NGL gets eight wrestlers through to D2 sectional meet
Fifteen schools were represented at the Feb. 12 WIAA Division 2 regional wrestling tournament in Neillsville, but there were only seven teams on the mats. So it is in the day of multiple schools co-oping programs.
The Neillsville-Greenwood-Loyal coop emerged as the team champion and advanced eight wrestlers to the Feb. 19 individual sectional meet in Amery. As team champion, NGL also qualified to wrestle in the Feb. 15 team sectional at Somerset. NGL was to take on West Salem/Bangor in a semifinal match, with the winner to battle either Amery or Northwestern to advance to the state team tournament.
NGL took four individual weight class titles at the regional meet and four more wrestlers claimed sectional berths with runner-up finishes. Spencer-Columbus had only five wrestlers at the regional meet, but two of them advanced to Amery with runner-up finishes.
Regional champs for NGL were junior Luke Dux at 120 pounds, junior Derek Zschernitz at 126, senior Jarick Young at 138, and junior Gunner Hoffmann at 285. Taking runner-up spots were freshman Hudzon Sebesta-Opelt at 132 pounds, junior Keeghan Anding at 152, sophomore Dane Luchterhand at 170, and junior Dan Polzin at 195.
Taking second place and advancing to Amery for Spencer-Columbus were freshman Mason Wolf at 113 pounds and senior Treyton Ackman at 120.
Dux (26-4 on the season) beat Ackman 8-4 at Neillsville to win the regional title. They finished second and third, respectively, at last year’s Division 2 state tournament, and may well face each other again Saturday at Amery. Dux’s first sectional foe will be Ellsworth freshman Levi Nelson (11-9) while Ackman will first face West Salem/ Bangor junior Bradyn Glasspoole (27-9).
Zschernitz (24-4) won his regional crown with a 10-1 major decision over Medford sophomore Jude Stark (24-8). At Amery, Zschernitz will take on St. Croix Central freshman Will Schmitt (29-13).
Young (29-9) pinned Regis/Altoona junior Tommy Tomesh (28-13) in 2:52 in the regional title match. Young will see Black River Falls senior Jackson McCormick (39-6) in his first sectional match.
Hoffmann (33-1) returns to sectionals this year after placing fifth at the state meet in 2021. His first sectional test will come from Ashland senior David Granados (32-7).
Spencer-Columbus’s Wolf (16-11) was pinned in 1:23 in his regional final match by Medford junior Thaddeus Sigmund (33-6). He then bounced back to pin NGL freshman Ethan Buchanan (24-19) in 5:24 to earn his sectional spot. At Amery, he’ll clash with Rice Lake senior Carter Schulz (33-7).
Sebesta-Opelt (27-8) dropped a 7-0 decision to Medford freshman Gage Losiewicz (30-8) in the regional final, but he didn’t have to endure a wrestleback to get to the sectional meet. At Amery, he’ll meet Hayward/ Northwestern senior Drake Marks (36-11) in a quarterfinal match.
Anding (28-12) fell 14-0 in the regional finals to Bloomer/Colfax senior Luke Blanchard (25-5). He’ll take on Spooner/ Webster senior Brady Jepson ( 29-9) in his first sectional action.
Luchterhand (31-14) lost a 6-2 regional final decision to Regis/Altoona sophomore Brayden Albee (40-5). At Amery, he’ll face St. Croix Central senior Devin Wasley (43-0).
Polzin (27-10) was pinned in 20 seconds in the regional final by Abbotsford/Colby senior Carter Grewe (42-2). Polzin draws West Salem/Bangor senior Chris Najera (26-13) in a sectional quarterfinal.
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO
