MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 31–Feb. 7)
PREP WRESTLING: SWC/SWAL CLASH

By Jason Nihles, Fennimore Times/The Platteville Journal

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN — With more than 50 state-ranked wrestlers in the field, Saturday’s SWC/SWAL Clash was one of the premier conference tournaments held in the state of Wisconsin. 

And, with every weight class featuring at least two wrestlers ranked in either Division 2 or Division 3, just making it to the finals is a feat itself.

Division 3 #3-ranked Fennimore used its superior team depth to send eight wrestlers to the semifinals and had one champion, a pair of runner-ups and five third-place finishers to win the 34th annual Clash hosted by Prairie du Chien High School on Saturday.

Sophomore Evan Gratz (25–5) won the 285-pound title, while classmate Ian Crapp (15–5) finished second at 113 pounds and junior Brett Birchman (36–5) placed second at 126 to lead the Golden Eagles (13–2, 6–0 SWAL), who also won this year’s SWAL duals title. 

Junior Brecken Muench (26–6) a 120, freshman Tristan Steldt (7–2) at 138, freshman Nathan Blaschke (23–18) at 170, junior Cameron Wolf (30–9) at 182 and senior Cameron Winkers (30–9) at 195 each placed third in their respective weight class. 

Fennimore rolled to the team title with 254.5 points, finishing ahead of conference rivals Iowa–Grant/Highland (218.5), Mineral Point (210.5) and Darlington/Black Hawk (205.5). 

The host Blackhawks (8–4, 5–0 SWC), the SWC dual meet champion, were fifth (178.5), while Belmont/Platteville (98) tied Richland Center for ninth place.

Gratz (#8 in D3) advanced to the finals with back-to-back byes, then pinned Dodgeville’s Brighton Judd in just 11 seconds in the semifinals. He then pinned Belmont/Platteville junior Porter Mandurano (27–9) 44 seconds into the championship match.

“Evan is really coming on at the right time,” said Fennimore head coach Chad Steldt. “His confidence is growing every week, which is due in much part to his practice partners, especially Bailey Schaefer and the coaches. He is fun to watch when he throws guys.”

Schaefer went 5–0 to win the 285-pound title in Saturday’s JV Clash tournament. 

Crapp (15–5), who worked his way back into the varsity lineup just after Christmas, used a bye, a forfeit and a pin to reach the finals before a 2–1 loss to Mineral Point’s Kade Rule.

Birchman (#2 in D3) also went 3–1 on the day with a bye, a pin and a 16–5 major decision, before suffering a 7–0 loss to Mineral Point’s Lucas Sullivan (32–4, #3 in D3) in the finals.

“It was exciting to see Brecken starting to hit his stride and feel,” added coach Steldt. “A little break did him well and he is definitely on the right track right now to make a state title run. 

“I was pleased with Brett Birchman, but he needs to be more consistent wrestling Sullivan. Both of them are tough wrestlers and the often put a good display on for the fans, but he needs to start winning those matches on a regular basis. He is too talented to lose. 

“It was good to have Tristan back in the lineup. He had a minor setback in the semifinals verse a seasoned Tarrin Riley from Mineral Point, but the coaches really feel Tristan can win that match if he scrambles a little more and sustains inside control with his hand fighting. He is definitely a fun kid to watch.”

Fennimore will compete at Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 Lancaster Regional. The top team from Saturday will advance to the D3 New Lisbon Team Sectional Tuesday night.

The top two individuals in each weight class will advance to the D3 Westby Sectional, Saturday, Feb. 19.

“We will have Amryn Nutter in our lineup at 106 (Saturday at regional), which will be huge, and we might go through some changes in the upper weights giving us the best chance to beat Iowa–Grant,” said coach Steldt. “The team title run starts Saturday and it will be a barn-burner of a tournament, so the more Maroon and Gold in the stands the better! The boys love the support.”

