LA CROSSE — Iowa–Grant senior Sawyer Sarbacker comes from a long line of prodigious wrestling pedigree.

Sarbacker’s father Tim was a state qualifier in high school, and his older brothers Cade and Tucker both won individual state championships for the Panthers, Cade in 2006 and 2007, Tucker in 2013.

Last Friday night, the youngest of the Sarbacker clan cemented his legacy among the wrestling brood when he won the 120-pound title at the 35th annual Bi-State Classic, something neither of his elder siblings had the opportunity to do. Iowa–Grant/Highland previously wrestled at the Mid-States Classic in Whitewater until switching to Bi-State three seasons ago.

Sarbacker (17–1, currently ranked third in Division 3) won his Bi-State crown in dramatic fashion taking out a pair of defending state champions to do so. Friday morning, he defeated two-time defending Division 3 state champion A.J. Schoenfuss 3–2 in the 120-pound semifinals.

Later that night, he held off defending Division 2 106-pound state champion Bryce Bosman of Luxemburg–Casco to win the title.

In the semis, Sarbacker scored a big escape in the third period to go up by one, and stayed on the offensive, firing off shots the rest of the match.

In the finals, he again escaped midway through the third to go up by a point, but really scrambled well to fend off takedown attempts by Bosman.

“Sawyer had a great tournament,” said Iowa–Grant/Highland head coach Ryan Allen. “I thought he wrestled with a lot of confidence and did a great job of putting himself in positions where he can score points. Sawyer definitely turned a corner this weekend but we need to keep our eyes focused on our goals for the end of the year.”

Sarbacker is a two-time state qualifier. Another two-time state qualifier also fared well for the Panthers last week. Highland junior Max Maylor went 5–1 and placed second at 152 pounds.

Maylor (17–1) survived a 9–8 decision against previously undefeated Jacob Anderson of Hudson in the quarterfinals, then defeated Sparta’s Brett Von Ruden 9–4 to advance to finals. He ended his tournament with hard-fought 4–1 loss, his first of the season, to West Salem/Bangor’s Devin Bahr.

“Max also wrestled a great tournament,” said Allen. “He beat a very good undefeated Hudson wrestler in the quarters by scoring four takedowns to get the win. In the semis we got taken down early, but Max again came back with several takedowns in the third period to seal the win. In the finals we gave up a takedown in the first period and Max just couldn’t find a way out from a very tough wrestler.”

Iowa–Grant junior Brady Peat (16–4) suffered a 1–0 loss to eventual runner-up Elijah Alt (17–1) of River Valley, but battled back to finish sixth at 170 pounds. He went 5–2 with three pins and a technical fall during the two-day tournament.

Highland sophomore Drew Hennessey (11–6), a D3 state runner-up a year ago as a freshman, went 4–2 at Bi-State but did not place. He suffered a second-round loss to Dodgeville’s Zack Weber and responded with three straight pins, but was knocked out of the tourney with a consolation loss to Athens’ Marshall Westfall.

Freshman Alec Zimmer (8–7) went 2–2 at 113 pounds. Junior Clayton Kite (12–4)
went 2–2 at 145 pounds.

As a team, Iowa–Grant compiled 134.5 points to finish third out of 19 teams in Division 3. The Panthers placed 18th overall out of 60 teams.

“It was great for the team to earn a trophy for third place for Division 3,” added coach Allen. “When you have a couple guys in the finals and a sixth place finisher, you score a lot of points at these big tourneys.  I hope we can keep improving and use this tourney as another step toward the end of the year tournaments.”

The Panthers (5–2, 1–1 SWAL duals, ranked 7th in Division 3) return to action Friday with a Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League dual at second-ranked Fennimore (6–2, 2–0 SWAL). The I–G co-op when then compete at the Lancaster Invitational on Saturday before traveling to Dodgeville for a non-conference dual meet on Tuesday.

