This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance – Randy Le Moine Agency
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
SPENCER – Spencer wrestlers Trevor Ackman and Kyle Andreae know never to take things for granted.
The pair of Rockets each qualified for the state wrestling tournament two years ago only be stymied last year in the postseason.
Now, Ackman and Andreae will get a second chance as each will compete at the 2013 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison.
“It’s tough when you make it one year and then the next you don’t,” Spencer coach Jake Zschernitz said. “I think it helps – yes, you want to see them making it every year – but it really pushes them the next time around. They realize that’s nothing is easy.”
Ackman, a junior, compiled a 22-5 record and will wrestle Ross Withington (38-11), a sophomore from Westby, in a Division 3 138-pound first-round match Thursday night.
Ackman said he is excited for his second chance at the state tournament, especially after battling through a concussion suffered early in the season.
“I missed out on it last year and feel that I have a good shot at placing,” Ackman said. “You have got to believe in yourself, keep your mindset strong and you know that you have to go out there and wrestle your toughest and believe that you can win.
“I kept my mind focused on wrestling and since I’ve come back, I’ve trained harder than I ever have. “
Andreae has suffered just two losses this season, piling up a 44-2 record at 285 pounds. The senior will take on fellow senior Alex May (35-8) of Cedar Grove-Belgium in a Division 3 first-round match Thursday night.
“I feel extremely blessed to have this second chance and I’m real excited for it,” Andreae said. “It’s going to be a tough match – you never have an easy one at state. Everybody that gets there worked their tails off to get there.”
Zschernitz said he likes his guys’ chances.
“They have both got fairly decent draws,” Zschernitz said. “On any day, anybody can be beat. I think they both have a good chance of winning that first match and moving on from there.”
2013 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament
Thursday, Feb. 21-Saturday, Feb. 23
Session 1 – Thursday
Division 1 Preliminaries – 3 p.m.
Division 1 Quarterfinals – Approximately 5:15 p.m.
Division 2 & 3 Preliminaries – 7:15 p.m.
Session 2 – Friday
Division 1 Consolations – 10 a.m.
Division 2 & 3 Quarterfinals – Approximately 11:15 a.m.
Division 1 Consolation Semifinals – Approximately 1:45 p.m.
Division 2 & 3 Consolation Semifinals – Approximately 2:45 p.m.
Session 3 – Friday
Division 1, 2 & 3 Semifinals -7 p.m
Session 4 – Saturday
Division 1, 2 & 3 Consolation Wrestlebacks, fifth-place and third-place matches – 11 a.m.
Division 1, 2 & 3 Fifth Place* (Div. 1 on mats 1 & 2; Div. 2 on mats 3 & 4; Div 3 on mats 5 & 6)
Session 5 – Saturday
Division 1, 2 & 3 Championships – 6 p.m.
*All matches can be seen live online at foxsportswisconsin.com and updates will be broadcast throughout all three days on WDLB-AM 1450 and WOSQ-FM 92.3.