By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – Something clicked for Spencer/Columbus wrestler Tye Ackman this season.
The Rockets senior had never contented for a state tournament berth in the past, but this year, as a senior, a sense of urgency kicked in.
Ackman used that urgency to his benefit, placing second at 160 pounds at the Cloverbelt Conference meet, winning the Division 3 regional and finishing third at last week’s sectional to qualify for this week’s WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament in Madison.
“It means more being a senior,” Ackman said. “It’s always been a goal to go down (to Madison). I worked a little harder and wrestled a little better.”
Earlier in the season Ackman struggled in the close matches, but hard work has paid off for him as the year has progressed.
“I think he finally realized it’s his last chance,” Spencer/Columbus coach Adam Vaughan said. “He started out the year with a couple of losses by one point. He did what he needed to do. He started to win the big matches and started winning matches by one point instead of losing matches by one point. He just decided that he wanted to go further instead of the would of, could of, should of.”
Ackman (31-8) will wrestle Zac Pernatt (39-7), a junior from Johnson Creek in the Division 3 preliminaries on Thursday night at the Kohl Center. If Ackman wins he will face defending state champion Buddy Lincks (38-3) of Waterloo in the quarterfinals.
Ackman hasn’t faced either wrestler in the past, but has an approach he uses to get motivated against an unknown opponent.
“I just try to stay in my own little corner and pretend that they think they are the king and are going to come out and whoop on me,” Ackman said. “I get mad and go out there and show them. I like the underdog role.”
Vaughan said the 160-pound bracket is strong and that Ackman will have to tackle it one challenge at a time.
“It’s a tough bracket,” Vaughan said. “To wrestle the second day is an accomplishment. I think Tye is expecting to get to the finals and obviously if you don’t, why are you there. His second round is against a state champ from last year, but on any given day I guess. But, if you don’t win the first one, you don’t wrestle again.”
MarshfieldAreaSports.com will have continuous coverage of Ackman’s matches and the matches of the other area wrestlers from the state tournament in Madison beginning Thursday.
Paul Lecker can be reached by e-mail at paul@marshfieldareasports.com.
