MINERAL POINT — Generally speaking, experience dominated the day at Saturday’s SWC/SWAL Clash conference wrestling tournament at Mineral Point High School.

Of the 14 individual conference titles handed out, 10 were won by upperclassmen, including seven by state-ranked seniors.

But a handful of sophomores broke through on the grand stage, including a pair of Iowa–Grant/Highland grapplers.

Highland sophomore Max Maylor won the 132-pound conference title a year after finishing second at 126.

Iowa–Grant sophomore Brady Peat joined Maylor in his climb to the top of the medal stand by winning the 160-pound crown. He also finished second at the Clash a year earlier. 

Maylor and Peat led the Panthers to a fourth-place team finish at the 13-team event. The Iowa–Grant/Highland co-op earned seven top-five finishes and scored 208.5 points.

SWAL duals champion Fennimore crowned four champions to win the team title with 282 points. SWC champion River Valley finished second with 250 points one point ahead of SWAL runner-up Mineral Point (249).

Maylor (33–6) used a first-round bye, a first-period pin of Richland Center’s Tylor Miller and a 14–4 major decision over River Valley’s Nate Jennings to reach the finals.

In the 132-pound championship bout, Maylor was a technician, dominating Lancaster senior Owen Austin to claim the title with an 18–3 technical fall.

Maylor has high hopes for the rest of this year after gong 43–12 and placing sixth at state as a freshman.

Peat (30–7) dominated throughout the Clash, posting back-to-back first-period pins over Richland Center’s Evan Thomas (0:45) and Cuba City/Southwestern’s Tyre Hall (1:01) after a first-round bye to reach the finals.

Peat then scored a 19–9 major decision over Mineral Point’s Riley Workman in the championship. Workman, was a surprise finalist after pinning second-seeded Lucas Fugate of Belmont/Platteville in the final seconds. Workman trailed Fugate 10–4 with 15 seconds left before scoring the improbable win.

Iowa–Grant junior Sawyer Sarbacker’s quest for a conference title came up one win short. Sarbacker finished second at 113 pounds after a 6–2 loss to Riley Lull of Fennimore. Lull (27–5), the top-ranked wrestler in Division 3 at 120 pounds dropped down a weight class for the conference tournament.

Sarbacker (34–6) was a state qualifier a year ago at 106.

Iowa–Grant freshman Drew Hennessey (24–7) place third at 170 pounds in his first appearance at the Clash. He suffered a semifinal loss to eventual runner-up junior Elijah Alt (35–3) of River Valley, but bounced back with a 5–1 decision over Dodgeville’s Zack Weber. 

Senior Brent Rider went 2–2 and finished fourth at 220 pounds.

Junior Ron Allen overcame a semifinal loss to Prairie du Chien’s Reid Koenig, by winning his final two matches to place fifth at 106 pounds.

Sophomore Clayton Kite also went 3–1 and finished fifth at 138 pounds.

Sophomore Clint Havlik went 3–2 and placed sixth at 182 pounds. 

Coach Ryan Allen’s Panthers will now begin preparations for the postseason, which begins with Saturday’s WIAA Division 3 regional at Riverdale High School in Muscoda. The top two finishers in each weight class will advance to the D3 Mineral Point Sectional on Saturday, Feb. 20. The regional team champion will qualify for the D3 Royall Team Sectional that will be held Tuesday night. 

SWC/SWAL Clash

(from Saturday, Feb. 6 @ Mineral Point)

Team scores — 1.Fennimore 282, 2.River Valley 250, 3.Mineral Point 249, 4.Iowa–Grant/Highland 208.5, 5.Darlington/Black Hawk 194, 6.Prairie du Chien 189, 7.Dodgeville 149, 8.Lancaster 148, 9.Riverdale 113, 10.Boscobel 101, 11.Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton 84.5, 12.Belmont/Platteville 50, 13.Richland Center 30.5.

Iowa–Grant/Highland individual results

106 — Ron Allen (8-2) placed 5th and scored 17.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Ron Allen (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-2 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Reid Koenig (Prairie du Chien) 6-3 won by fall over Ron Allen (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-2 (Fall 1:54)

Cons. Semi - Ron Allen (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-2 won by major decision over Max Miller (Dodgeville) 3-5 (MD 13-5)

5th Place Match - Ron Allen (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-2 won by fall over Caleb Lucey (Lancaster) 5-4 (Fall 4:51)

113 — Sawyer Sarbacker (9-1) placed 2nd and scored 26.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa Grant/Highland) 9-1 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa Grant/Highland) 9-1 received a bye () (Bye)

Semifinal - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa Grant/Highland) 9-1 won by decision over Caleb Radtke (River Valley) 8-1 (Dec 3-0)

1st Place Match - Riley Lull (Fennimore) 8-0 won by decision over Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa Grant/Highland) 9-1 (Dec 6-2)

120 — Noah Pennekamp (4-5) placed 7th and scored 8.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Noah Pennekamp (Iowa Grant/Highland) 4-5 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Collin Lull (Lancaster) 4-5 won by fall over Noah Pennekamp (Iowa Grant/Highland) 4-5 (Fall 0:45)