SWC/SWAL Clash
(from Saturday, Feb. 4 @ Prairie du Chien)
Team scores: 1.Fennimore 254.5, 2.Iowa–Grant/Highland 218.5, 3.Mineral Point 210.5, 4.Darlington/Black Hawk 205.5, 5.Prairie du Chien 178.5, 6.Riverdale 130, 7.Lancaster 128.6, 8.Dodgeville 116, 9.Belmont/Platteville 98, 9.Richland Center 98, 11.River Valley 90, 12.Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern 82, 13.Boscobel 16.
Fennimore individual results
106: Dalton Leffler (16-13) placed 6th and scored 12.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-13 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Charlie Meudt (Dodgeville) 25-2 won by fall over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-13 (Fall 0:39)
Cons. Semi - Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-13 won by forfeit over Forfeit Forfeit (Belmont/Platteville) 13-17 (For.)
5th Place Match - Lucas Christianson (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 19-11 won by decision over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-13 (Dec 4-2)
113: Ian Crapp (15-5) placed 2nd and scored 26.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 15-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 15-5 won by forfeit over forfeit.
Semifinal - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 15-5 won by fall over Mason Baumgartner (Prairie du Chien) 16-13 (Fall 2:34)
1st Place Match - Kade Rule (Mineral Point) 17-4 won by decision over Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 15-5 (Dec 2-1)
120: Brecken Muench (26-6) placed 3rd and scored 19.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 26-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 26-6 won by decision over Wyatt Nachreiner (River Valley) 25-13 (Dec 4-0)
Semifinal - Reid Spurley (Dodgeville) 34-0 won by decision over Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 26-6 (Dec 6-0)
3rd Place Match - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 26-6 won by major decision over Jackson McGuire (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 20-14 (MD 9-1)
126: Brett Birchman (36-5) placed 2nd and scored 25.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 36-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 36-5 won by fall over Nolan Wolf (Lancaster) 20-15 (Fall 3:55)
Semifinal - Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 36-5 won by major decision over Carter Spensley (Belmont/Platteville) 29-8 (MD 16-5)
1st Place Match - Lucas Sullivan (Mineral Point) 32-4 won by decision over Brett Birchman (Fennimore) 36-5 (Dec 7-0)
132: Nick Needham (18-15) placed 6th and scored 15.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nick Needham (Fennimore) 18-15 won by tech fall over Braden Prochaska (River Valley) 8-23 (TF-1.5 5:38 (16-1))
Quarterfinal - Rhett Koenig (Prairie du Chien) 38-2 won by major decision over Nick Needham (Fennimore) 18-15 (MD 21-9)
Cons. Semi - Nick Needham (Fennimore) 18-15 won by fall over Trevyn Thielmann (Richland Center) 23-11 (Fall 4:21)
5th Place Match - John Burbach (Belmont/Platteville) 24-12 won by decision over Nick Needham (Fennimore) 18-15 (Dec 6-3)
138: Tristan Steldt (7-2) placed 3rd and scored 20.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Tristan Steldt (Fennimore) 7-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Tristan Steldt (Fennimore) 7-2 won by major decision over Tanner Paulson (Belmont/Platteville) 27-12 (MD 13-5)
Semifinal - Tarrin Riley (Mineral Point) 26-2 won by decision over Tristan Steldt (Fennimore) 7-2 (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match - Tristan Steldt (Fennimore) 7-2 won by tech fall over Drew Hird (Prairie du Chien) 24-10 (TF-1.5 4:25 (15-0))
145: Kaden Hahn (27-12) placed 5th and scored 13.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 27-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Luke Kramer (Prairie du Chien) 33-7 won by decision over Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 27-12 (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Semi - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 27-12 won by tech fall over Jackson VanNatta (Lancaster) 16-17 (TF-1.5 5:00 (17-0))
5th Place Match - Kaden Hahn (Fennimore) 27-12 won by decision over Tyson Imhoff (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-5 (Dec 8-3)
152: Syler Zdanczewicz (16-12) placed 6th and scored 12.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 16-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Colby Lull (Lancaster) 23-11 won by decision over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 16-12 (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Semi - Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 16-12 won by fall over Fox Austin (Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern) 14-18 (Fall 0:50)
5th Place Match - Trey Schulte (River Valley) 25-11 won in sudden victory - 1 over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 16-12 (SV-1 3-1)
160: Wyatt Ahnen (7-13) placed 8th and scored 8.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 7-13 won by tech fall over Aaron Davis (Richland Center) 10-14 (TF-1.5 6:00 (15-0))
Quarterfinal - Ashton Miess (Riverdale) 39-2 won by major decision over Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 7-13 (MD 17-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 7-13 won by decision over Hunter Auliff (River Valley) 7-19 (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Semi - Jimmy Tibbits (Mineral Point) 14-12 won by decision over Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 7-13 (Dec 4-0)
7th Place Match - Mason Winch (Dodgeville) 22-13 won by decision over Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 7-13 (Dec 5-1)
170: Nathan Blaschke (23-18) placed 3rd and scored 19.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 23-18 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 23-18 won by major decision over Kadyn Davis (Belmont/Platteville) 11-14 (MD 14-1)
Semifinal - Brogan Brewer (Prairie du Chien) 28-12 won by fall over Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 23-18 (Fall 0:33)
3rd Place Match - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 23-18 won by decision over Kadin Rynes (Riverdale) 21-14 (Dec 2-0)
182: Cameron Wolf (27-10) placed 3rd and scored 22.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 27-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 27-10 won by fall over Sean Reilly (Dodgeville) 7-8 (Fall 2:30)
Semifinal - Bryce Galle (Lancaster) 28-7 won by fall over Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 27-10 (Fall 1:18)
3rd Place Match - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 27-10 won by fall over Cooper Johnston (Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern) 17-19 (Fall 2:53)
195: Cameron Winkers (30-9) placed 3rd and scored 21.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 30-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 30-9 won by tech fall over Zach Eames (River Valley) 21-14 (TF-1.5 4:51 (18-2))
Semifinal - Cal Dorota (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 33-2 won by tech fall over Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 30-9 (TF-1.5 4:16 (19-4))
3rd Place Match - Cameron Winkers (Fennimore) 30-9 won by fall over Ryan McCartney (Lancaster) 32-6 (Fall 4:47)
220: Wyatt Miles (10-13) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 10-13 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Kane Groom (Boscobel) 19-8 won by decision over Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 10-13 (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Semi - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 10-13 won by decision over John Wachershauser (Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern) 17-15 (Dec 5-3)
5th Place Match - Jackson Kemnitzer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 12-6 won by decision over Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 10-13 (Dec 4-0)
285: Evan Gratz (25-5) placed 1st and scored 30.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 25-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 25-5 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 25-5 won by fall over Brighton Judd (Dodgeville) 12-16 (Fall 0:11)
1st Place Match - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 25-5 won by fall over Porter Mandurano (Belmont/Platteville) 27-9 (Fall 0:44)