35th Annual Bi-State Classic
(from Dec. 29–30 @ La Crosse Civic Center)
Division 3 team scores — 1.Stratford 367.5, 2.Athens 169.5, 3.Iowa–Grant/Highland 134.5, 4.Caledonia/Houston 125, 5.Goodhue (MN) 125, 6.Cashton 85, 7.Riverdale 58, 8.Ithaca/Weston 56, 9.Westby 55.5, 10.Lancaster 45, 11.New Lisbon 38, 12.Boscobel 36, 13.Auburndale 33.5, 14.Hillsboro 22, 15.Royall 21.5, 16.Independence/Gilmanton 13, 17.De Soto 11, 18.Kickapoo/La Farge 4, 19.North Crawford/Seneca 3.
Iowa–Grant/Highland individual results
113 — Alec Zimmer (8-7) place is unknown and scored 5.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Alec Zimmer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 8-7 received a bye () (Bye
Champ. Round 2 - Eli Davidson (Baraboo) 5-3 won by decision over Alec Zimmer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 8-7 (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Alec Zimmer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 8-7 won by fall over Jacob Fanning (Hudson) 0-5 (Fall 2:06)
Cons. Round 3 - Alec Zimmer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 8-7 won by major decision over Isaac Jones (Richland Center) 6-11 (MD 9-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Caiden Buehler (West Salem/Bangor) 10-7 won by fall over Alec Zimmer (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 8-7 (Fall 5:35)
120 — Sawyer Sarbacker (17-1) placed 1st and scored 44.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by fall over Matt Jeffers (La Crosse Logan) 1-5 (Fall 1:06)
Champ. Round 2 - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by fall over Sam Schwendinger (Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson) 6-4 (Fall 0:44)
Champ. Round 3 - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over Sawyer Hamilton (Ellsworth) 17-5 (Dec 3-2)
Quarterfinal - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over Trey Kruse (Stillwater) 15-4 (Dec 7-0)
Semifinal - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over A. J. Schoenfuss (Stratford) 17-3 (Dec 3-2)
1st Place Match - Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over Bryce Bosman (Luxemburg-Casco) 25-3 (Dec 3-2)
126 — Noah Pennekamp (2-12) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Derek Marten (Stratford) 18-3 won by fall over Noah Pennekamp (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 2-12 (Fall 0:24)
Cons. Round 2 - Austin Mowery (Westby) 11-6 won by decision over Noah Pennekamp (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 2-12 (Dec 7-4)
132 — Jason Sedbrook (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Gavin Burch (Ithaca/Weston) 10-2 won by fall over Jason Sedbrook (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 0-2 (Fall 1:44)
Cons. Round 1 - Jason Sedbrook (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 0-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Dylan Casey (Portage) 10-7 won by fall over Jason Sedbrook (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 0-2 (Fall 2:42)
138 — Matthew Winders (4-10) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dominic Jenkins (Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson) 13-4 won by fall over Matthew Winders (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 4-10 (Fall 3:06)
Cons. Round 2 - Bryce Shaw (Spencer/Columbus Catholic) 11-4 won by fall over Matthew Winders (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 4-10 (Fall 3:54)
145 — Clayton Kite (12-4) place is unknown and scored 8.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 12-4 won by fall over Riley Stewart (West Salem/Bangor) 1-8 (Fall 1:13)
Champ. Round 2 - Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 12-4 won by fall over Wyatt McCutchen (Holmen) 8-11 (Fall 3:02)
Champ. Round 3 - Jaden Winchel (Sparta) 15-1 won by fall over Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 12-4 (Fall 1:36)
Cons. Round 4 - Jake Midby (Hudson) 11-3 won by fall over Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 12-4 (Fall 2:18)
152 — Max Maylor (17-1) placed 2nd and scored 39.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by major decision over Reed Williams (Holmen) 14-7 (MD 10-2)
Champ. Round 3 - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by fall over Matt Chambers (Mauston) 13-7 (Fall 5:13)
Quarterfinal - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over Jacob Anderson (Hudson) 13-2 (Dec 9-8)
Semifinal - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 won by decision over Brett Von Ruden (Sparta) 12-5 (Dec 9-4)
1st Place Match - Devin Bahr (West Salem/Bangor) 17-0 won by decision over Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 17-1 (Dec 4-1)
170 — Brady Peat (16-4) placed 6th and scored 29.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 won by fall over Michael Kane (Pulaski) 0-2 (Fall 1:48)
Champ. Round 2 - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 won by fall over Conor Vatland (Westby) 13-8 (Fall 0:40)
Champ. Round 3 - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 won by fall over Hunter Kluender (Baraboo) 11-5 (Fall 0:31)
Quarterfinal - Elijah Alt (River Valley) 17-1 won by decision over Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 (Dec 1-0)
Cons. Round 6 - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 won by tech fall over Kevin Thole (Stillwater) 13-8 (TF-1.5 4:50 (17-2))
Cons. Round 7 - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 won by decision over Tyler Hannah (Viroqua) 19-4 (Dec 5-4)
Cons. Semi - Alex Lindstrom (Eastview) 14-1 won by decision over Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 (Dec 7-4)
5th Place Match - David Marquardt (Stratford) 16-3 won by decision over Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-4 (Dec 1-0)
182 — Drew Hennessey (11-6) place is unknown and scored 9.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Zack Weber (Dodgeville) 3-4 won by fall over Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 (Fall 3:29)
Cons. Round 2 - Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 won by fall over Jacob Kimpfbeck (Baraboo) 1-2 (Fall 0:34)
Cons. Round 3 - Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 won by fall over Dylan Schoenherr (Stratford) 13-4 (Fall 4:53)
Cons. Round 4 - Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 won by fall over Noah Keith (Bloomington Kennedy) 9-3 (Fall 2:42)
Cons. Round 5 - Marshall Westfall (Athens) 15-5 won by fall over Drew Hennessey (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 11-6 (Fall 2:37)
195 — Clint Havlik (5-9) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jack Westcott (Holmen) 17-6 won by fall over Clint Havlik (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 5-9 (Fall 1:27)
Cons. Round 1 - Clint Havlik (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 5-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Caden Straka (Lancaster) 11-6 won by decision over Clint Havlik (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 5-9 (Dec 6-1)