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HAYWARD – Spencer/Columbus Catholic came up just short in a bid for its first state tournament appearance after losing the championship match Tuesday at the WIAA Division 2 team wrestling sectional at Hayward High School.
The Rockets beat Northwestern 45-27 in the semifinals before losing to Ellsworth 47-21 in the championship match.
Ellworth, the two-time defending Division 2 state champion, advances to the WIAA State Team Wrestling Tournament in Madison for the 10th-straight season. The Division 2 and Division 3 semifinals and championship duals will be held March 3 at the UW Fieldhouse. Division 1 quarterfinals and semifinals are March 2, with the championship also on March 3.
Spencer/Columbus started strong against Northwestern, winning five of the first six matches to take a commanding 24-3 lead.
Logan Zschernitz (285 pounds) and Ashton Ackman (106) won by pin, Dominick Wichlacz won by forfeit at 113, and Jake Dick (126) and Colten Schillinger (132) won by decision to get the Rockets off to a great start.
Bryce Shaw won by forfeit at 145, Caden Schillinger earned an 11-4 win at 160, and Cody Derks (195) and Hunter Luepke (220) finished off Spencer/Columbus’ win with pins in the final two matches.
After Ackman and Wichlacz both won by decision to start the finals, Ellsworth won the next six matches, five by pin and one by technical fall, to go ahead 35-6.
Caden Schillinger won at 160, before Ellsworth put the match away with four more wins, three by pin.
Luepke and Zschernitz won by pin in the final two matches for the Rockets.
Eight SC wrestlers will take part in the WIAA Division 2 individual sectional Saturday at Amery. The top three finishers in each weight class qualify for the 2018 WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison on Feb. 22-24.
WIAA Division 2 Team Wrestling Sectional
Feb. 13, at Hayward High School
Semifinals
Spencer/Columbus Catholic 45, Northwestern 27
285: Logan Zschernitz (SC) pinned Morgan Berggren, 1:41.
106: Ashton Ackman (SC) pinned Jordan Hermann, 1:38.
113: Dominick Wichlacz (SC) won by forfeit.
120: Braden Trautt (NW) def. Leo Rodriguez, 3-0.
126: Jake Dick (SC) def. Tjay Ziebarth, 8-2.
132: Colten Schillinger (SC) def. Brody Burke, 7-2.
138: Calen Kirkpatrick (NW) pinned Andres Rodriguez, 1:41.
145: Bryce Shaw (SC) won by forfeit.
152: Zach Pooler (NW) pinned Josh Guyer, 4:51.
160: Caden Schillinger (SC) def. Luke Gregerson, 11-4.
170: Donny Pooler (NW) pinned Tanner Kleinschmidt, 1:13.
182: Andrew Hanson (NW) pinned Carson Hildebrandt, 2:56.
195: Cody Derks (SC) pinned Alex Goodlet, 1:26.
220: Hunter Luepke (SC) pinned Isaiah Huray, 0:38.
Championship
Ellsworth 47, Spencer/Columbus 21
106: Ashton Ackman (SC) def. Bailey Poellinger, 8-3.
113: Dominick Wichlacz (SC) def. Carter Huppert, 5-2.
120: Charlie Stuhl (ELL) pinned Leo Rodriguez, 5:12.
126: Owen Matzek (ELL) won by technical fall over Jake Dick, 17-0.
132: Wyatt Hines (ELL) pinned Colten Schillinger, 1:18.
138: Sam Stuhl (ELL) pinned Andres Rodriguez, 1:32.
145: Jared Lansing (ELL) pinned Dylan Bohlinger, 1:00.
152: Cedric Kosnopfal (ELL) def. Bryce Shaw, 7-0.
160: Caden Schillinger (SC) def. Logan Melstrom, 4-3.
170: Connor Ekholm (ELL) pinned Tanner Kleinschmidt, 2:51.
182: Dalton George (ELL) def. Carson Hildebrandt, 10-4.
195: Ryan McGregor (ELL) pinned Daniel Richmond, 0:48.
220: Hunter Luepke (SC) pinned Logan Peterson, 1:25.
285: Logan Zschernitz (SC) pinned Caleb Linder, 2:29.