MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Dec. 15–22)
WRESTLING: #5 Fennimore 42, #6 Mineral Point 21

By Jason Nihles, Fennimore Times

MINERAL POINT — The Fennimore wrestling team is getting closer to full strength.

The #5-ranked Golden Eagles made a local statement with a 42–21 SWAL dual victory at reigning WIAA Division 3 Team State Champion Mineral Point last Friday night.

Fennimore (2–1, 2–0 SWAL) rallied from an early 15–0 deficit after the first three matches, by winning nine of the final 11 bouts to scored a decisive 21-point win over the rival Pointers (4–4, 1–1 SWAL).

Freshman Syler Zdanczewicz began the comeback with a third-period pin (5:45) over Jimmy Tibbits at 160 pounds. Nathan Blaschke followed with a 6–3 win at 170 to make 15–9.

After Point's Bo Hanson defeated Cameron Wolf at 182 pounds, Dalton Wolf (over Alec James, 0:47), Cameron Winkers (over Mac Busser, 0:37), Evan Gratz (over Mark Aurit, 0:27) and Dalton Leffler (over Lannon Ewert, 0:27) scored consecutive pins at 195, 220, 285 and 106 to give the Eagles a 27—18 lead. Freshman Amryn Nutter added a 9—2 win at 113, and Brett Birchman notched an 11–7 victory at 132 to close out the win.

The Eagles’ (2–1, 2–0 SWAL) dominating victory over the #6 Pointers (4–4, 1–1) was the just the beginning of a grander statement.

Fennimore went on to crown three champions — Nutter (113), Muench (120) and Birchman (126) to win the loaded 18-team Badger State Invitational Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

The Eagles also had a pair of runner-ups — Cameron Wolf (182) and Gratz (285) — and sophomore Rachel Schauer won an individual title in the girls’ 185-pound division with a pair of pins.

Fennimore scored 246 team points to defeat Division 1 #10-ranked Stoughton (208) and D3 #2-ranked SWAL rival Iowa–Grant/Highland (179) for the title. The Eagles were the new number one ranked team in Division 3 when wiwrestling.com released its new rankings Wednesday.

Nutter (16–3) went 5–0 with three byes, a pin, and a 6–0 victory over Iowa–Grant freshman Jackson McGuire in the 113-pound championship match.

Muench (15–2) also went 5–0 with two byes, and three consecutive pins, the last a 1:50 fall over Brady Shepard of Laona–Wabeno, to win the 120-pound title.

After a pair of byes, Birchman (14–2) recorded a 10–1 major decision, a 4–2 win over Stoughton’s Chance Suddeth in the semis, and a 3:32 pin of Hickman’s Hayden Benter in the 126-pound title bout.

Junior Jayden Glasbrenner (13–5) placed fourth at 138, while freshman Nathan Blaschke (12–7) finished fourth at 170 and senior Kaden Hahn (13–5) placed fifth at 145.

Zdanczewicz (7–3) took sixth at 152,  Dalton Wolf (11–7) was sixth at 195 and senior Cameron Winkers (11–5) finished sixth at 220 pounds. Fennimore sophomore DaKota Northouse also placed fifth in the girls division.

Coach Chad Steldt’s Eagles will have three weeks off from competition before returning to action at the loaded Kaukauna Cheesehead Invitational Jan. 7–8. 

Fennimore 42, Mineral Point 21
(from Friday, Dec. 17 @ Mineral Point)
138: Trapper Nafzger (MP) pinned Jayden Glassbrenner 5:18. 145: Tarrin Riley (MP) pinned Conner Northouse 4:13. 152: Ross Lindsey (MP) beat Kaden Hahn 5-3. 160: Syler Zdanczewicz (F) pinned Jimmy Tibbits 5:45. 170: Nathan Blaschke (F) beat Haydeen Bakken 6-3. 182: Bo Hanson (MP) beat Cameron Wolf 12-6. 195: Dalton Wolf (F) pinned Alan James 0:45. 220: Cameron Winkers (F) pinned Mac Busser 0:37. 285: Evan Gratz (F) pinned Matt Aurit 1:11. 106: Dalton Leffler (F) pinned Lannon Ewert 0:27. 113: Amryn Nutter (F) beat Roen Carey 9-2. 120: Carson Kroll (MP) beat Nick Needham 9-6. 126: Brecken Muench (F) beat Kade Rule. 132: Brett Birchman (F) beat Lucas Sullivan 11-7.

