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By Roxane Hutchins
For MarshfieldAreaSports.com
FARGO, N.D. – Four area high school wrestlers competed at the 2023 U.S. Marine Corp Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargo Dome from July 15-22.
Marshfield athletes Caleb Dennee (170 pounds), Owen Griesbach (182) and Brok Carolfi (285), along with Auburndale’s Colton Weiler (145) took part in the event as part of Team Wisconsin through state qualifying events held throughout the past year. The three Marshfield athletes took part in the Freestyle format, while Weiler was in both the freestyle and Greco Roman portions of the tournament.
The four wrestlers advanced after the first round as competition got underway. In the round of 64 and 32, all four wrestlers found themselves battling back on the consolation side. One more loss and they would be eliminated from the tournament.
Griesbach and Carolfi tried to battle back but it wasn’t enough as they were eliminated on the second day. Weiler advanced to the round of 16 before he suffered his second loss.
Dennee battled back and made quick work of his opponents, winning four consecutive matches to earn him a spot in the blood rounds.
As the final day of competition got underway, Dennee pinned his first opponent from New Jersey earning him All-American Status and a chance to place third in the nation. He later won on a technical fall over Shawn Rounsaville Jr. from Oklahoma. With seconds left on the clock and the score tied, Dennee managed a push out for one point beating Gavin Craner from Michigan 14-13, advancing him to the third-place matchup against nationally-ranked Carson Thomas of Ohio.
The match lived up to its expectations. Dennee scored first for two and Thomas followed up with a take down to tie it. With the score tied and 3three seconds left in the first period, Dennee took control and for a 4-2 lead.
One minute into the second period, Thomas earned a takedown also was awarded one penalty point. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, Dennee dug deep to snag a front-headlock and a roll for four points to go ahead 8-5, but the ruling was challenged by the Ohio team and eventually was ruled in their favor, cutting off two of Dennee’s points.
Dennee was able to elude his opponent in the final seconds to avenge his only loss of the tournament to take third in his weight class, finish with a 9-1 record, and earn the “Stop Sign” plaque.
In the Greco tournament, Weiler wrestled at 138 pounds and placed second, earning All-American status. After cruising through the tournament, he took on Tommy Verrette of Colorado, a defending National Greco Champ.
Verrette scored with 30 seconds left to earn a 6-5 win in the championship match.