Cons. Semi - Brandon Mindham (Boscobel) 14-12 won by fall over Noah Pennekamp (Iowa Grant/Highland) 4-5 (Fall 1:32)

7th Place Match - Noah Pennekamp (Iowa Grant/Highland) 4-5 won by fall over Brock Rule (Dodgeville) 1-7 (Fall 1:36)

126 — Logan Wilson (3-4) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Logan Wilson (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-4 won by fall over Alex Sargent (Belmont/Platteville) 1-5 (Fall 1:47)

Quarterfinal - Alston Nutter (Fennimore) 6-0 won by fall over Logan Wilson (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-4 (Fall 1:03)

Cons. Round 2 - Tyler Bell (Dodgeville) 3-2 won by fall over Logan Wilson (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-4 (Fall 1:00)

132 — Max Maylor (10-0) placed 1st and scored 32.50 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Max Maylor (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Max Maylor (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by fall over Tylor Miller (Richland Center) 3-5 (Fall 1:39)

Semifinal - Max Maylor (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by major decision over Nate Jennings (River Valley) 7-2 (MD 14-4)

1st Place Match - Max Maylor (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by tech fall over Owen Austin (Lancaster) 8-1 (TF-1.5 5:00 (18-3))

138 — Clayton Kite (8-3) placed 5th and scored 22.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Clayton Kite (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-3 won by fall over Logan Morris (Richland Center) 0-7 (Fall 3:07)

Quarterfinal - Mason Wipperfurth (River Valley) 6-3 won by fall over Clayton Kite (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-3 (Fall 0:49)

Cons. Semi - Clayton Kite (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-3 won by fall over Tyler Smock (Prairie du Chien) 6-4 (Fall 2:53)

5th Place Match - Clayton Kite (Iowa Grant/Highland) 8-3 won by fall over Shaedyn Lane (Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton) 19-19 (Fall 2:04)

145 — Travis Arndt (3-8) placed 8th and scored 11.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Travis Arndt (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-8 won by forfeit over forfeit forfeit (Dodgeville) 0-2 (For.)

Quarterfinal - Caleb Johnson (Riverdale) 8-2 won by major decision over Travis Arndt (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-8 (MD 10-1)

Cons. Round 2 - Travis Arndt (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-8 won by fall over Sam Hart (Richland Center) 2-5 (Fall 2:09)

Cons. Semi - Caleb Novak (Darlington/Black Hawk) 6-5 won by fall over Travis Arndt (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-8 (Fall 4:42)

7th Place Match - Alex Busch (Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton) 18-18 won in sudden victory - 1 over Travis Arndt (Iowa Grant/Highland) 3-8 (SV-1 7-5)

152 — Trae Kuenster (0-4) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Zach Swiggum (Prairie du Chien) 4-5 won by fall over Trae Kuenster (Iowa Grant/Highland) 0-4 (Fall 1:33)

Cons. Round 2 - Tanner Bassett (Boscobel) 14-17 won by fall over Trae Kuenster (Iowa Grant/Highland) 0-4 (Fall 4:04)

160 — Brady Peat (10-0) placed 1st and scored 33.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Brady Peat (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Brady Peat (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by fall over Evan Thomas (Richland Center) 3-6 (Fall 0:45)

Semifinal - Brady Peat (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by fall over Tyre Hall (Cuba City/Southwestern/Benton) 15-19 (Fall 1:01)

1st Place Match - Brady Peat (Iowa Grant/Highland) 10-0 won by major decision over Riley Workman (Mineral Point) 8-2 (MD 19-10)

170 — Drew Hennessey (6-2) placed 3rd and scored 20.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Drew Hennessey (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-2 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Drew Hennessey (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-2 won by decision over Ethan Swiggum (Prairie du Chien) 7-3 (Dec 8-4)

Semifinal - Elijah Alt (River Valley) 8-1 won by fall over Drew Hennessey (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-2 (Fall 1:30)

3rd Place Match - Drew Hennessey (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-2 won by decision over Zack Weber (Dodgeville) 7-2 (Dec 5-1)

182 — Clint Havlik (6-5) placed 6th and scored 16.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Clint Havlik (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-5 won by fall over Jonathon Geisking (Dodgeville) 1-6 (Fall 3:14)

Quarterfinal - Sawyer Wallace (Mineral Point) 9-1 won by fall over Clint Havlik (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-5 (Fall 2:59)

Cons. Semi - Clint Havlik (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-5 won by decision over Brock Mahoney (River Valley) 5-4 (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match - Stephen Ronnfeldt (Prairie du Chien) 8-1 won by fall over Clint Havlik (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-5 (Fall 1:41)

220 — Brent Rider (6-4) placed 4th and scored 19.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Brent Rider (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-4 received a bye () (Bye)

Quarterfinal - Brent Rider (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-4 won by major decision over Alex Peters (Richland Center) 4-2 (MD 12-2)

Semifinal - Taylor Evenstad (Darlington/Black Hawk) 8-1 won by fall over Brent Rider (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-4 (Fall 2:58)

3rd Place Match - Cody McCollough (Fennimore) 8-2 won by decision over Brent Rider (Iowa Grant/Highland) 6-4 (Dec 9-6)