Hugh repeats as champ, as Wolfpack sent three to State
Peyton Hugh, Cornell-Lake Holcombe-Gilman (center) came home the champion for his weight level of 57 pounds, at the youth State wrestling tournament. Peyton’s dad, Dave, says he hopes that other youth will see the success of the Wolfpack program and want to be on the top with them. Dave said consistency of coaches is key, and wants more dads to step up to get the kids the experience and training they need. Submitted Photo
By Ginna Young
It was a good end to the Cornell-Lake Holcombe-Gilman Wolfpack Youth Wrestlers’ season, as the team sent three to the State tournament March 25-26, for the folkstyle championships. And for the second year in a row, Cornell’s Peyton Hugh came home with a State title.
In his age bracket and weight class, Peyton (57 pounds) received a bye, because he won at the Regional qualifying tournament to advance to State. For his first match of the State bout, Peyton took on Mauston’s Mason Tischer, winning by fall, in 1:51. He then got the victory in the quarterfinal over Ryder Mitchell, of De Pere, with a 14-1 major decision.
It was then on to the semifinal, where Peyton had to wrestle his best friend, Rylan Haremza, for a 5-1 decision, which was a little hard, being buddies and all.
“I knew I could beat him,” said Peyton.
Peyton then wrestled in the first place match against Nekoosa’s Collin Ysquierdo, winning the championship by a 1:42 fall.
Dave Hugh, Peyton’s dad and “coach” to the kids, said Peyton’s season actually started out in Iowa, then saw him go to Virginia Beach, in the toughest duals in the country.
“He did more of the national scene tournaments this year, whereas the last couple years, we had done some of the locals,” said Dave. “This year, he really jumped his competition.”
Placing fifth, was Gilman youth Taydyn Angell (240), who battled back from an early loss after his first round bye, to bring home the podium finish. Angell lost in the first match to Jack Simmons, Prairie du Chien, in a 4-2 decision, then won over Fond du Lac’s Kaden Zupke, by fall, 0:47. Angell then picked up the win over Bruce McDonald, with a 3:31 fall, and took down Manawa’s Landon Smith, by fall, in 2:18.
He also got the win over Chase Schams, LAW, by a 4:09 fall, before seeing the consolation semis go to Simmons, with a fall, in 1:10. For the fifth place bout, Angell took on Marathon’s Alexander Poppe, bringing in a 9-3 decision.
“I don’t know if he was expecting to do as well as he did,” said Dave.
For Kaydn Jones, Holcombe, in his weight class of 115, the youth finished seventh, after receiving a bye. In the second round, Cole Swiggum, North Crawford-Seneca, won over Jones, by a 7-6 decision. Jones then picked up a win in the consolation round, over Antigo’s Michael Hofrichter, with a 12-0 major decision.
Jones then got the win over Bryson Smith, in a 5-3 decision, before dropping his final match to Trig White, Prairie Farm, by a 9-0 major decision.
“He is in a tough weight, it’s pretty stacked,” said Dave. “He did pretty well, he dominated a couple kids.”
Dave said when going down to the large venue, the kids have to have the belief that preparation and practice will pay off, since they are unfamiliar with many of their opponents. He says it also gives the kids a chance to see how it will be at the varsity level, if they make it to State, which will help them perform under pressure when they’re older.
“The nice thing is, you’re going down there and wrestling kids you’ve never seen before.”
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="117"]
Taking his spot on the podium for fifth place for the Wolpfack, was Taydyn Angell, who competed in the 240-pound bracket. Angell battled back from an early loss to secure his fifth place finish.[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="235"]
Kadyn Jones (left) wrestled a hard weight class at the State tournament, finishing just shy of the podium. As part of the Wolfpack team, Jones competed against the best in the state, coming up with multiple wins in the 32-man bracket for the 115-pound weight class.[/caption]
