Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior Braxton Potrykus receives his first-place medal after winning the WIAA Division 2 152-pound title at the state wrestling tournament Saturday in Madison.
Leader Photo by Gerrard Diaz Bonduel High School sophomore Garrett Siolka wrestles in the Division 3 113-pound state final Saturday against Weston/Ithaca sophomore Hunter Dischler in Madison. Siolka lost, 17-5.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School senior Braxton Potrykus won a title, Bonduel put three wrestlers on the podium and Jake Reiter finished fourth for Clintonville at the WIAA state wrestling meet Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Bonduel senior Jacob Wudtke and sophomore Garrett Siolka both finished second in their Division 3 brackets, while junior Dan Tauchen made the podium in sixth place.
Potrykus ended a decades-long title drought for the Chargers. The last time a Wittenberg-Birnamwood wrestler did that was in 1966.
Also making the podium for Witt-Birn this year were August Peplinski, who finished fourth, and Bobby Uttecht, who placed sixth.
Division 3
Wudtke (41-7) lost his third match in as many weeks Saturday to Reedsville junior Grant Wedepohl, this time 5-0 in the 170-pound title match.
“We were hoping the third time would be a charm,” Bonduel coach Chris Rank said.
Wedepohl earned a takedown late in the first period to go up 2-0. After giving up an escape to begin the third period, Wudtke attempted a cement mixer, a move he used in sectionals to get Wedepohl on his back, but he was prepared for it this time.
“If I got in trouble here, I knew I was definitely going to try to hit that, but he knew it was coming,” Wudtke said.” He blocked it better than anyone could have.”
Wudtke, who qualified for state last year but missed the podium, got taken down with a minute to go and couldn’t get away.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Wudtke said. “I know right now I’m disappointed and I feel bad about it, but I know I can’t feel disappointed with how I performed down here.
“I never was the best. I was that kind of kid that everybody would turn their head and laugh at after a match when I was in middle school. Now that I’m in high school and at this level, it’s kind of funny.”
Siolka also exceeded expectations.
“I really did not expect to get into the championship,” Siolka said. “I just expected to come down here and get on the podium. Next year I’m just going to have to set my goal as a state champ.”
Trouble appeared just 16 seconds into Siolka’s 113-pound final against Weston/Ithaca sophomore Hunter Dischler (45-2), who won a state championship a year ago at 106. Dischler had a takedown move Siolka (42-8) couldn’t defend, and Dischler would use it four times in the first two periods.
Siolka, who also made state but missed the podium last year, was able to put together three escapes, but was behind 8-3 heading into the final period. He opened with an escape in the third, but Dischler got two more takedowns and scored on two nearfalls in the final minute to win 17-5.
“I can’t be more proud of the way this young man (Siolka) did this year,” Rank said. “For him to step up and do what he did this weekend was just phenomenal.”
Rank said Siolka will have more opportunities in the future.
“There are many young wrestlers that would like to be in the situation Garrett was in tonight,” Rank said.
Tauchen (39-10) lost twice Saturday, 5-3 to Oconto senior Brandon Tousey (33-6) in the 152-pound fifth-place match and 5-1 to New Holstein senior Cole Fritsch (36-5) in the consolation semifinal.
Division 2
The 152-pound title match came down to Potrykus (45-2) and Wautoma/Wild Rose senior Bryce Bennot, friends who grew up in the same wrestling clubs.
“They’re buddies from way back,” Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Troy Ostrowski said. “When we got to finals, I had to tell him, ‘He’s not your friend in this match.’”
Potrykus trailed 1-0 for the first two periods, but tied it early in the third period with an escape. With just 41 seconds left, Potrykus got a takedown to go ahead 3-1.
“Us wrestling a lot, and we wrestled last year, we definitely knew each other’s style,” Potrykus said. “I knew it would be a little bit tougher.”
Potrykus, only the fifth individual champion in the Chargers’ history, then gave up an escape before scoring another takedown in the final seconds for a 5-2 win.
“I’ve probably never been happier,” Potrykus said. “Pure happiness, finally reaching the dream you’ve been working toward for 10 years. It proves hard work pays off.”
Uttecht (41-9) lost the 126-pound fifth-place match, 2-0, to Sparta junior John Roddick (43-10), who scored a takedown with 8 seconds left in the first period. Earlier in the day, Uttecht lost a 10-0 major decision to Cuba City senior JJ Donar (43-6).
Peplinski (48-8) lost his 182-pound third-place match 2-1 to Somerset junior Max Praschak (39-4) on a takedown with 34 seconds left. Peplinski beat West Salem/Bangor senior Nick Bulsman (31-11) 4-2 earlier Saturday.
Reiter (43-7) finished in fourth place at 195, getting pinned 3 minutes into the third-place match by Berlin junior David Meza (37-10). Reiter beat Ellsworth junior Brock Steldt (41-16) in the consolation semifinal 9-5.