Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School sophomore Jacob Banker wrestles Gillett/Suring senior Alex Zeitler in the championship of the 160-pound class Saturday at the WIAA Division 3 regional in Oconto. Banker won the match in double overtime, 5-3.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School sophomore Jordan Boldt, right, tries to find a way to escape from the grasp of Coleman’s Caleb Gross in the 120-pound regional championship match Saturday in Oconto.
With the competition getting more difficult, beginning with the WIAA Division 3 regional last week in Oconto, the margin for error continues to decrease for local high school wrestlers.
The Bonduel and Menominee Indian teams learned that the hard way Saturday.
Despite moving five wrestlers onto Saturday’s sectional in Shawano, Bonduel won only one regional title. Sophomore Jacob Banker (35-8) captured the 160-pound division with a 5-3 double overtime victory over Gillett/Suring’s Alex Zeitler.
Garrett Siolka (28-2), who was named the co-most valuable wrestler in the Central Wisconsin Conference, finished second at 132 pounds. He was defeated by Oconto’s Elton Kelsey, 3-2.
Sophomore Jordan Boldt (37-6) held a 1-point lead over Coleman’s Caleb Gross with less than a minute remaining in the 120-pound final, but became too aggressive, allowing Gross to escape with 21 seconds remaining and then getting taken down in the final seconds for the 4-3 loss.
Bears heavyweight Bennett Gunderson (36-8) was pinned by Coleman’s Donovan Salewski in their championship match. Jacob Giese (21-6) fell 3-2 in the 138-pound championship match to Coleman’s Bryce Karban before defeating Patrick White in the wrestleback to advance to sectionals.
Two Menominee Indian wrestlers also advanced to the sectional. Leander Moon (9-6) finished in second place at 220 pounds, falling in the championship match to Coleman’s Jacob Zeitler by pin in the first period.
Antonio Mahkimetas, who has a 28-16 record this season at 145 pounds, won his wrestleback over Oconto’s Peyton Boucher by pin in 1 minute, 10 seconds to finish second.
Menominee Indian’s Kyle Komanekin had Coleman’s Gunnar Patz on his back in the wrestleback for second place, but the official saw a little space between the mat and Patz’s shoulder.
“If that wasn’t a pin, I am blind,” Menominee Indian head coach Kirk Bahr said. “You can ask anyone in the gym, besides maybe Coleman, and they will tell you it was a pin also.”
Patz then turn around and pinned Komanekin in the wrestleback, taking away Komanekin’s chance to advance to the sectional.
Menominee Indian had five wrestlers finish in third place at the regional, one spot away from advancing.
“A lot of the kids, they got a little nervous when they had hard competition,” Bahr said. “To be the best, you have to beat some of these better guys. They just got to come in more mentally strong next year.”
For the survivors from Bonduel and Menominee Indian, wrestling begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Shawano Community High School, with state berths on the line.
“There is going to be plenty of guys that are going to be celebrating, but there will be heartache,” Bonduel head coach Chris Rank said. “That’s just involved in sports. We are just hoping our five individuals are in the celebrating end next Saturday.”
WIAA Division 3 Regional
Oconto High School
Feb. 13
Team scores: Coleman, 295; Oconto, 171; Gillett/Suring, 146; Bonduel, 121; Menominee Indian, 111; Lena/STAA, 20.