By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Marshfield High School wrestling coach Don Lang said there is no need to beat around the bush, No. 1 ranked Wisconsin Rapids will win Saturday’s Wisconsin Valley Conference Wrestling Tournament title for the 16th time in the last 17 years.
Lang said the Tigers have turned their intentions on finishing strong individually, with Saturday’s tournament at Stevens Point Area Senior High the first step in a process that eventually produces a number of WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament qualifiers, and a possible a berth in the state team tournament in Madison in early March.
“We look at the conference tournament as an individual accomplishment at this point,” Lang said. “We are getting some individuals geared up for it and hopefully they’re looking to win a conference champ. In our conference, if you are a conference champ, odds are you have a pretty good chance at making it down to the state tournament.”
The Tigers have 10 wrestlers who have posted 20 or more wins this season, led by 152-pounder Brad Dolezal (34-0) and 189-pounder Jordan Koranda (34-1). Those two are favorites to win WVC titles on Saturday, as is 130-pounder Torin Boernke (22-1), a defending state champion. Lang said Trenton Larson (25-5 at 160) could also contend, and Robert Wille (22-12 at 215), Cale Schliesman (25-11 at 285), Toran Nieman (23-4 at 103) and Daniel Barton (26-7 at 125) also have legitimate shots are reaching the finals.
“Basically we are looking at this weekend at some things we need to work on against specific opponents going into next week’s regional (at Wausau East),” Lang said. “The goal has been all year long to win that regional tournament. Our goals are still set on that, but we are still looking for individuals getting through to a possible conference championship.”
Wisconsin Valley Conference teams Wausau East, Wausau West, Rhinelander and D.C. Everest will be among the eight schools at the WIAA Division 1 regional. The team that scores the most points in the regional tournament will move on to the team sectional on Feb. 16 at Eau Claire Memorial, where competition will move back to a dual meet format to determine a state team tournament qualifier. Great Northern Conference teams Antigo, Merrill and Lakeland round out the regional competitors.
Lang said the Tigers are healthy and everyone should be at full strength on Saturday.
“We have no injuries, no skin conditions, everyone’s healthy, there hasn’t been anyone sick on varsity,” Lang said. “At some point, most guys have had something as far, as far as a cold or flu, hopefully we’re through all that.”
Paul Lecker can be reached by e-mail at paul@marshfieldareasports.com. Check back Saturday night for full coverage of the Wisconsin Valley Conference Tournament.
