MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Jan. 31–Feb. 7)
PREP WRESTLING: SWC/SWAL Clash
By Jason Nihles, Fennimore Times / The Platteville Journal / Boscobel Dials
Fennimore wins sixth Clash title in the past eight years
RICHLAND CENTER — The Division 3 top-ranked Fennimore Golden Eagles crowned three champions, had four runners-up and scored 297 points to edge Division 2 #1-ranked Prairie du Chien (289.5) Saturday to win this year’s SWC/SWAL Clash team title.
It was the Eagles’ sixth Clash title in the past eight years. There was no Clash combined conference tournament in 2020–21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An even more amazing accomplishment considering Fennimore was without senior Brett Birchman and sophomore Tristan Steldt, and lost senior Brecken Muench to an injury during the semifinals. All three will return to the lineup for Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 Mineral Point super regional.
Fennimore sent 12 of their 14 wrestlers to the semifinals and all 14 placed in the top-7 at the 13-team combined conference tournament.
Juniors Ian Crapp (132 pounds), Wyatt Ahnen (182) and Wyatt Miles (220) each won individual titles to lead the Golden Eagles, while freshman Cade Birchman (106), sophomore Amryn Nutter (120), and juniors Cameron Wolf (195) and Evan Gratz (285) each finished second.
Senior Jayden Glassbrenner (138) and sophomore Nathan Blaschke (170) finished third, and junior Dalton Leffler (113), Muench (126) and sophomore Syler Zdanczewicz (145) each placed fourth.
Senior Max Miles rebounded from a quarterfinal loss and won his final three matches to finish fifth at 152.
Sophomore Ryder Zdanczewicz went 1–2 to place seventh at 160.
“What a great day for our kids,” said Fennimore head coach Chad Steldt. “They performed well up and down the line-up. Our JV guys also won several titles, led by Owen Klaas, Drew Crubel, a second-year wrestler, and Carsen French. Taron Crowley and Nick Friemoth, took second but they are really showing a lot of improvement on their feet.
“The varsity guys took care of business and they were very workman-like, which was good because the conference tournament this year was the best in recent history. We had the best teams in Division 3 and Division 2, and the best kids in the state with the most weights with kids ranked 1 through 3 at their respected weight classes.”
Crapp (31–8) won his 132-pound title with a bye, a quarterfinal pin of Lancaster’s Joe Esser, a 3–1 decision over PdC’s Ryder Koenig and a 5–1 victory over Mineral Point’s Kade Rule (D3 #5) in the finals.
“Ian has wrestled well all year, and his drop to 132 really gives him a huge strength advantage, which was obvious to see at conference,” said Steldt. “His crossfit workouts that his brother, Desmond, has him hooked on really has paid-off! More kids need to take advantage of such a lifting regimen. Also, his technical skills have greatly improved over the last few months. His hand fighting and feet movement (coordination) is faster and more precise than it was in November.”
Ahnen (16–4) had a bye, a 7–2 win and a 3–1 decision to reach the 182-pound finals, where he beat Riverdale’s Kadin Rynes (D3 #5), 8–4, for the title.
“Wyatt Ahnen is really coming on,” said Steldt. “We knew if we could dial in Wyatt’s technique that he would be hard to beat. This week he avenged a loss from a couple weeks ago (against Rynes). He stuck to his single legs and a strong cross body ride to mentally break his opponent in the finals. This really allowed Wyatt to take his opponent down at will.”
Miles (19–8) collected a bye, a forfeit win in the quarterfinals, then scored a 6–4 overtime victory over Iowa–Grant/Highland’s Hudson Brown to reach the finals, where he beat Mineral Point’s Mac Busser 5–1 to win the 220-pound title.
“What a comeback day for Wyatt Miles,” said Steldt. “It has been a battle in our room between Wyatt and DaltonWolf for the last two years. Everyone knows these guys are fighting for the spot every week. It was Wyatt’s time to go this weekend and he made the best of it winning his first conference title and sealing the title for the team.”
Cade Birchman (21–7) breezed to the finals with a bye, a 21–5 tech fall and an injury default win before a loss to undefeated Haakon Peterson (14–0) of Dodgeville.
Nutter (31–1) suffered his first loss of the season in the finals, a 2–1 decision against Mineral Point’s Roen Carey (38–4).
Cameron Wolf (28–9) had a bye and two wins to earn his finals berth before a third-period fall against PdC’s Blake Thiry (39–2).