Badger State Invitational 
(from Saturday, Dec. 18 @ Alliant Energy Center, Madison)
Team scores: 1.Fennimore 246, 2.Stoughton 208, 3.Iowa–Grant 179, 4.Hickman 164.5, 5.Darlington 141, 6.D.C. Everest 140, 7.Laona–Wabeno 122, 8.Waunakee 120, 9.Viroqua 110.5, 10.Brookfield East 102, 11.Pewaukee 97.5, 12.Sugar River 71.5, 13.Madison La Follette 61, 14.Kettle Moraine 58.5, 15.Lake Geneva Badger 55, 16.Racine St. Catherine’s/Rachine Lutheran 50.5, 17.Lake Mills 44, 18.Milwaukee Reagan 43.
Fennimore boys individual results
106: Dalton Leffler (5-4) placed 7th and scored 4.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Blake Endres (Sugar River) 10-4 won by tech fall over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 5-4 (TF-1.5 4:36 (18-2))
Cons. Round 3 - Tyler Modjewski (DC Everest) 4-3 won by decision over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 5-4 (Dec 8-1)
7th Place Match - Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 5-4 won by fall over Van Bertholf (Milwaukee Ronald Reagan) 3-3 (Fall 1:56)
113: Amryn Nutter (16-3) placed 1st and scored 32.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 16-3 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 16-3 won by fall over Taylor Dillion (DC Everest) 9-4 (Fall 1:36)
1st Place Match - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 16-3 won by decision over Jackson McGuire (Iowa-Grant) 13-3 (Dec 6-0)
120: Brecken Muench (15-2) placed 1st and scored 34.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 15-2 won by fall over Jacob Huggans (Hickman) 7-5 (Fall 1:12)
Semifinal - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 15-2 won by fall over Levi Koepp (Pewaukee) 12-5 (Fall 1:38)
1st Place Match - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 15-2 won by fall over Brady Shepard (Laona-Wabeno) 11-6 (Fall 1:50)
126: Brett Birchman (14-2) placed 1st and scored 31.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 14-2 won by major decision over Irie Jackson (Madison LaFollette) 6-4 (MD 10-1)
Semifinal - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 14-2 won by decision over Chance Suddeth (Stoughton) 14-3 (Dec 4-2)
1st Place Match - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 14-2 won by fall over Hayden Benter (Hickman) 11-3 (Fall 3:32)
132: Nick Needham (11-6) placed 7th and scored 4.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Coltan Nechvatal (Waunakee) 12-4 won by decision over Nick Needham (Fennimore) 11-6 (Dec 10-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Blake Bangtson (DC Everest) 6-1 won by major decision over Nick Needham (Fennimore) 11-6 (MD 13-1)
7th Place Match - Nick Needham (Fennimore) 11-6 won by forfeit over Kevin Sheldon (Laona-Wabeno) 6-7 (For.)
138: Jayden Glasbrenner (13-5) placed 4th and scored 19.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 13-5 won by fall over Zade Loebel (Kettle Moraine) 11-7 (Fall 1:03)
Semifinal - Ethan Barr (Hickman) 12-0 won by decision over Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 13-5 (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place Match - Caden Lindner (Iowa-Grant) 13-2 won by fall over Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 13-5 (Fall 3:04)
145: Kaden Hahn (13-5) placed 5th and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 2 - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 13-5 won by fall over Cael Steinmetz (Stoughton) 0-2 (Fall 1:46)
Quarterfinal - Jacob Bruner (Pewaukee) 12-5 won by decision over Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 13-5 (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 3 - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 13-5 won by fall over Robert Lofreddo (Waunakee) 8-9 (Fall 1:52)
5th Place Match - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 13-5 won by fall over Preston Buroker (Viroqua) 6-4 (Fall 3:45)
152: Syler Zdanczewicz (7-3) placed 6th and scored 4.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Emmerson Moen (Iowa-Grant) 5-7 won by decision over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 7-3 (Dec 8-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 7-3 won by decision over Konnor Tubin (Pewaukee) 12-5 (Dec 4-1)
