Kalvin York fall short against Tomahawk's Nick Hagar Saturday for the second straight year at the WIAA state individual tournament - this time in the 140-pound Division 2 championship - before defeating Waupaca's Cody Stichman for his third straight state championship at 145.
Schmitt wasted little time securing his lead with a leg takedown 22 seconds into the match. He grabbed a four-point advantage late in the second period at 7-3 before grinding out the final two minutes of his illustrious prep career.
Ever the quality leader, Schmitt said the victory was not as satisfying as it could have been, because York and 171-pound senior JC Francois - who finished third - couldn't join him at the top of the podium.
"It just cheapens the win for me. I'm out there wrestling with so much emotion, because they're not there with me," Schmitt said. "It kills me not seeing them at the top of the podium with me. Now one pushes me harder than them (in practice)."
York finished the season at 45-1 and Hagar at 49-0. The match wasn't decided until the fourth sudden death overtime period, when Hagar escaped York's grasp with 16 seconds to go. Sugar River head coach Ken Engelke felt that in a match of that magnitude the winner would be whoever dug deeper.
"Somebody's going to have their hand raised," Engelke said. "He worked hard, he wrestled well, but he's wrestled better. I know he's got a little more at times."
Black Hawk's Jake Kaempfer came up on the short end in his Division 3 160-pound title match versus Spring Valley-Elmwood senior Trent Larrieux. The Warrior senior lost 1-0 after Larrieux secured a point on an escape with 54 seconds remaining in the second period.
The second-place finishing Kaempfer got to his feet a couple of times in the third period, desperately trying to get free on Larrieux's hold, but Larrieux drove him back to the mat and time eventually ran out.
"I'm pretty sure he's the only kid all year that was able to hold me down," Kaempfer said.