Gratz (30–4) used a bye and back-to-back pins to reach the finals, before a 10–2 loss to Belmont/Platteville senior Porter Mandurano.
Fennimore will travel to Mineral Point Saturday for the 13-team WIAA D3 Mineral Point Super Regional. The four individuals in each weight class will advance to next weekend’s D3 Richland Center Sectional.
The top two teams at the super regional will advance to Tuesday’s WIAA D3 Cashton Team Sectional.
“Overall the team is headed in the right direction,” added Steldt. “We need to get in a little better shape, but we are ahead of where I thought we would be at this time of year. Our techniques are beginning to become individualized, so we should see the speed of our attacks, and our intensity pick up over the next week or so. If we get a couple of bumps and bruises healed and the team is set.”
In other news, Fennimore’s coaching staff was named the SWAL Coaching Staff of the Year following Saturday’s Clash.
“What a pleasant surprise,” said Steldt. “Our staff was recognized this year, by all of the other schools, as the best coaching staff in Southwest Wisconsin. This means a lot to all of us, our community, parents, kids, etc. We have poured our lives into these kids and to the Fennimore community. To be surprised with such an award was humbling for all of us.
“I cannot say enough for my staff, Don Zdanczewicz, Jeff Muench, Chris Lull, Troy Wardell, Riley Lull, Luke Blair, and Justin Tollefson. I cannot express in words how grateful I am for these men. It definitely gets me a little emotional at the minute thinking of this crew and reflecting on what they have given up to invest in these kids. It has been years of dedication without a flinch of doubt. I could never thank them enough.”
SWC/SWAL Clash
(from Saturday, Feb. 4 @ Richland Center)
Team scores — 1.Fennimore 297, 2.Prairie du Chien 289.5, 3.Iowa–Grant/Highland 232, 4.Mineral Point 197, 5.Riverdale 140, 6.Dodgeville 125.5, 7.Belmont/Platteville 123.5, 8.Darlington/Black Hawk 113, 9.River Valley 99, 10.Cuba City/Benton/Southwestern 73, 11.Richland Center 70, 12.Boscobel/Wauzeka–Steuben 27.5, 13.Lancaster 23.
Fennimore individual results
106: Cade Birchman (21-7) placed 2nd and scored 25.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cade Birchman (Fennimore) 21-7 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Cade Birchman (Fennimore) 21-7 won by tech fall over Colton Eisele (Belmont/Platteville) 12-10 (TF-1.5 3:11 (21-5))
Semifinal - Cade Birchman (Fennimore) 21-7 won by injury default over Ethan Hady (Richland Center) 37-6 (Inj. 2:00)
1st Place Match - Haakon Peterson (Dodgeville) 14-0 won by fall over Cade Birchman (Fennimore) 21-7 (Fall 4:49)
113: Dalton Leffler (16-18) placed 4th and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-18 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-18 won by fall over Rolando Santos (Richland Center) 6-8 (Fall 0:39)
Semifinal - Charlie Meudt (Dodgeville) 43-1 won by fall over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-18 (Fall 2:53)
3rd Place Match - Alborz Dehnavi (Belmont/Platteville) 25-14 won by major decision over Dalton Leffler (Fennimore) 16-18 (MD 15-6)
120: Amryn Nutter (31-1) placed 2nd and scored 25.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 31-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 31-1 won by forfeit over Forfeit Forfeit (River Valley) 25-16 (For.)
Semifinal - Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 31-1 won by major decision over Dylan Weigel (Belmont/Platteville) 41-7 (MD 11-3)
1st Place Match - Roen Carey (Mineral Point) 38-4 won by decision over Amryn Nutter (Fennimore) 31-1 (Dec 2-1)
126: Brecken Muench (11-6) placed 4th and scored 17.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 11-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 11-6 won by tech fall over Richard Gilbert (River Valley) 11-7 (TF-1.5 5:30 (16-1))
Semifinal - Drake Ingham (Prairie du Chien) 27-9 won by medical forfeit over Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 11-6 (M. For.)
3rd Place Match - Nathan Johnson (Dodgeville) 16-9 won by medical forfeit over Brecken Muench (Fennimore) 11-6 (M. For.)
