Shawano advances 9 wrestlers to sectionals

Updated: Jan. 31, 7 p.m.

The Shawano Community High School wrestling team continued its strong season by posting the top team score at the Division 1 Shawano Regional on Jan. 30 in Shawano. The Hawks also advanced nine individual wrestlers to sectionals.

The Bay Conference champion Hawks earned 245.5 points on the day, comfortably ahead of second-place finishing Bay Port (214.5). It was Shawano’s first-ever regional title.

“I am extremely proud of every person on our team — every wrestler, manager and coach has worked extremely hard to get to this point,” said Shawano coach Mike Homan. “The success of the wrestling program is a direct reflection of the work that has gone into it. We look to keep the success going this week at sectionals.”

The first- and second-place finishers in each weight class advanced to sectionals. Shawano had seven wrestlers claim first and two more place second.

Drake Herm (106), Damien Wudtke (113), Wyatt Brandt (126), Reef Anthony (138), Caden Young (160), Andrew Popp (170) and Nick Kohn (285) all placed first for the Hawks, while Noah Jones (145) and Gage Timm (195) each took second.

One of three wrestlers in his weight class, Anthony was awarded a double bye into the first-place match. In that match, Anthony won a 7-2 decision.

Herm wrestled twice, earning pins in both matches. In the semifinals, he pinned his opponent in 33 seconds. In the first-place match, Herm pinned his opponent about halfway through the second period.

Popp also was 2-0 with two pins on the day. He needed just 35 seconds to pin his semifinal opponent. In the first-place match, he won with a pin 66 seconds into the second period.

Kohn started his day with a hard-fought 5-2 decision win in the semifinals. In the first-place match, Kohn made things look easy after pinning his opponent in 23 seconds.

“It’s nice being able to qualify for my senior year this year,” said Kohn of making sectionals. “For a while it looked like I wouldn’t even have a chance at wrestling this year because of weight and injury, so to be able to come back and take first is really awesome.”

Young opened his day with a pin in the second period before winning by technical fall in the first-place match. Wudtke earned a pin in the third period in the semifinals before claiming an 8-2 decision win in the first-place match.

Brandt had to win three matches to emerge atop his weight class. He opened the day with a pin in the first period. Brandt then earned back-to-back tight decision wins — 4-2 in the semifinals and 6-5 in the first-place match.

“It means a lot to not only qualify for sectionals but win regionals and keep my season alive,” said Brandt. “With it being my last chance to go to state, I’m glad I’m one step closer to achieving my goal.”

Jones and Timm each finished 1-1 on the day. Neither wrestler had to take the mat a third time, having already defeated the wrestler they would have had to face in the last round.

Jones earned a first-period pin in the semifinals but lost by technical fall in the first-place match. Timm scratched out a 4-2 decision win in the semifinals before being pinned in the first-place match.

“Words cannot describe the feeling our team felt,” said Anthony, of Shawano winning a regional title. “Just four years ago, we wanted a team. So winning the regional title four years later with a full team and sending nine kids to sectionals felt incredible.”

The nine qualifying Hawks will now prepare for the Division 1 Wausau East Sectional on Feb. 6.

Team scores: 1. Shawano 245.5; 2. Bay Port 214.5; 3. Pulaski 172.5; 4. De Pere 124; 5. Green Bay Preble 122; 6. Ashwaubenon 89; 7. Green Bay United 31.

ONLINE

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

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