Wisconsin Lutheran looking for respect
Reigning champ Ellsworth awaits Vikings in semis
The Wisconsin Lutheran wrestling team was the best kept secret in the area this year.
Of course, by now the word is out on the Vikings as they prepare for the WIAA team state tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the UW Field House in Madison.
Lutheran (18-1) is to face defending state champion Ellsworth (17-4) in the Division 2 semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday. The tournament begins with Division 1 quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The Division 1 semifinals are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Midway through the season, Vikings coach Darrell Roecker, now in his 11th year, was wondering if the team would ever receive a ranking. They had secured high finishes at two prestigious tournaments — third at the Badger State Invitational and third at the Oshkosh on the Water — yet recognition was slow to come to the team.
Lutheran rose to as high as No. 6 in the area rankings and No. 5 in the Division 2 state poll by wiwrestling.com late in the year. But in the poll of the four teams that qualified for the state team tournament, Lutheran came in at No. 4 behind Sparta, which jumped from No. 8 to No. 3 heading into the tournament.
“On Monday, we had a team meeting,” Roecker said. “I said, ‘You guys aren’t getting any respect.’ We have a lot of kids who feel that way. These guys are going to come in with chips on their shoulders and be ready to get after it. We’ve had a really nice week of practice.”
The Vikings will need a nasty disposition, winning attitude and a deep desire to topple Ellsworth, a team that has lost only once this year to a Wisconsin team, has qualified for the state tournament 10 straight years (14 times overall) and has won six state titles.
It’s definitely the new kids on a historic run this year against a Division 2 dynasty.
“There’s no way we can match (Ellsworth’s) state dual experience,” Roecker said. “But we have kids who have battled all year long and have battled to reach their goals. I think they will battle Ellsworth as best that they can. Ellsworth is a very good dual meet team.”
The Vikings have competed all year despite not having a 120-pounder on the roster. That’s the way it will be — short-handed — against Ellsworth.
“We’ve done it all year,” Roecker said. “We haven’t had a 120-pounder since the second week of the season. We aren’t afraid to move some people around. Our kids are very hungry. They set a goal to get to team state and they did it. I’m definitely extremely excited. This is a special and awesome thing.”
Lutheran’s run this year is noteworthy. Despite a lateseason 39-33 loss to Wisconsin Little Ten Conference rival Hartford, the Vikings have been solid.
They tied for the conference dual title with Oconomowoc with a 6-1 record. That’s the first conference dual meet title in Lutheran history. The Vikings won the league tournament crown for the second time, adding to the one they won in 2007.
Lutheran became the first private school to qualify for the state team tournament since it began in 1992. Lutheran also became the third team from Milwaukee — Milwaukee Custer (2003) and Milwaukee Pulaski (1998 and 1999) — to qualify for the state team tournament.
Lutheran scored the most points of any area team at the individual tournament as it sent seven wrestlers to Madison and had four wrestlers place in the top three. The Vikings’ top four are senior Tepra Wright (44-2, second at 126) and juniors Tyler Roecker (47-6, third at 106), Bryce Roberts (47-5, third at 220) and Quinton Reid (51-2, third at 285).
They lead a talented and athletic group.
“This is a nice blend of athletes that we have,” Roecker said. “They caught onto the sport of wrestling, and they really love it. They are deserving of this. They work extremely hard. They got down to the state team tournament, and I’m really proud of them for buying into what the coaching staff said this year.”
BASICS
What: 23rd state team wrestling tournament. When: Friday and Saturday. Where: UW Field House, Madison. Tickets: $13 for the Friday session; $8 for the Saturday sessions.
Broadcasts: Each of the championship matches will be aired on FS Wisconsin at a date and time yet to be determined. The finals of the three championship finals will also be streamed live on fox sports wisconsin. at no cost. The Division 1 quarterfinals and the semifinals for each division will be streamed live via subscription on the WIAA.TV portal of the NFHS Network.
SCHEDULE FRIDAY
Sessions 1, Division 1 quarterfinals, 5:30 p.m.: Match 1: Kaukauna (17-1) vs. Burlington (12-1); Match 2: Hudson (12-2) vs. Cedarburg (17-1); Match 3: Wisconsin Rapids (18-0) vs. Pewaukee (16-3); Match 4: Sauk Prairie (15-3) vs. Stoughton (22-1).
