Bonduel’s Bogacz, Sokolski earn spots at state wrestling tournament

Bonduel High School wrestlers Tyson Bogacz and Max Sokolski each qualified for state after placing second in their respective weight classes at the Division 3 Valders Sectional on Feb. 6.

Bogacz claimed second in the 145-pound weight class, while Sokolski competed in the 152 weight class. It will be Bogacz’s first state appearance, while Sokolski will be making his third trip.

Both Bonduel wrestlers took similar paths to their second-place finishes.

Bogacz won by pin in the first period of his quarterfinal match before claiming a 7-6 decision win in the semifinals. The sophomore suffered a 9-1 major decision loss in the first-place match, but bounced back with a 13-0 major decision win in the second-place match to punch his ticket to state.

Sokolski earned a big 5-2 decision win to start his day, and then claimed an 8-6 decision win in the semifinals. The senior dropped a 6-5 decision in the first-place match, but didn’t have to wrestle again having already topped the wrestler he would have faced in the second-place match.

“The same goal is still at stake, I can still be a state champ,” said Sokolski. “So as long as I’m advancing, I’m happy with it.”

“For the next week, I’m going to have to push myself, have my coaches push me harder than I’ve ever worked before.”

The duo will now prepare for the state tournament, which will be held at Wausau East High School on Feb. 13.

Bogacz, now 14-3 on the season, will start state by facing Aquinas junior Joseph Penchi (12-0).

Sokolski (17-1) opens state against De Soto junior Aiden Brosinski (15-0). Brosinski earned an 8-6 decision win over Sokolski in the quarterfinals of the 2020 state tournament.

Full state brackets can be found at https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Winter/Wrestling/Tournament.

Bonduel’s Luis Lagunes (126) and Jayson Toellner (138) also competed at the sectional. Lagunes just missed out on qualifying for state after placing third, while Toellner came in fifth.

Lagunes won his quarterfinal match with a 12-4 major decision before claiming a tight 2-1 decision win in the semifinals. Lagunes was topped in a 9-3 decision in the first-place match and then was pinned in the second-place match.

Toellner opened his day with a 7-1 decision win. The senior then dropped a 4-1 decision in the semifinals and then was pinned in the consolation semifinals. Toellner was awarded fifth without having to wrestle again because he’d already topped the wrestler he would have faced in the fifth-place match.

Menominee Indian’s Kanewin Dickenson (195) and Saswaen Shawanokasic (285) also were part of the sectional.

Shawanokasic just missed out on qualifying for state after posting a 2-2 record. He earned first-period pins in his quarterfinal and semifinal matches to earn a spot in the first-place match.

In that match, Shawanokasic was pinned. In the second-place match, Shawanokasic was pinned, so he placed third.

Dickenson was pinned in both of his matches on the day.

Bonduel’s four wrestlers accumulated 56 points to place ninth as a team, while Menominee Indian came in 18th with 17 team points. Coleman won the sectional with 210.5 points.

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Full results from the sectional can be found at www.trackwrestling.com.

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