Area wrestlers earn trips into finals at WIAA individual tournament
After two long, pressure-packed days on the mats at the Kohl Center in Madison for the boys and girls WIAA state individual wrestling tournaments, 12 wrestlers from the Milwaukee area qualified for championship matches across three divisions in the boys brackets, while four girls advanced to Saturday’s title matches in their weight classes.
With two days in the books and championship Saturday to come, let’s take a look at a takeaways, starting with a quartet of boys are a single victory away from history.
Four boys wrestlers one win away from undefeated seasons
In Division 1, Oconomowoc freshman Kellen Wolbert (46-0) was scheduled to face West Bend West’s Ben Bast (44-3) for the 120-pound championship. Both won their semifinal matchups on Friday night by technical fall to set up an allMilwaukee-area final. Bast was seeking his second state championship after winning the 106-pound state title in 2021.
Kewaskum senior Braden Scoles (51-0) entered Saturday not only a win away from another perfect season, but one away from his fourth straight state championship and third straight at 160 pounds in Division 2. Scoles won both of his matches by technical fall on Friday to bring his career record to an absurd 171-3 heading into Saturday night’s action.
In the Division 3 brackets, Kenosha Christian Life junior Drew Dolphin (53-0) advanced to the 106-pound final after a pinfall victory in the quarterfinals and a tight 7-5 decision in the semifinals.
Kenosha St. Joseph sophomore Co’Ji Campbell (44-0) cruised into his second consecutive state championship match after winning the 113-pound crown a season ago. Campbell won two decisions on Friday to reach the title match at 120 pounds by a combined score of 28-8.
Other area finalists for Saturday were: Germantown senior Riese Thornberry (51-1, 138 pounds), Arrowhead junior Wyatt DuChateau (41-1, 145), Homestead junior Charlie Millard (51-2, 160), Germantown senior Ethan Riddle (51-2, 170), Arrowhead senior Noah Mulvaney (45-3, 182) and West Bend West juniors Connor (51-2, 195) and Cole (51-2, 285) Mirasola.
Among that group of finalists, DuChateau, Riddle and the Mirasola brothers were all seeking multiple state titles. DuChateau won the 132-pound crown a season ago, while Riddle won the 160pound title last year. Connor Mirasola is searching for his third straight title in his third different weight class. He won the 170-pound title in 2021 and the 182pound title last year, while brother Cole won the 195-pound championship last season.
The championship session started at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Oak Creek’s Olesen returns to 152-pound title match
Isabelle Olesen’s shot at redemption arrived.
The Oak Creek sophomore clinched a spot in the 152-pound girls state championship match for the second straight season. Olesen’s suffered a pinfall defeat to Antigo senior Alexandra Hofrichter in last year’s title match, but Hofrichter will wrestle for the 160-pound title this time around. Olesen (7-0) pinned Marinette senior Kaylee McFadden (15-4) in their semifinal matchup at the 3:01 mark to put her on the doorstep of a perfect campaign.
Along with Olesen, Wisconsin Lutheran freshman Izabella Riebe (21-6) won a close 3-2 decision in her semifinal match against Berlin junior Alivia Davey (9-1) to advance to the 235-pound title match against Ashland sophomore Madison Burns (16-0), who won a thrilling battle of unbeatens against Arrowhead senior Kate Riege (21-1).
Badger also sent a pair of athletes to the finals. Carley Ceshker (7-0) was looking to cap a perfect freshman season at 126 pounds and junior Ella Creighton (24-4) was competing for the 185-pound title on Saturday.