This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Marshfield High School’s two wrestlers at the 2017 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament lost their Division 1 preliminary round matches on Thursday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
Sophomore Nolan Hertel dropped an 8-5 decision to Joshua Otto of Hartland Arrowhead at 145 pounds, and fellow sophomore Sam Mitchell was pinned by Connor Williams of La Crosse Central in 2:07 at 170 pounds.
Hertel (32-10) and Mitchell (25-15) will move into the Division 1 consolation brackets Friday morning.
Hertel will face Austin Thomas (21-6) of Waterford, and Mitchell will take on Bryson Alsteen (41-8) of Kaukauna in consolation matches. A win places them in the second round of the consolation bracket later Friday afternoon, a loss means elimination.
Hertel never gained control of Otto during the match. Otto earned four takedowns on each of the four occasions the wrestlers were in the neutral position. Hertel had four escapes, and earned another point for a stalling infraction in the final seconds of the match.
Williams led 6-2 after one period of the 170-pound match against Mitchell. Mitchell started the second period in the down position and Williams quickly secured a reverse and pinned the Marshfield sophomore 7 seconds into the period.
2017 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament
Feb. 23-25, Kohl Center, Madison
Friday, Feb. 24
Division 1 consolations, 10 a.m.
Division 2 & 3 quarterfinals, 11:15 a.m.
Division 1 consolation semifinals, 1:45 p.m.
Division 2 & 3 consolation semifinals, 2:45 p.m.
Division 1, 2 & 3 semifinals, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Division 1, 2 & 3 consolation wrestlebacks, 10 a.m.
Division 1, 2 & 3 fifth-place and third-place matches, 11 a.m.
Division 1, 2 & 3 championship matches, 5 p.m.
Upcoming Matches
Division 1 consolation first round, Friday, 10 a.m.
145: Nolan Hertel (32-10), Marshfield, vs. Austin Thomas (21-6), Waterford.
170: Sam Mitchell (25-15), Marshfield, vs. Bryson Alsteen (41-8), Kaukauna.