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Senior trio claims WIAA state wrestling titles
Belmont/Plattevilles Wiegel, IowaGrant/Highlands Maylor, Peat go out on top
Wiegel
Belmont/Platteville senior Isaac Wiegel closed out his career with a dramatic 43 victory over Two Rivers Cody Holmes in the 120-pound Division 2 state championship match Saturday night at the Kohl Center. Wiegel finished the season with a record of 464.

MADISON — Belmont/Platteville senior Isaac Wiegel is a four-year veteran of the WIAA state tournament. 

So is Iowa–Grant/Highland senior Max Maylor, and his teammate senior Brady Peat was making his third state appearance this past weekend at the Kohl Center in Madison. All three are no stranger to the highs and lows of the state wrestling tournament.

Saturday night each experienced the ultimate high that will last a lifetime, etching their names into the WIAA record book for all time winning state championships in the final match of their prep careers.

Wiegel (46–4) scored a reversal with 45 seconds left in the Division 2 120-pound title match and held on to defeat defending state champion Cody Holmes of Two Rivers, 4–3, to claim his first state title and second in the history of Belmont High School. It was just the third in the history of the Belmont/Platteville co-op. 

Wiegel and Holmes exchanged takedowns in the second period, then Holmes scored an escape to take a 3–2 lead into the final period. Wiegel’s reversal with less than a minute left were the final points.

“In the third period, Isaac was in a bit of a tight spot, we knew if he could hold one that Holmes was getting high and we could get the reversal and that is what happened. Then we rode him out for the victory,” said Belmont/Platteville head coach Andrew Campbell. “We are very proud of Isaac for winning his state title. He definitely earned this title with all of the hard work that he put  in the offseason and before school.”

Maylor (45–1), who entered the Division 3 state tournament ranked first, capped a remarkable season winning the 160-pound D3 title with a 91-second pin of Saint Croix Falls senior Clay Carney (40–8), giving Iowa–Grant/Highland its first state title since Luke Nowak in 2014.

“Max also came out ready and got a pin in the first round,” said Iowa–Grant/Highland head coach Ryan Allen. “In the semis, Max didn’t wrestle his best match but still was in control of the match and got the win. In the finals Max was ready to go and came out firing and got a cradle in the first period for the pin. It has been an incredible journey with Max the last four years. He has put a lot of time into reaching this goal and to watch it all unfold has been fun.”

A half hour later Peat (44–3), who also entered state ranked number one in his weight class a year after finishing runner-up last year and fifth as sophomore, won the 182-pound Division 3 title with a 6–2 victory over Athens’ Marshall Westfall.

Peat’s championship also gave the Panthers multiple state champions in the same season since Cade Sarbacker and Rory Edge won state titles in 2007. Sarbacker and Edge were also champions in 2006.

“ Brady got a surprising forfiet in the first round due to an injury,” said Allen. “It didn’t seem to affect him at all as he dominated a solid wrestler in the semis getting a 7–1 victory. In the finals, Brady dominated again getting a take down early and back points late to win 6–2. I was very happy for Bardy as he is a great kid who has worked very hard for this.”

Wiegel, who placed third as junior and fourth as a sophomore at the state tournament, open this year’s championship run with a 2–1 victory over Freedom’s Koy Murphy (26–19) in Friday’s quarterfinal found after getting a late takedown in the third period to advance.

“Those long kids can be difficult to close the gap on and be offensive,” said Campbell. “Isaac did a great job staying calm after he gave up the escape in the third period to going down 1–0. He stayed focused and got the clutch takedown at the end.”

Wiegel then dominated Jacek Nickowski of Baldwin–Woodville 10–2 in Friday night’s semifinals.

“He set the tone from the beginning of the match, he was very effective with his front headlocks and was very tough on top,” said Campbell. “He controlled that match from start to finish.”

Wiegel finished his career with an overall record of 163–28.

“It has been amazing coaching him in high school.  He has been somebody from day one who has been a great leader with all of the hard work he has put in.”

