Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School sophomore Garrett Soilka wrestles Drew Rihn of Cumberland at the WIAA state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Soilka won by technical fall to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Photo by Mary Langenfeld Bonduel High School senior Jacob Wudtke wrestles Brandon Schmitz of Cashton at the WIAA state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison. Wudtke won a 5-3 decision.
Both Bonduel High School wrestlers competing in the preliminary round of the WIAA Division 3 state wrestling tournament registered victories Thursday in Madison.
Two of Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s four wrestlers competing Thursday in Division 2 also advanced — Bobby Uttech and August Peplinski, as did Clintonville senior Jake Reiter.
Both of Menominee Indian’s entries — Kyle Winker and Keenan Richmond — fell in tight matches, as did Shawano Community High School senior Cody Urban.
Bonduel sophomore Garrett Siolka (40-7) won by technical fall, and senior Jacob Wudtke (39-6) posted a 5-3 decision.
Siolka beat Cumberland sophomore Drew Rihn (22-20) by technical fall, 15-0, in their 113-pound match. Siolka needed just 6 seconds to register a take down and led 7-0 after the first period and 12-0 after two. The match ended when Siolka got another near fall with 1:32 left to go.
“I knew when I went in there I needed a take down right away,” Siolka said. “I got a take down and a near fall and went from there.”
Siolka, making his second trip to state, said there is nothing like competing at state.
“The excitement, the adrenaline, when we walk out of the tunnel, it’s just something that you can never get out of your head,” Siolka said.
Siolka will face freshman Cal Hansen (43-1), of Deerfield, in the quarterfinals Friday morning.
Wudtke, also making his second trip to state, took a 5-0 lead after two periods in his 170-pound match against Cashton senior Brandon Schmitz (37-11), getting a take down in the final seconds of each of the first two periods and adding an escape in the second period.
“He was more speed, I was more strength,” Wudtke said. “It felt good. Right away in the first period I got a quick throw. Right after I got that throw, I felt I was in control of the match.”
Schmitz scored an escape and take down late in the third.
Wudtke will face Cameron junior Kyle Heinsohn (40-5) in the quarterfinal Friday morning.
Bonduel junior Dan Tauchen (38-7) had a bye Thursday. He will wrestle Mineral Point sophomore Scott Pittz (33-13) in the quarterfinals Friday. Pittz beat Mishicot junior Mason Matthias (39-10) 7-2 in the opening round Thursday.
Division 2 and 3 quarterfinals begin at approximately 11:15 a.m. Friday, with consolation matches beginning at approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday. Semifinal matches begin at 7 p.m.
Division 1
Shawano senior Cody Urban (15-9) lost his opening-round 160-pound match to Sauk Prairie’s Brandon Sprecher (41-3) by pin in 3:31. Urban trailed 10-4 when he was pinned. Urban qualified for the state tournament after Bay Port senior Jacob Jossart, who finished second and defeated Urban at the Green Bay Preble/Green Bay East sectional, withdrew on Tuesday.
Division 2
Wittenberg-Birnamwood senior Bobby Uttecht (40-6) beat Marshall sophomore Jensen Langer (47-10) 3-2 in their 126-pound match. Uttecht, who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after two, will face Ellsworth senior Cody Chelminiak (40-4) in the quarterfinal.
Sophomore August Peplinski (46-6) scored all of his points in the second period on an escape and take down, and beat Abbotsford/Colby senior Cody Meyer (41-6) 3-0 in their 182-pound match. Peplinski will face Kiel senior Aaron Field (37-7) in the quarterfinal.
Senior Ben Vosters (46-4) lost to Kiel junior Tanner Woepse (36-9) 11-9 in their 120-pound match. At 160 pounds, freshman Alex Peplinski (42-11) lost 5-1 to East Troy sophomore Jeremy Dedick (33-14).
Senior Braxton Potrykus (42-2) had a bye Thursday and will face Pewaukee freshman Jacob Raschka (45-5) in the 152-pound quarterfinal.
Reiter (41-5) won his 195-pound preliminary match, beating Valders junior Brandon Brennan (19-7) 13-7. Reiter led 8-7 before scoring on an escape, take down and near fall in the final 30-plus seconds. He will face Saint Croix Falls senior Joe Rademacher (40-1) in the quarterfinal.
Division 3
Both Menominee Indian wrestlers lost their matches. Senior Kyle Winker (126, 44-8) lost to Mineral Point junior Frank Baker (37-10) by a 10-6 decision. Senior Keenan Richmond (40-12) held a 5-2 lead in the second period and entered the final period ahead 5-3, but lost a 9-5 decision to Mineral Point senior Brenyn Schmit (44-3).