FRIENDSHIP — The Belmont/Platteville wrestling team experienced all the high and lows sectional wrestling has to offer Saturday’s WIAA Division 2 Adams–Friendship.

Platteville junior Will Schaefer finished second at 195 pounds to earn his second straight trip to state. 

He will be joined by Belmont sophomore Michael Douglas, who finished third at 285.

Platteville freshman John Burbach experienced the heartbreak of sectionals, finishing fourth and just missing out on a trip to state after an 11–2 loss in the 120-pound third-place match.

Senior Trevor Heim closed out his career with a quarterfinal loss at 145, while freshman Dylan Taber got his first taste of sectionals after earning a berth as an alternate.

Schaefer (40–4), who is ranked fifth in D2 at 195, pinned Bryce Burns of Gale–Ettrick–Trempeleau/Melrose–Mindoro, then blanked Beloit Turner’s Drew Ries 6–0 to reach the finals.

Schaefer suffered an 11–3 major decision loss to Viroqua’s Tyler Hannah (38–2) in the finals.

“Will wrestled very well all day,” said first-year Belmont/Platteville head coach Emeric Williams. “He had to wrestle a tough Tyler Hannah in the finals and unfortunately came up short in that match. It is great to see Will qualify for state this year and hopefully he can get a state medal next weekend at the Kohl Center.”

Schaefer will open his state tournament Thursday night at the Kohl Center with a preliminary match against Grafton senior Alec Davis (34–8). Thursday’s prelims begin at 7 p.m.

Douglas (35–13) earned his state berth the hard way, battling back from a semifinal loss to eventual sectional champion Dom Meurett (39–4) of Mauston. 

Douglas bounced back with a 3–1 victory over Lodi’s Wyatt Ripp, then scored a takedown of Prairie du Chien’s Jerrod Osterkamp with three seconds left to pull out a dramatic 2–1 victory that secured his state berth.

Douglas suffered a 3–1 loss to Daniel Enloe of Belleville/Monticello/New Glarus in the second-place match.

Douglas also upset Edgerton junior Reed Farrington (37–5), who was ranked third in the state, 8–4.

“Mike beat the kid ranked third in the state first round, which was huge to set the tone for him for the rest of the day,” said Williams. “He lost in the semifinals but came back to win that third place match against Osterkamp, who he lost to last weekend at regionals. It is huge to have a sophomore heavyweight qualifying for the state tournament and says a lot about what Mike is capable of. We are excited to see what he can do this coming weekend.”

Douglas will open his state tournament Thursday night with a first-round match against Wrightstown senior Ethan Witcpalek (36–11).

Burbach (20–8) suffered a semifinal loss to Jared Miller (28–8) of Evansville/Albany after a 13–9 upset victory over seventh ranked Evan Wolfe (37–8) of West Salem/Bangor in the opening round. 

Burbach then pinned Wisconsin Dells junior Elizah Leonard in a consolation match, before ending his freshman season with an 11–2 loss to eventual runner-up Colton Sime (35–12) of Gale–Ettrick–Trempeleau/Melrose–Mindoro.

“John had a huge upset first round,” said Williams. “He lost a tough one in the semis, battled back and got a win on the backside of the bracket to put himself in a position to be able to qualify for state. Unfortunately, he lost for third place, but we are very proud of how he competed in a bracket that most people probably thought he didn’t have a chance in. John had a great freshman season as well, and is definitely a kid who has a lot of potential to do great things in his next three years.”

Trevor Heim’s (12–20) career ended with a second-period quarterfinal pin to Wisconsin Dells’ Marty Koenig (34–8).

“Trevor ended his high school wrestling career as a sectional qualifier and I am very proud of how he ended his season, and his career as a whole,” said Williams.

Taber earned a spot in Saturday’s sectionals as an alternate when Prairie du Chien senior Chase Watson was unable to wrestle.

Taber (21–14) suffered a first-round pinfall loss to Creedon Abraham of Wautoma/Wild Rose.

“Dylan had a great freshman season, a sectional qualifier and having over 20 wins as a freshman is something to be proud of, and something to build off of for the next three years,” said Williams. 

WIAA Division 2 

Adams–Friendship Sectional

(from Saturday, Feb. 16 @ Adams)

Top 10 team scores — 1.Gale–Ettrick–Trempeleau 116.5, 2.River Valley 83, 3.Lodi 81, 4.Prairie du Chien 72, 5.Viroqua 71.5, 6.West Salem/Bangor 46, 7.Westby 45, 8(tie).Monroe 41, 8(tie).Wisconsin Dells 41, 10.Belmont/Platteville 35.

Belmont/Platteville state qualifiers

195 — Will Schaefer (40-4) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Will Schaefer (Belmont/Platteville) 40-4 won by fall over Bryce Burns (Gale-Ett.-Tr./Mel.-Min.) 40-8 (Fall 1:43)

Semifinal - Will Schaefer (Belmont/Platteville) 40-4 won by decision over Drew Ries (Turner) 22-5 (Dec 6-0)

1st Place Match - Tyler Hannah (Viroqua) 38-2 won by major decision over Will Schaefer (Belmont/Platteville) 40-4 (MD 11-3)

2nd Place Match - Will Schaefer (Belmont/Platteville) 40-4 won by rule over Bryce Burns (Gale-Ett.-Tr./Mel.-Min.) 40-8 (RULE)

285 — Michael Douglas (35-13) placed 3rd and scored 10.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Michael Douglas (Belmont/Platteville) 35-13 won by decision over Reed Farrington (Edgerton) 37-5 (Dec 8-4)

Semifinal - Dom Meurett (Mauston) 39-4 won by fall over Michael Douglas (Belmont/Platteville) 35-13 (Fall 3:14)

Cons. Semi - Michael Douglas (Belmont/Platteville) 35-13 won by decision over Wyatt Ripp (Lodi) 10-5 (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match - Michael Douglas (Belmont/Platteville) 35-13 won by decision over Jerrod Osterkamp (Prairie du Chien) 34-11 (Dec 2-1)

2nd Place Match - Daniel Enloe (Belleville/Mont./N. Gl.) 31-11 won by decision over Michael Douglas (Belmont/Platteville) 35-13 (Dec 3-1)

Belmont/Platteville’s other

sectional qualifiers

120 — John Burbach (20-8) placed 4th and scored 9.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - John Burbach (Belmont/Platteville) 20-8 won by decision over Evan Wolfe (West Salem/Bangor) 37-8 (Dec 13-9)

Semifinal - Jared Miller (Evansville/Albany) 28-8 won by fall over John Burbach (Belmont/Platteville) 20-8 (Fall 2:58)

Cons. Semi - John Burbach (Belmont/Platteville) 20-8 won by fall over Elizah Leonard (Wisconsin Dells) 9-7 (Fall 2:22)

3rd Place Match - Colton Sime (Gale-Ett.-Tr./Mel.-Min.) 35-12 won by major decision over John Burbach (Belmont/Platteville) 20-8 (MD 11-2)

126 — Dylan Taber (21-14) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Creedon Abraham (Wautoma/Wild Rose) 30-6 won by fall over Dylan Taber (Belmont/Platteville) 21-14 (Fall 1:05)

145 — Trevor Heim (12-20) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

Quarterfinal - Marty Koenig (Wisconsin Dells) 34-8 won by fall over Trevor Heim (Belmont/Platteville) 12-20 (Fall 2:15)