Maylor pinned  Mishicot’s Sawyer Young in the quarterfinals, then defeated Cadott’s  James Pfeiffer 11–8 in Friday’s night’s semifinals to advance to the championship round. Maylor finished his career with a record of 174–23.

Peat received a quarterfinal forfeit, then defeated Edgar’s William Raatz 7–1 in the semifinals. He finished his career with a record of 155–33.

Iowa–Grant senior Clayton Kite also finished his career at the state tournament. Kite (16–5), who battled a shoulder injury early in the season, pinned Josiah Maatillor in Thursday’s opening round, but lost his next two matches to eventual champion Brock Schlough (47–0) of Boyceville and Shamus McLain (40–9) of Coleman and did not place at 152 pounds.

“Clay did an awesome job in his first match,” said Allen. “He came out ready and got a first period pin. In the second round he ran into a stud who was the eventual champ and just couldn’t do much. In his last match he wrestled aggressively but we were down by a couple points so Clay tried a throw and ended up going to his back. 

“I was very happy with the way Clay overcame a serious shoulder injury this season and qualified for state for the second year in a row. We will miss his toughness next year for sure.”

Kite finished his career with a record of 86–52.

“This tournament put a stamp on an excellent year for us,” added Allen. “I have an excellent coaching staff that deserves a lot of credit and I just feel lucky to get to work with such great kids and families.”

 

WIAA Division 2 State Championships

(from Thursday–Saturday, Feb. 23–24 @ Kohl Center, Madison)

Top 5 team scores — 1.Luxemburg–Casco 85, 2.Freedom 65, 3.Two Rivers 61.5, 4.Ellsworth 57, 5.Prairie du Chien 54...22(tie).Belmont/Platteville 21.

Belmont/Platteville state qualifiers

120 — Isaac Wiegel (46-4) placed 1st and scored 21.00 team points.

Quarterfinal - Isaac Wiegel (Belmont/Platteville) 46-4 won by decision over Koy Murphy (Freedom) 26-19 (Dec 2-1)

Semifinal - Isaac Wiegel (Belmont/Platteville) 46-4 won by major decision over Jacek Nickowski (Baldwin-Woodville) 22-5 (MD 10-2)

1st Place Match - Isaac Wiegel (Belmont/Platteville) 46-4 won by decision over Cody Holmes (Two Rivers) 45-5 (Dec 4-3)

 

WIAA Division 3 State Championships

(from Thursday–Saturday, Feb. 23–24 @ Kohl Center, Madison)

Top 5 team scores — 1.Stratford 143.5, 2.Coleman 80.5, 3.Boyceville 75.5, 4.Fennimore 68.5, 5.Clear Lake 54, 6.Iowa–Grant/Highland 50

Iowa–Grant/Highland state qualifiers

152 — Clayton Kite (16-5) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points.

Champ. Round 1 - Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-5 won by fall over Josiah Maatilor (Oostburg) 29-11 (Fall 1:03)

Quarterfinal - Brock Schlough (Boyceville) 47-0 won by tech fall over Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-5 (TF-1.5 4:14 (16-0))

Cons. Round 1 - Shamus McLain (Coleman) 40-9 won by fall over Clayton Kite (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 16-5 (Fall 3:40)

160 — Max Maylor (45-1) placed 1st and scored 24.00 team points.

Quarterfinal - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 45-1 won by fall over Sawyer Young (Mishicot) 19-8 (Fall 1:43)

Semifinal - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 45-1 won by decision over James Pfeiffer (Cadott) 42-4 (Dec 11-8)

1st Place Match - Max Maylor (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 45-1 won by fall over Clay Carney (Saint Croix Falls) 40-8 (Fall 1:31)

182 — Brady Peat (44-3) placed 1st and scored 22.00 team points.

Quarterfinal - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 44-3 won by forfeit over Jacob Banker (Bonduel) 36-4 (For.)

Semifinal - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 44-3 won by decision over William Raatz (Edgar) 33-5 (Dec 7-1)

1st Place Match - Brady Peat (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 44-3 won by decision over Marshall Westfall (Athens) 39-6 (Dec 6-2)