Weyauwega-Fremont’s wrestling team only took five wrestlers to the Bulldog Cutler Classic Jan. 12 in New London, but ended up with a pair of top-three finishes.
The Indians also picked up a 60-18 Central Wisconsin Conference win Jan. 10 over Rosholt.
Bulldog Cutler Classic
NEW LONDON – Brandon Loehrke finished second at 170 pounds and Oliver Radtke placed third at 120 as the Indians placed ninth overall.
“The boys who wrestled performed very well got a lot of valuable mat time,” coach Tim Potratz said. “Brandon Loehrke continued his breakout season by making the finals at 170, where he lost a tough 5-1 decision against a New London wrestler. Brandon has a 19-6 record this season and has made the finals of his last four tournaments.”
Radtke pinned his Menasha opponent in the third-place match and improved to 21-4 on the season.
“Andy Bork placed fourth at 285 and continues to develop the toughness he needs to compete with the big boys in wrestling,” Potratz said.
Each team also brought junior varsity wrestlers to the tournament. Matt Abhold went 4-0 at 145 with four pins to win his weight class and improve his JV record to 12-2, while Sheriden Haase posted a 2-1 record at 138, good enough for second place, and raised his JV record to 8-1.
W-F 60, Rosholt 18
ROSHOLT – The Indians’ wins over the Hornets included five pins and a pair of decisions.
Tre Blohm pinned Aaron Cole in 1:09 at 132, Abhold pinned Brock Yenter in 3:56 at 152, Loehrke pinned Dathan Smerchek in 2:32 at 170, Tyler Schmitt pinned Tyce Morgan in 4:17 at 195 and Nathan Stelzner pinned Nick Burclow in 1:00 at 220. The Indians’ other wins came on Radtke’s 3-1 decision over Aaron Pliska at 126 and Tyler Hart’s 5-1 win over Trevor Buza at 138.
Rosholt’s wins came on Dwight Groshek’s pin of Haase in 37 seconds at 145, Jim Liebe’s win by injury default over Trevor Potratz at 160 and Tony Kontney’s pin of Baily Volpel in 1:59 at 182.
The Hornets also forfeited the 106-, 113-, 120- and 285-pound matches to Jon Morgan, Isaac Danke, Austin Baehnman and Bork.
W-F improved to 8-6 in dual meets.
“We came into the match with some starters out of the lineup, but got big efforts from some young kids and some less-experienced guys to come away with an easy win,” Potratz said. “Abhold got his first varsity win with a big pin at 152 that pretty much locked up the win. The win by Tyler Schmitt was his first of the season, which was great for the first-year senior who came out for wrestling to help the team and challenge himself as an athlete.
“This was a nice win for the team,” he added. “Rosholt has been an improved team this year and we thought it would be a close dual. We really took it to them tonight.”
W-F will face Amherst, Manawa, Shiocton, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Freedom’s junior varsity team Saturday, Jan. 19, at the CWC Duals at Amherst. Matches are slated to start at 10 a.m.