Milton High wrestlers fall in state quarterfinals
Photo
Kaukauna’s Dillon Bera controls Milton’s Shaun O’Neill during a 9-0 victory in their 145-pound match.
MADISON — On a night of lopsided matches, Milton High was one of the victims Friday.
Kaukauna, No. 2 in the final Crossface rankings, jumped out to a 31-0 lead and posted a 49-6 win over the Red Hawks in the WIAA Division 1 quarterfinals of the state team wrestling tournament at the UW Field House.
The Galloping Ghosts (20-2) will square off against fourth-ranked Hartland Arrowhead this morning in the semifinals. The Warhawks (13-1) defeated Tomah, 36-16.
In the other quarterfinal matches, top-ranked Wausau West (20-0) buried Franklin (18-5), 61-6, and Ashwaubenon (14-1) topped Muskego (15-1), 43-18.
“Sometimes you get beat by a better team,” Milton co-head coach Pat Jauch said. “They’re in the spot we want to be in. They have a great shot at winning a state title here. Getting you butt kicked can only fuel your resolve to get better, I think.”
That was theme after the match, as Milton will try to build on its eighth trip to the state meet, but its first since 2003.
“I just had one kid come up to me and say ‘this isn’t going to happen again,’ ” Milton co-head coach Matt Werner said. “I think this is just like wildfire, and the excitement just spreads. I think being in the state meet just creates a lot of excitement in the community.”
Kaukauna never allowed Milton to be a factor Friday night, winning the first eight bouts before Nate Rogers (35-8) earned a 9-3 decision over Marcus Driessen (13-13) in the 171-pound dual.
The only other victory for the Red Hawks came at 285, when Nick Gibson (32-6) defeated Alex Kazik (23-11), 9-2.
“They just got the best of us today,” Gibson said. “Since I was freshman, this is was of the biggest goals we’ve had—to get here. I would have liked to have done better, but I’m really proud.”
Kaukauna boasted eight individual state qualifiers in the 13 weight classes, which included two state champions and two other medalists. And the Ghosts’ depth wore down the Southern Lakes champions.
All that’s left is to turn the page and learn from the experience.
“You can tell their kids wrestle in the summer. You can tell their kids want it, and you can tell this is a work in progress for them,” Jauch said.
“This is not something that just happens overnight for those guys. They’re building it, and we are trying to build it, too. We’re obviously a couple steps behind, but we’re going to close the gap.”
KAUKAUNA 49, MILTON 6
103—Steven VanWychen (K) won by forfeit. 112—Josiah Bobier (K) dec. Devon Dixon, 8-2. 119—Matt Kilgas (K) pinned Brody Karkosh, :44. 125—Alex DeGroot (K) dec. Brian Kohl, 4-0. 130—Glen Meyerhofer (K) tech. fall over Logan Brown, 17-2. 135—Tony VanDeLoo (K) dec. Nick Karleski, 4-2. 140—Micah Behnke (K) dec. Derek Dixon, 12-9.
145—Dillon Bera (K) major dec. over Shaun O’Neill, 9-0. 152—Eric Vanevenhoven (K) dec. Shawn Jensen, 9-2. 160—Noah Budi (K) major dec. over James Miller, 12-0. 171—Nate Rogers (M) dec. Marcus Driessen, 9-6. 189—Joe Budi (K) pinned Seth Underwood, 1:17. 215—Matt Wallace (K) dec. Matt Fredrick, 8-4 (OT). 285—Nick Gibson (M) dec. Alex Kazik, 9-2.
Starting weight: 119.
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