Leader Staff
Photo by Mary Langenfeld Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior August Peplinski, left, wrestles with Bennett Paulson, of Amery, in the finals of the 195-pound division Saturday at the WIAA Division 3 state individual wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison. Paulson defeated Peplinski, 4-1.
All four of the Bonduel High School wrestlers who competed at the WIAA state tournament in Madison earned medals.
Senior Bennett Gunderson (43-10) advanced all the way to the Division 3 285-pound finals, where he lost a 3-0 decision to Stratford senior Tyson Kauffman (48-3).
Sophomore Jacob Banker closed out his tourney run with a third-place finish at 160 pounds. Banker (41-9) pinned Cumberland senior Trystin Adams (42-8) in 2:04 of their third-place match.
Sophomore Jordan Boldt posted a fourth-place finish in the 120-pound division. Boldt (42-9) dropped a 3-2 decision to Spring Valley/Elmwood junior Seth Schlegel (38-6) in the match for third.
BHS senior Garrett Siolka finished sixth in his fourth trip to state. Siolka (32-5) dropped a 7-6 decision to Oakfield senior Ross Ellison (41-7) in Siolka’s final match.
August Peplinski (48-1), Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s only state qualifier in the Division 2 tourney, suffered his only loss of the season in the championship bout and finished second. The 195-pound senior fell, 4-1, to Amery senior Bennett Paulson (43-2).