Learning experience: Furseth works to gain semifinals; Milton pair also advance
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MADISON — Along with winning two matches, Siven Furseth learned a few things about himself Thursday.
The Janesville Craig junior advanced to the semifinals with two decisions on the opening day of the WIAA Division 1 state wrestling tournament at the UW Kohl Center.
In the quarterfinals of his 130-pound weight class, Furseth could not break a scoreless tie until 30 seconds remained in his match against Tyler Quartullo. The Muskego junior traded reversals with Furseth, until Furseth scored the go-ahead point on an escape with 10 seconds left for the decision.
“If I can go all three rounds and not be that tired, it just shows I can do it in the semis and if I can make it to the finals,” Furseth said.
Furseth, who remains undefeated (38-0) on the season, took his first step in returning to the finals after a 13-1 major decision over Kyle Berchem of Manitowoc Lincoln in the preliminary round and his 3-2 decision over Quartullo.
“I just kind of got lazy and he got the reversal to tie it up,” Furseth said of his match with Quartullo. “I worked hard and got away from the bottom to get the 3-2 lead. I knew he couldn’t take me down, because he wasn’t really taking that many high-risk shots. He was just playing it safe. It was a tough match.”
His coach saw it same way.
“The guy was pretty much blocking Siven the whole time,” Craig coach Jeff Kaster said. “He was long and hard to score on, but Siven always finds a way to win. Once he got back on his feet, I wasn’t too concerned anymore, because Siven’s never been scored on this year on his feet.”
Furseth will move on to face Kasey Einerson of Wisconsin Rapids in the semifinals, which get started at 7 o’clock tonight. Einerson, a sophomore, finished third at 112 last year for Lodi in the Division 2 tournament and defeated defending 112 Division 1 champion Torin Boernke of Marshfield twice this season. Boernke topped Furseth in the last year’s 112 final and all three have since moved up to 130.
“Siven will have his hands full with Einerson,” Kaster added.
Milton also had two wrestlers reach the semifinals Thursday as sophomores John Wells and Ian Johnson advanced with two victories.
Wells (42-5) did not give up a point in his two decisions to advance at 103. He opened with a 14-0 major decision over Tanner Dworak of Tomah before securing a 6-0 win against top-ranked Joe Umlauf of Wausau West, who defeated Wells 7-3 earlier this season at the Cheesehead Tournament.
“Last time I would shoot and wouldn’t finish,” Wells said. “This time I finished my good shots. I was more aggressive and really worked on finishing.”
Wells will face second-ranked Bobby Nachreiner of Hartford Union in the semi-finals. The freshman won both of his matches Thursday by major decision.
Johnson (34-5) opened with a 5-3 decision over Darvel Winfrey of Wisconsin Lutheran at 160, before controlling his match against Trenton Larson of Marshfield and securing the 12-5 decision.
Beloit’s Alex Polizzi also reached the semi-finals in his quest to return to the state finals with two pins Thursday.
Other area winners
Two Clinton High and two Delavan-Darien wrestlers advanced to today’s Division 2 action.
Daniel Banh decisioned Parker Peterson of Campbellsport, 10-3, at 112 pounds. Brandon Wixom decisioned Jordan Seidl of Luxemburg-Casco, 5-2.
The Comet wrestlers who advanced were Kyndle Bennett at 140 pounds and John Benzon at 145.
Jefferson’s Vance Racanelli also advanced in Division 2. Racanelli decision Tanner Eggenberger of Ellsworth, 3-1.
Feb 26, 2010 at 10:39 p.m.
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Furseth, Polizzi, Johnson, and Wells are all in the finals; didn't have a chance to check on the rest. Great job guys!
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