Leader Staff
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School sophomore Jacob Banker, top, tries to maintain position on Gillett/Suring’s Alex Zeitler in the title match of the 160-pound weight class at Saturday’s sectional at Shawano Community High School. Banker won the match, and both wrestlers advanced to the state meet.
The Bonduel High School wrestling team advanced four wrestlers, including two sectional champions, to this week’s WIAA Division 3 state tournament after a successful showing Saturday at Shawano Community High School.
Senior Garrett Siolka (31-2) overcame Oconto’s Elton Kelsey in the 132-pound championship match to take the sectional title. Kelsey had won all of their previous matchups. At 160 pounds, BHS sophomore Jacob Banker (38-8) secured a sectional championship by defeating Gillett/Suring senior Alex Zeitler.
Senior heavyweight Bennett Gunderson (40-9) avenged four losses this season to Coleman’s Donovan Salewski by pinning him in 4:57 to guarantee himself a place at state, which begins on Thursday. Gunderson went on to win the final wrestleback, putting him in second place for the sectional.
Bonduel sophomore Jordan Boldt (39-7) lost his championship match at 120 pounds but advanced to the state meet with a second-place finish. He defeated Stratford’s A.J. Schoenfuss, a state qualifier from a season ago, in a sudden victory in his first match of the day.
In a Division 2 sectional, Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior August Peplinski (46-0) remained undefeated in winning the 195-pound title. He was the only Charger to advance.
No other area wrestlers made it through sectionals.