132: Ian Crapp (34-8) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 34-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 34-8 won by fall over Joe Esser (Lancaster) 20-17 (Fall 2:44)
Semifinal - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 34-8 won by decision over Ryder Koenig (Prairie du Chien) 23-9 (Dec 3-1)
1st Place Match - Ian Crapp (Fennimore) 34-8 won by decision over Kade Rule (Mineral Point) 23-12 (Dec 5-1)
138: Jayden Glasbrenner (19-4) placed 3rd and scored 22.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 19-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 19-4 won by fall over Wyatt Nachreiner (River Valley) 27-13 (Fall 1:41)
Semifinal - Lucas Sullivan (Mineral Point) 38-4 won by major decision over Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 19-4 (MD 15-1)
3rd Place Match - Jayden Glasbrenner (Fennimore) 19-4 won by medical forfeit over Owen Seffrood (Darlington/Black Hawk) 36-4 (M. For.)
145: Syler Zdanczewicz (18-14) placed 4th and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 18-14 won by fall over Tyler Kisamore (Belmont/Platteville) 22-11 (Fall 1:35)
Semifinal - Landon Radtke (River Valley) 37-7 won in the ultimate tie breaker over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 18-14 (UTB 3-2)
3rd Place Match - Tyson Imhoff (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 31-8 won by major decision over Syler Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 18-14 (MD 10-2)
152: Max Miles (15-7) placed 5th and scored 14.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Jimmy Tibbits (Mineral Point) 16-16 won by decision over Max Miles (Fennimore) 15-7 (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Semi - Max Miles (Fennimore) 15-7 won by major decision over Talan Childs (Riverdale) 23-17 (MD 11-2)
5th Place Match - Max Miles (Fennimore) 15-7 won by major decision over Nolan Wolf (Lancaster) 20-19 (MD 13-2)
160: Ryder Zdanczewicz (1-2) placed 7th and scored 6.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ashton Miess (Riverdale) 41-4 won by fall over Ryder Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 1-2 (Fall 0:40)
Cons. Semi - Trey Schulte (River Valley) 34-13 won by decision over Ryder Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 1-2 (Dec 9-2)
7th Place Match - Ryder Zdanczewicz (Fennimore) 1-2 won by decision over Quenten Gunderson (Mineral Point) 5-10 (Dec 8-6)
170: Nathan Blaschke (25-15) placed 3rd and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 25-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 25-15 won by decision over Kole Breininger (Richland Center) 29-11 (Dec 4-3)
Semifinal - Brogan Brewer (Prairie du Chien) 35-6 won in tie breaker - 1 over Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 25-15 (TB-1 2-1)
3rd Place Match - Nathan Blaschke (Fennimore) 25-15 won by decision over Gavin Hinderman (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-13 (Dec 1-0)
182: Wyatt Ahnen (16-4) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 16-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 16-4 won by decision over Graham Fitzsimmons (Mineral Point) 20-15 (Dec 7-2)
Semifinal - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 16-4 won by decision over Bryce Lenzendorf (Prairie du Chien) 22-14 (Dec 3-1)
1st Place Match - Wyatt Ahnen (Fennimore) 16-4 won by decision over Kadin Rynes (Riverdale) 39-7 (Dec 8-4)
195: Cameron Wolf (28-9) placed 2nd and scored 26.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 28-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 28-9 won by fall over Cruz Salazar (Richland Center) 4-11 (Fall 0:21)
Semifinal - Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 28-9 won by fall over Zach Eames (River Valley) 27-15 (Fall 1:57)
1st Place Match - Blake Thiry (Prairie du Chien) 39-2 won by fall over Cameron Wolf (Fennimore) 28-9 (Fall 5:24)
220: Wyatt Miles (19-8) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 19-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 19-8 won by forfeit over Forfeit Forfeit (Dodgeville) 14-19 (For.)
Semifinal - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 19-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Hudson Brown (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 26-11 (SV-1 6-4)
1st Place Match - Wyatt Miles (Fennimore) 19-8 won by decision over Mac Busser (Mineral Point) 24-13 (Dec 5-1)
285: Evan Gratz (30-4) placed 2nd and scored 26.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 30-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 30-4 won by fall over Jack Simmons (Prairie du Chien) 12-6 (Fall 2:31)
Semifinal - Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 30-4 won by fall over Bryan Lazaro (Darlington/Black Hawk) 26-18 (Fall 0:50)
1st Place Match - Porter Mandurano (Belmont/Platteville) 31-2 won by major decision over Evan Gratz (Fennimore) 30-4 (MD 10-2)
