MINERAL POINT – The Flying Arrow wrestling team crowned three individual champions at last Saturday’s SWC/SWAL Conference Clash, while coach Brad Sturmer’s squad finished fourth of 13 competing teams.
The host Pointers claimed the team title with 268 points, having two individual champions, one runner-up and five third-place finishers.
Riverdale was second with 225 points and two champions, while River Valley finished third with 213.5 points, two champions and three runners-up.
Lancaster finished the meet with 198.5 total points, while crowning three individual champions and two runners-up.
Claiming individual titles for Lancaster were 126-pound senior Kyle Mezera, 132-pound junior Cole Martin, and 182-pound junior David Chadd.
Following a first-round bye, Mezera won his first two matches with first-period pins, and did the same in his championship match against Frank Baker of Mineral Point.
With this year’s 126-pound conference title, Mezera (37-2) became the first wrestler in Lancaster history to win four conference championships.
Martin (14-0), who now has three conference titles under his belt, also received a first-round bye, and followed up with a technical fall in his first match, followed by a second-period pin.
In his championship match against J.J. Donar of Cuba City/Southwestern, Martin won an 8-2 decision to claim the 132-pound conference title.
Like the other two champions from Lancaster, Chadd (37-2) also had a first-round bye, which he followed up with a first-period pin and then a second-period pin in the semifinals.
In his championship match against Cody Rider of Iowa-Grant/Highland, Chadd was able to escape with an 8-7 decision, and the 182-pound conference title, his second of his three-year career.
Midway through the match, Chadd got slammed and had to take several minutes to regain his focus, but wound up scoring a late escape to pull out the one-point victory.
At 152 pounds, Lancaster senior Trenton Cornell (34-1) entered the meet with an unblemished record of 31-0, which he improved on with a first-round bye, followed by a back-to-back major decision victories.
In the championship match though, River Valley’s Joe Crook handed Cornell his first loss of the season, on an 8-2 decision.
“Trenton did not wrestle very well, and he knows that,” said coach Sturmer. “He wasn’t feeling the best, but regardless, he will learn from this and escalate his performance going into the WIAA tournament.”
“He did the same thing last year and turned it on after conference to win the D3 state title at 145 pounds,” Sturmer added.
At 170 pounds, Lancaster senior Ethan Soderstrom (14-3) came into the competition with a sore shoulder, but followed up a first-round bye with back-to-back pins in his first two matches.
His championship match with Brady Wetter of Dodgeville didn’t go the way he had planned though, and wound up suffering a 4-2 loss.
Two times in the championship match, Soderstrom’s shoulder was obviously giving him problems, but the determined senior wasn’t about to throw in the towel.
“Ethan is trying to battle through the pain and is giving a He-man type effort to make another run at a WIAA state title,” said Sturmer.
“I told him that regardless of what happens, he is a two-time state champion and no one can take that away from him. If he doesn’t get a third (state title), everyone knows why, and obviously can’t blame his lack of effort,” Sturmer added.
Other place winners for Lancaster on Saturday included 138-pound sophomore Dustin Reynolds (23-10) who placed fourth, 106-pound senior Lizzy Austin (17-19) who placed sixth, and 120-pound junior Tyson Wolf (23-12) who placed sixth.
Winning a conference title at Friday night’s J.V. Clash was 126-pound sophomore Owen Austin (11-7), whom coach Sturmer has very high praise for.
“Owen is probably the best wrestler that I’ve coached that we are unable to have a varsity spot for at the end of the season,” said Sturmer.
“He is unfortunately behind Kyle, and with Cole above him, there is no place for him to wrestle. He will be a force for the next couple years and I look for him to push to make his own appearance at the state tournament whether it be next year or the year after.”
This Saturday, the Flying Arrows will begin their quest for a return trip to the Team State Finals, as they head to Patch Grove for the D3 regional meet held at River Ridge High School. Match action will begin at 10 a.m.
“Because of the holes at 195, 220 and 285, we are an underdog in the regional tournament,” said coach Sturmer. “It will take a peak performance from each of our team members, but it can be done. I know this team will not go down without a fight.”
Other teams in the regional include: Fennimore, Iowa-Grant/Highland, Mineral Point, Pecatonica/Argyle and River Ridge/Cassville.
SWC/SWAL Clash
(from Saturday, Feb. 8, at Mineral Point)
Team scores - 1. Mineral Point 268; 2. Riverdale 225; 3. River Valley 213.5; 4. Lancaster 198.5; 5. Iowa-Grant/Highland 171; 6. Fennimore 159.5; 7. Prairie du Chien/Wauzeka-Stueben 157; 8. Darlington/Blackhawk 142; 9. Cuba City/Southwestern 127; 10. Boscobel 115; 11. Richland Center 114; 12. Dodgeville 85; 13. Belmont/Platteville 78.
