11 local wrestlers advance to state finals
MADISON – Eleven wrestlers from the Green Bay area will compete for a WIAA state championship Saturday night.
Five of them will be returning competitors to the big stage at the Kohl Center.
Luxemburg-Casco senior Bryce Bosman will have the opportunity to make history by becoming a four-time state champion.
“It feels good, but I’m not quite there yet,” said Bosman, who advanced in D2 at 132 pounds. “I’ve got one more match and it’s definitely my most difficult match. I’ve just got to go get that one first.”
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Coleman seniors Koltin Grzybowski (113) and Caleb Gross (126) each have positioned themselves to win a third straight D3 state title, while fellow senior Jake Baldwin (145) will go after his first championship in advancing to the finals for a second straight year.
Like Baldwin, Wrightstown junior Ben Durocher will also be hoping to flip the script in advancing to the finals following a D2 runner-up finish last year.
Durocher (pictured at top) did so by breaking a school tradition for state and not dying his hair blonde.
“I’m trying something different,” said Durocher, who advanced in D2 at 145. “Maybe break that curse. I don’t like the blonde in my hair for another three months anyway.”
Among the six local wrestlers who will be competing in the finals for the first time, Luxemburg-Casco junior Reece Worachek (170) punched his ticket in the most dramatic fashion by picking up an ultimate tiebreaker win in D2.
“I knew if I was going to make it to the finals I would have to keep pushing to get the escape,” Worachek said.
Three local D1 wrestlers advanced to the finals, including Ashwaubenon junior Cody Minor (113), Pulaski senior Cole Gille (120) and Bay Port junior Max Meeuwsen (285).
Oconto Falls freshman Clayton Whiting (152) and Seymour sophomore Wyatt Kaczrowski (113) will be underclassman competing for a state title in D2.
Overall, 29 local wrestlers will earn state medals this year at state.
Coleman led the area with 10 state qualifiers and seven of those individuals will make the trip to the state podium.
All five of Luxemburg-Casco’s state qualifiers will medal this year, while Denmark, Seymour and Wrightstown each will have two state medalists in D2.
There are 14 local wrestlers who will place at state for the first time this year
Denmark’s Gabe Wertel was one of 21 undefeated wrestlers entering state and the only one with an unblemished mark from the Green Bay area.
However, the 195-pound junior lost both of his matches Friday and will not place in his second state appearance.
GREEN BAY AREA WRESTLERS IN THE STATE FINALS
DIVISION 1
113: Cody Minor, jr., Ashwaubenon
120: Cole Gille, sr., Pulaski
285: Max Meeuwsen, jr., Bay Port
DIVISION 2
113: Wyatt Kaczrowski, so., Seymour
132: Bryce Bosman, sr., Luxemburg-Casco
145: Ben Durocher, jr., Wrightstown
152: Clayton Whiting, fr., Oconto Falls
170: Reece Worachek, jr., Luxemburg-Casco
DIVISION 3
113: Koltin Grzybowski, sr., Coleman
126: Caleb Gross, sr., Coleman
145: Jake Baldwin, sr., Coleman
GREEN BAY AREA WRESTLERS WHO WILL MEDAL 3RD-6TH
DIVISION 1
113: Jake Hendricks, so., West De Pere
195: Charlie Hooyman, sr., De Pere
285: Isaac Klarkowski, sr., G.B. United
DIVISION 2
120: Kaiden Koltz, so., Wrightstown
120: Lucas Joniaux, jr., Luxemburg-Casco
138: Ethan Schwartz, so., Denmark
152: Nathan Ronsman, sr., Luxemburg-Casco
160: Colton Worachek, sr., Luxemburg-Casco
170: Quincy Klister, so., Wrightstown
182: Brady Eick, jr., Seymour
220: T.J. Weidman, sr., Denmark
DIVISION 3
106: Chance Gruber, fr., Coleman
126: Jack Severin, so., Kewaunee
145: Grant Englebert, so., Southern Door
160: Tyler Blanchard, so., Coleman
170: Travis Reinke, sr., Kewaunee
220: Spencer Karban, so., Coleman
285: Brock Martinson, sr., Coleman