5th Place Match - Maddox Goebel (Darlington) 12-3 won by decision over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 7-3 (Dec 13-11)
160: Cooper Fitzgerald (1-3) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.
Champ. Round 2 - Johnny Botsch (Brookfield East) 13-4 won by fall over Cooper Fitzgerald (Fennimore) 1-3 (Fall 3:07)
Cons. Round 2 - Cooper Fitzgerald (Fennimore) 1-3 won by fall over Nehemiah Falaschi (Racine St. Cats/Lutheran/CC) 2-3 (Fall 4:50)
Cons. Round 3 - Santino Buttita (Badger) 6-3 won by major decision over Cooper Fitzgerald (Fennimore) 1-3 (MD 13-2)
170: Nathan Blaschke (12-7) placed 4th and scored 17.0 team points.
Champ. Round 2 - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 12-7 won by fall over Marcos Alicea (Milwaukee Ronald Reagan) 0-2 (Fall 0:40)
Quarterfinal - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 12-7 won by decision over Joe Kane (Pewaukee) 10-5 (Dec 8-7)
Semifinal - Ryan Roy (Laona-Wabeno) 15-1 won by fall over Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 12-7 (Fall 0:40)
3rd Place Match - Parker Schlueter (Kettle Moraine) 12-1 won by fall over Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 12-7 (Fall 1:45)
182: Cameron Wolf (15-3) placed 2nd and scored 26.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 15-3 won by fall over Aaron DiPietro (Viroqua) 6-6 (Fall 0:26)
Semifinal - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 15-3 won by decision over Niko Jemilo (Stoughton) 8-8 (Dec 8-3)
1st Place Match - Owen Huschitt (Darlington) 13-1 won by fall over Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 15-3 (Fall 5:00)
195: Dalton Wolf (11-7) placed 6th and scored 14.0 team points.
Champ. Round 2 - Dalton Wolf (Fennimore) 11-7 won by fall over Darien Browning (Madison LaFollette) 1-6 (Fall 1:42)
Quarterfinal - Jordan Tindell (Lake Mills) 14-2 won by fall over Dalton Wolf (Fennimore) 11-7 (Fall 5:10)
Cons. Round 3 - Dalton Wolf (Fennimore) 11-7 won by fall over Zeke Logalbbo (Laona-Wabeno) 7-6 (Fall 0:34)
5th Place Match - John Harman (Stoughton) 11-6 won by fall over Dalton Wolf (Fennimore) 11-7 (Fall 1:07)
220: Cameron Winkers (11-5) placed 6th and scored 12.0 team points.
Champ. Round 2 - Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 11-5 won by fall over Ross Crist (Darlington) 6-2 (Fall 4:27)
Quarterfinal - Aaron Botsch (Brookfield East) 17-1 won by fall over Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 11-5 (Fall 0:31)
Cons. Round 3 - Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 11-5 won by decision over Beckett Spilde (Stoughton) 10-6 (Dec 11-6)
5th Place Match - John Mohr (Pewaukee) 12-5 won by decision over Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 11-5 (Dec 7-5)
285: Evan Gratz (7-3) placed 2nd and scored 28.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 7-3 won by fall over Eli Yang (Brookfield East) 5-5 (Fall 0:48)
Semifinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 7-3 won by fall over Isaac Biba (Iowa-Grant) 13-2 (Fall 1:24)
1st Place Match - Griffin Empey (Stoughton) 17-0 won by fall over Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 7-3 (Fall 0:45)
Fennimore girls individual results
114: DDakota Northouse’s place is 5th and has scored 12.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kaydance Nolan (Chilton/Hilbert) won by fall over Dakota Northouse (Fennimore) (Fall 5:20)
Cons. Round 2 - Dakota Northouse (Fennimore) won by fall over Darci Jelinek (North Crawford) (Fall 2:05)
Cons. Semi - Dakota Northouse (Fennimore) won by decision over Aliana Rauter (Milwaukee Ronald Reagan) (Dec 7-6)
5th Place Match - Dakota Northouse (Fennimore) won by fall over Allison Weiss (Holmen) (Fall 1:46)
185: Rachel Schauer’s place is 1st and has scored 9.0 team points.
Round 1 - Rachel Schauer (Fennimore) won by fall over Deyana Jaraba (Milwaukee Ronald Reagan) (Fall 0:52)
Round 2 - Rachel Schauer (Fennimore) won by fall over Lexa Perez (Xavier) (Fall 2:36)