Oconto Falls High School has wrested the Bay Conference wrestling title from Luxemburg-Casco.
In a battle of unbeatens Thursday in Oconto Falls, the Panthers prevailed at home, 39-27, to claim their first title since 2010. Two forfeits were the difference, as L-C won seven of the 12 matches wrestled.
“Luxemburg-Casco has been the ones in our way the last couple of years and we finally beat them,” Oconto Falls coach Mark Kinzinger said.
With Oconto Falls ahead 33-21 and two matches remaining, freshman Bryce Peterson scored the final points by pinning Justin Vande Hei with just over two minutes left in their 106-pound match.
“When Peterson won that match, it sealed our victory,” Kinzinger said.
Peterson said he had a difficult match with Vanden Hei and was happy the win helped the team.
“It felt pretty good and I just wanted to get my team ready for regionals,” he said.
Kinzinger shuffled his usual lineup for the match, moving undefeated Dewey Krueger up two weight classes, from 152 to 170, to face Dalton Smercheck.
“It was strategy to move him up a couple of extra weight classes to face a tough wrestler, but Luxemburg-Casco did not want to face him, so they took a forfeit at 170,” Kinzinger said.
Rather than facing Krueger, Smercheck was moved to 182, where he pinned sophomore Mac Winker at 1:18 to cut the Panthers’ lead to 27-15.
Oconto Falls got the win at 152 pounds, though, as Jake Yatso moved into Krueger’s spot and pinned Seth Peters with 30 seconds remaining in the match, igniting the Panthers.
“Looking into the match, Jake was the underdog and he pinned him,” Kinzinger said. “It got the team motivated and amped up.”
Kinzinger said the win against their rival was especially gratifying for the team’s four seniors: Krueger, Yatso, Sam Konitzer and Brett Ash.
“For the seniors, it was the one team they had not beaten,” he said.
Oconto Falls will wrestle at Clintonville High School in the WIAA regional Saturday.
Oconto Falls results:
106: Bryce Peterson, pin, Justin Vande Hei, 3:55.
113: Evan Konitzer, lost on pin, Cameron Lemmens, 1:13
120: Noah Starry, won on forfeit
126: Sam Konitzer, won 5-0 dec. Josh Vande Hei.
132: Bryce Ash, lost 4-0, Eric Peters.
138: Brett Ash, lost 6-5 dec., Mason Berceau
145: Nate Trepanier, pin, Austin Leroy, 2:44.
152: Jake Yatso, pin, Seth Peters, 5:30.
160: Brice Delzer, lost 3-1, Cullen Ducat
170: Dewey Krueger, won on forfeit.
182: Mac Winkler, lost on pin, Dalton Smercheck, 1:18.
195: Nate Brauer, lost 3-1, Devon Hallet.
220: Kyle Wolf, pin, Adam Pennings, 1:58.
285: Kaleb Westcott, lost 1-0, Phil Rasmussen.
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