Division 1 semifinals, 7:30 p.m.: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner; Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner. SATURDAY
Session 2, Division 2 and 3 semifinals, 10 a.m.: D2, Ellsworth (17-4) vs. Wisconsin Lutheran (18-1); Freedom (13-2) vs. Sparta (13-6). D3, Spring Valley/Elmwood (14-3) vs. Random Lake (16-1); Coleman (16-1) vs. Fennimore (18-2).
Session 3: Finals all three divisions,
3 p.m.
LOWDOWN 2014 champions — Division 1:
Kaukauna. Division 2: Ellsworth. Division 3: Coleman. FINAL CROSSFACE STATE RANKINGS
Division 1: 1. Kaukauna; 2. Stoughton; 3. Wisconsin Rapids; 4. Milton; 5. Bay Port; 6. Burlington; 7. Hudson; 8. Pewaukee; 9. Whitnall/Greendale; 10. Elkhorn.
Division 2: 1. Freedom; 2. Ellsworth; 3. Sparta; 4. Evansville/Albany; 5. Two Rivers; 6. Wrightstown; 7. Lomira; 8. Wisconsin Lutheran; 9. Amery; 10. Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
Division 3: 1. Coleman; 2. Stratford; 3. Spring Valley/Elmwood; 4. Boyceville; 5. Fennimore; 6. Clear Lake; 7. Bonduel; 8. Mineral Point; 9. Random Lake; 10. Cashton DIVISION 1
Kaukauna is back for the sixth time in eight years. Before winning the title last year, the Galloping Ghosts were runners-up in 2013. They had eight state individual qualifiers and one champion, Robert Lee at 138 pounds.
Burlington is making its fourth straight state appearance. It reached the semifinals last year. This year the team is led by the 1-2 punch of Josh Bird at 132 pounds and Ben Hornickle at 138. Bird won a state title and Hornickle reached the final. Hudson is making its second appearance. The Raiders had competitors in seven weight classes at individual state. Third-place finisher Dylan Anderson had the best finish of the bunch.
Cedarburg, which is making its first state appearance, suffered its only loss to Oak Forest, Ill., 44-22. To reach state the Bulldogs fought back from an early deficit to beat Wauwatosa, 34-30. The team’s top competitors, Jason Ipsarides (152) and Kyle Polum (285), both finished third at state.
Wisconsin Rapids is back at state for the first time since winning the 2012 title. Brock Benitz (152) and Beau Thompson (285) each won individual state titles. Pewaukee jumps to this division after taking second in Division 2 last season. Six Pirates qualified for individual state with the top finish belonging to Blaze Beltran, who finished third at 220 pounds. Sauk
Prairie is making its third straight appearance. The Eagles’ top finisher last weekend was Austin Powell, who took fourth at 160 pounds. To reach state Stoughton defeated Milton, 29-24. Milton handed the Vikings their only regular season loss. Brandon Klein won the 106-pound state title. DIVISION 2
Ellsworth is making its 10th-straight appearance. Eight of its wrestlers qualified for individual state. Wisconsin Lutheran won its first Wisconsin Little Ten regular-season title and is making its first state appearance.
Three Freedom competitors reached the finals at state: champion Ramsey Bloy (195) and runners-up Mason Manteuffel (120) and Seth Vosters (160). Jaden Winchel, the 132-pound champion, was one of eight state
individual qualifiers for Sparta, which returns to state for the first time since 2012. DIVISION 3
Spring Valley/ Elmwood was the 2014 runner-up. Ethan Hofacker was the runner-up at 220 pounds at state.
This is Random Lake’s fourth straight appearance. The Rams are led by Josh Depies, the fourth-place finisher at 106, and Jon Mudlaff, the fifth-place finisher at 132. Coleman’s only loss came, 43-23, to Division 1 Bay Port. The Cougars have won four of the last
five titles. Fennimore, which is led by 120-pound champion Alston Nutter, is making its first state appearance. Mark Stewart