Lancaster participants
106 - Lizzy Austin (5-4) placed 6th and scored 14.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Lizzy Austin (Lancaster) 5-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Dustin Hatfield (River Valley) 8-1 won by tech fall over Lizzy Austin (Lancaster) 5-4 (TF-1.5 5:48 (23-8))
Cons. Round 2 - Lizzy Austin (Lancaster) 5-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi - Lizzy Austin (Lancaster) 5-4 won by forfeit over . Forfeit (Boscobel) 3-5 (For.)
5th Place Match - Joe Quinn (Darlington/Blackhawk) 5-4 won by decision over Lizzy Austin (Lancaster) 5-4 (Dec 6-2)
120 - Tyson Wolf (5-2) placed 6th and scored 13.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Tyson Wolf (Lancaster) 5-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Bradon Roen (Riverdale) 8-2 won by decision over Tyson Wolf (Lancaster) 5-2 (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Tyson Wolf (Lancaster) 5-2 won by major decision over Nate Jennings (River Valley) 2-3 (MD 20-12)
Cons. Semi - Tyson Wolf (Lancaster) 5-2 won by fall over Sawyer Sarbacker (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 6-4 (Fall 0:53)
5th Place Match - Jared Pickett (Darlington/Blackhawk) 6-4 won by decision over Tyson Wolf (Lancaster) 5-2 (Dec 9-2)
126 - Kyle Mezera (9-0) placed 1st and scored 34.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Kyle Mezera (Lancaster) 9-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Kyle Mezera (Lancaster) 9-0 won by fall over Brian Matthews (Riverdale) 2-5 (Fall 1:50)
Semifinal - Kyle Mezera (Lancaster) 9-0 won by fall over Colin Novak (Darlington/Blackhawk) 6-3 (Fall 1:56)
1st Place Match - Kyle Mezera (Lancaster) 9-0 won by fall over Frank Baker (Mineral Point) 8-2 (Fall 1:47)
132 - Cole Martin (7-0) placed 1st and scored 31.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Cole Martin (Lancaster) 7-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Cole Martin (Lancaster) 7-0 won by tech fall over Nolan Garoutte (Riverdale) 6-4 (TF-1.5 5:10 (18-1))
Semifinal - Cole Martin (Lancaster) 7-0 won by fall over Jake Riley (Mineral Point) 8-2 (Fall 2:47)
1st Place Match - Cole Martin (Lancaster) 7-0 won by decision over JJ Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) 9-1 (Dec 8-2)
138 - Dustin Reynolds (6-2) placed 4th and scored 20.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Reynolds (Lancaster) 6-2 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Dustin Reynolds (Lancaster) 6-2 won by fall over Kyrin Halvorson (Darlington/Blackhawk) 2-5 (Fall 0:37)
Semifinal - Ross Siegenthaler (Mineral Point) 10-0 won by decision over Dustin Reynolds (Lancaster) 6-2 (Dec 9-4)
3rd Place Match - Hunter Whitney (Richland Center) 7-2 won by injury default over Dustin Reynolds (Lancaster) 6-2 (Inj. 0:00)
152 - Trenton Cornell (8-1) placed 2nd and scored 26.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Trenton Cornell (Lancaster) 8-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Trenton Cornell (Lancaster) 8-1 won by major decision over Mathew Koch (Riverdale) 8-2 (MD 16-4)
Semifinal - Trenton Cornell (Lancaster) 8-1 won by major decision over Dakota Meier (Darlington/Blackhawk) 7-3 (MD 8-0)
1st Place Match - Joe Crook (River Valley) 9-0 won by decision over Trenton Cornell (Lancaster) 8-1 (Dec 8-2)
160 - Jay Mezera (1-4) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Michael Boyd (Riverdale) 5-4 won by fall over Jay Mezera (Lancaster) 1-4 (Fall 1:52)
Cons. Round 1 - Jay Mezera (Lancaster) 1-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Boone Schmitz (Mineral Point) 7-3 won by fall over Jay Mezera (Lancaster) 1-4 (Fall 1:54)
170 - Ethan Soderstrom (8-1) placed 2nd and scored 28.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ethan Soderstrom (Lancaster) 8-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - Ethan Soderstrom (Lancaster) 8-1 won by fall over Hans Heberlein (Fennimore) 4-5 (Fall 1:58)
Semifinal - Ethan Soderstrom (Lancaster) 8-1 won by fall over Brandon Banker (Richland Center) 7-1 (Fall 3:22)
1st Place Match - Brady Wetter (Dodgeville) 8-0 won by decision over Ethan Soderstrom (Lancaster) 8-1 (Dec 4-2)
182 - David Chadd (9-0) placed 1st and scored 32.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - David Chadd (Lancaster) 9-0 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal - David Chadd (Lancaster) 9-0 won by fall over Kyle Juedes (Mineral Point) 6-4 (Fall 0:57)
Semifinal - David Chadd (Lancaster) 9-0 won by fall over Brett Wilson (Cuba City/Southwestern) 8-2 (Fall 3:15)
1st Place Match - David Chadd (Lancaster) 9-0 won by decision over Cody Rider (Iowa-Grant/Highland) 9-1 (Dec 8-7)
