Boldt, Banker eyeing return to Madison

Just one year removed from having four athletes on the podium at the WIAA Division 3 Individual State Meet, the Bonduel wrestling team returns two vital contributors.

Juniors Jacob Banker, who finished third at state, and Jordan Boldt, who finished fourth, are back in the wrestling room and ready to lead the Bears on the mat.

Gone, however, are heavyweight Bennett Gunderson, who made a run to the state championship match before falling to Stratford’s Tyson Kauffman, and Garrett Siolka, who took sixth in the 132-pound weight class.

“Losing two good wrestlers like Bennett and Garrett, it’s impossible to replace those guys, but we do have Jacob and Jordan that do have the experience of what it takes to be successful and get to Madison and place,” Bonduel head coach Chris Rank said. “Those are going to be our leaders this year. There’s no doubt about that.”

Banker finished third at 160 pounds, falling to eventual champion Stetson Clary, 8-7, in the semifinals.

Boldt lost a 3-2 decision to Spring Valley/Elmwood’s Seth Schlegel for fourth place.

Banker and Boldt both said their goal is to stand atop the podium in Madison again on Feb. 25.

Together, they are working on building up the youth on the Bonduel roster.

“To lose (Siolka and Gunderson), it sucks, but we definitely have guys that are capable of stepping up to be the next Garrett and Bennett, and if we push them in practice, we can definitely have that back,” Boldt said.

The Bears have added some numbers to the program as well, with Rank expecting the team to fill the majority of the weight classes. Last season, Bonduel left around four weight classes empty, giving opponents an easy 24 points per dual meet.

This year, Rank sees a more competitive team.

“With the guys that know what it takes to be successful in wrestling, we could be competitive as a team, and that’s what we’re shooting for,” Rank said. “We’re always going to have those individuals that have that individual success, but we want to be competitive as a team as well, and I think we’re going to be OK this year. We’re going to be better than last year.”