Mukwonago dominates regional.
Burlington’s Bird disqualified at 138
Muskego — The Mukwonago wrestling team came out firing on all cylinders Saturday afternoon and moved within one victory of a state team tournament berth.
The Indians, ranked No. 1 in the area by the Journal Sentinel and No. 3 in Division 1 in the Crossface/ WWCA state poll, jumped out to a 20-point lead and never were threatened as they won the eight-team WIAA Division 1 Muskego regional with 220 points. West Allis Central, ranked No. 7 in the area, finished second with 192 points. Waterford was third with 168.
Mukwonago advanced to face Pewaukee, No. 4 in the area, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a team sectional final at Burlington. Pewaukee won the Brookfield Central regional to advance. The top four wrestlers in all 14 weight classes advanced to the New Berlin West/Eisenhower individual sectional at 10 a.m. Saturday at West.
That Mukwonago — the deepest and strongest team in the area all season — won the title in the most competitive regional with relative ease wasn’t much of a surprise. The big surprise was the disqualification from the tournament of Burlington senior Josh Bird, who was called for flagrant misconduct in a semifinal match at 138 pounds against Greenfield senior Nicholas Pollack.
Bird, a two-time state champion and three-time state finalist, was ejected after repeated blows to Pollack’s head midway through the first period of a match that was physical from the beginning.
Pollack was leading, 2-1, when Bird hit Pollack with an open hand and fist multiple times. The referee stopped the match near the edge of the outer circle and called Bird for the flagrant foul, and Bird made an obscene gesture to the crowd upon his dismissal.
Pollack (28-10) went on to finish in third place and advance to the sectional.
Bird, who finished the season 34-2, won the D1 120pound state title as a freshman and the 132 title last year. He finished second at 132 in 2014.
It was an ugly end to a brilliant career for Bird, who tried to wrestle with torn knee ligaments he suffered two weeks ago at a tournament at Homestead.
Greenfield coach Chris Otto wasn’t pleased about the blows to Pollack’s head.
“It was a physical match,” said Otto. “Our kid’s physical, too. Bird’s a great wrestler and he doesn’t need to do that. I was furious. My kid has been through some adversity too that last couple of weeks. But he kept his cool and didn’t retaliate. He knows better.”
Burlington coach Jade Gribble wasn’t happy with Bird’s behavior or the end of his career.
“I think he was struggling to wrestle on his knee,” said Gribble. “There was a level of frustration and he let his emotions get in his way today. You hate to see anyone finish his high school career like that.”
Bird wasn’t the only returning state champion trying to rebound from an injury or illness at the regional. One of those state champions lost while another won.
Mukwonago senior Nathan Smith, the returning D1 120 champion, fell in his return from an injury.
Smith (25-3), who was out with a shoulder injury for a month, was defeated by West Allis Hale sophomore Peyton Mocco (34-4) in the final at 132. Mocco used a late takedown and put Smith to his back for a three-point nearfall and a 9-4 victory that broke open a 4-4 match.
West Allis Central senior Tyus White (35-1) rebounded from the flu to win the 120 title. White, the D1 champion at 106 two years ago and state finalist at 113 last year, pinned Muskego junior Tom Wintheiser (3412) in 3 minutes 7 seconds.
Mukwonago sophomore Aaron Schulist (32-4) dropped to 113 for the first time this season and pinned all three of his opponents. Schulist finished second at 106 in D1 last year.
Mukwonago won only two titles, with freshman Jake Schulte (36-5) picking up the other by defeating West Allis Central sophomore Quentin Brown (28-8) by a 3-2 decision at 106.
“They allowed us to stretch our lead,” Mukwonago coach Jon Wierzbicki said of his lightweights. “I feel good about this squad. This was a tough regional. We fought our way through here. We’re coming out of here battle-tested.”
Wierzbicki had reason to be happy. His team advanced 13 of 14 wrestlers to the sectional with four others finishing second, five finishing third and two finishing fourth.
“The name of the game is to advance,” said Wierzbicki. “You’ve got to win the regional and advance. I’m excited for this team.”