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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
PULASKI – For two Stratford seniors, the dream of qualifying for the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament has finally come true.
Mark Marquardt (152 pounds) and Luke Radke (189 pounds) each finished second for Stratford on Saturday at the WIAA Division 3 sectional meet at Pulaski High School and will wrestle at the WIAA state meet at the Kohl Center in Madison on Feb. 24-26.
Marquardt (32-8) won his first two matches before losing to Luke Nowak of Edgar in a tight 152-pound championship match, 9-8.
Radke (33-6) also qualified by finishing second. He won twice before dropping the 189-pound title match to Casey Haase of Weyauwega-Fremont 7-2.
Stratford had seven other wrestlers qualify for the sectionals but only two made it to the semifinals and none made it out of the consolation bracket.
Evan Bohman (135 pounds) and Andrew Murdaugh (285) each won their first matches to reach the semifinals before losing. They also lost their first consolation bracket matches.
Other Stratford wrestlers competing were Andrew Schreiner (103), Tylyn Hoover (130), Kellen Bornbach (145), Matt Zuelke (160) and Jake Kauth (215).
Auburndale’s lone sectional qualifier, Kyle Kundinger, lost his first match. The 125-pounder was pinned by Robert Rocole in 47 seconds to finish his season at 22-12.
WIAA Division 3 sectional tournament, at Pulaski
Top three qualify for WIAA State Tournament
Championship matches
103: Luke Finnel (Mishicot) pinned Hunter Madden (Peshtigo) in 5:53.
112: Chett Birr (Coleman) won by major decision over Josh Bayer (Peshtigo) 15-3.
119: Justin Grzybowski (Coleman) def. Bryce Krejcarek (Mishicot) 6-1.
125: Mitch Mergener (Coleman) pinned Colby Kasten (Reedsville) in 0:43.
130: Michael Kocourek (Reedsville) def. Brock Kasten (Brillion) 6-0.
135: Charlie VanStraten (Shiocton) def. Mason Mergener (Coleman) 7-3.
140: Eric Hahn (Pittsville) def. Mitch Champagne (Coleman) 5-2, 2 OT.
145: Jake Engels (Coleman) won major decision over Nate Mortson (Wabeno) 13-1.
152: Luke Nowak (Edgar) def. Mark Marquardt (Stratford) 9-8.
160: Cullin Kowalczyk (Bonduel) def. Cole Dollar (Florence) 4-3.
171: Austin Ebert (Reedsville) won by technical fall over Freddy Fielding (Shiocton) 16-1.
189: Casey Haase (Weyauwega-Fremont) def. Luke Radke (Stratford) 7-2.
215: Ben Tauchen (Bonduel) pinned Ryan Kerns (Three Lakes) in 3:22.
285: Bob Dronso (Wabeno) pinned Ben Smith (Brillion) in 3:00.
Third-place matches
103: Jackson Margis (Coleman) won by major decision over Scotty Worlund (Pittsville) 10-1.
112: Tad Cloud (Menomonie Indian) def. Luke Fitzsimmons (Marathon) 8-2.
119: Dylan Hansen (Weyauwega-Fremont) def. Brandon Manecke (Edgar) 3-2.
125: Jackson Brice (Brillion) def. Derek Liebergen (Bonduel) 12-5.
130: Anthony Lemanski (Edgar) won by technical fall over Tylyn Hoover (Stratford) 15-0.
135: Matt Nowak (Edgar) def. Brandon Trost (Mishicot) 5-1.
140: Jake Frane (Edgar) def. Derek Desterheflt (Lena/St. Thomas Academy) 3-2.
145: Thomas Dahlke (Shiocton) def. Tyler Crawford (Edgar) 4-0.
152: Mike Mergener (Coleman) def. Luke Delsman (Reedsville) 8-4.
160: Dominique Lehman (Edgar) won major decision over Ryan Geiger (Brillion) 15-4.
171: Taylor Kelley (Bonduel ) def. Jesse Raczek (Pacelli) 3-1.
189: Ron Skuja (Peshtigo) pinned Nevin Smith (Edgar) in 4:31.
215: Aaron Karlen (Edgar) pinned Mike Kallies (Lena/St. Thomas Academy) in 0:51.
285: Olie Voight (Pittsville) pinned Nick Stelzner (Weyauwega-Fremont) in 2:14.
Second-place wrestlebacks
119: Krejcarek (Mishicot) pinned Hansen (W-F) in 3:57.
125: Brice (Brillion) def. Kasten (Reedsville) 5-1.
135: Nowak (Edgar) won major decision over Mergener (Coleman) 16-5.
160: Dollar (Florence) def. Lehman (Edgar) 12-8.
171: Kelley (Bonduel) pinned Fielding (Shiocton) in 1:17.
215: Karlen (Edgar0 pinned Kerns (Three Lakes) in 2:10.