The Antigo Wrestling Club Sends Six to Compete at the USA Wrestling Tour of America High School Classic
FOR THE ANTIGO TIMES
The Antigo Wrestling Club sent six competitors to Wisconsin Dells on December 30th to compete in the USA Wrestling High School Classic, an event that saw nearly 700 competitors from multiple states. Multiple state qualifiers and ranked wrestlers could be found in every bracket, and it made for a very exciting day of wrestling.
Leading the charge for the contingent from Antigo was Sophomore Alexandra Hofrichter. Alex dominated everyone in front of her, not allowing a single girl to make it out of the first round with her.
In the first round, Alex matched up with Breanna Wier of Osseo. After earning a takedown 28 seconds into the match, Alex added another 3 points of nearfall 8 seconds later. After Wier was able to escape the pin attempt, Alex once again was able to secure a pinning combination, and this time ended the match in 74 seconds.
After a second-round bye, Alex met up with Nikki Krizan of Stanley-Boyd. Once again, the Antigo wrestler came out strong, securing a takedown in 16 seconds and adding 3 nearfall at about the minute mark. Shortly after the first set of nearfall, Alex was able to secure a half nelson for the finish at 72 seconds.
In the fourth round, Alex faced Samantha Meyer of Chilton. Facing her first bit of adversity for the day, Alex surrendered a takedown 55 seconds into the match. It would take her all of 11 seconds to reverse the position, and then add on 2 points of nearfall for a 4-2 lead heading towards the end of the first period. With 7 seconds to go in that first period, Alex was able to secure the pinfall.
In the final round, Celestine Uherka from Fox Lake tried her hand at defeating Alex. Uherka was able to secure a throw in the first 20 seconds to secure a takedown, but Alex once again was able to quickly reverse the position and secure a pinfall, this time in 41 seconds.
On the day, Alexandra Hofrichter pinned all 4 of her opponents, in a combined total of only 5 minutes. The sky is the limit for this young lady, and everyone involved with Antigo Wrestling is looking forward to the rest of her high school career. Wisconsin has not yet released rankings for females, so that information will be updated once the first set of rankings comes out.
Josh Heuss entered the day ranked 7th at 170 for Division 2 in Wisconsin. Past performances earned Josh a first-round bye, and in the second round, he faced off with Riley Klar of La Crosse. Klar was able to secure the first points of the match with a first period takedown. After that, Josh took control, earning his own takedown in the second period to tie the match, and then 2 sets of nearfall later in the period. A late escape by Klar ended the second period with Josh ahead 8-3. In the third period, Josh earned another takedown, and this time finished Klar off, pinning him at 4:35.
The third round saw a match up of previous state qualifiers and ranked wrestlers, as Heuss took the mat against Evan Danowski of Waterford, who is currently ranked 5th at 170 for Division 1 in Wisconsin, and qualified for state last year at 160 pounds. Danowski also won the Great Lakes Championships last month, defeating Mosinee’s Gage Coppock, who is currently ranked 5th at 170 in Division 2.
The first period between Josh and Danowski was a stalemate of styles, as neither wrestler was able to secure a takedown. Danowski chose to start the second period on the bottom, and was able to earn an escape. After nearly an entire period of positional battling, Danowski was able to secure a late takedown to enter the third period up 3-0. In the third period, Danowski earned another takedown, followed by an escape by Josh. The match ended 5-1 in Danowski’s favor, but the score does not do justice to how close of a match this was between two very good wrestlers.
In the consolation round, Josh competed against Gavin Kohel of River Falls. In another match that was closer than the final score indicates, Kohel was able to secure 3 takedowns in route to a 7-1 victory.
Gideon Sass, competing at 160 pounds, may have had the toughest draw of the day for the Antigo team. He faced Braden Stauffenberg of Yorkville Illinois. Stauffenberg was a place winner at the Illinois state tournament last year, and defeated Aiden Vanden bush of Random Lake, a state champion for Wisconsin last year, in the semi-finals. Gideon showed incredible determination to not get pinned and fought off his back 5 times during the course of the match. Stauffenberg was eventually able to win by technical superiority, but was not able to pin the Antigo wrestler.
In the first round of wrestle backs, Gideon faced Ronald Mason of Waupaca. Gideon was again able to prevent the pinfall, with Mason earning a technical superiority victory.
Wrestlers that dropped their first two matches in the main bracket were then given the opportunity to enter a last chance bracket to have the opportunity to wrestle a few more matches. Gideon jumped at this opportunity, and faced Blane Keyes of Menomonie in the first round. After a scoreless first period, Keyes chose to start the second period on the bottom. Gideon was able to control the entire period, and even forced a stalling call to be made against Keyes. In the third period, Gideon was able to convert his choice of starting on bottom into an escape point, and won the match 1-0.
In his second match in the last chance bracket, Gideon was able to dominate Logan Anderson of Ithaca. Gideon started strong with a first period takedown, and then added a reversal, takedown, and nearfall to enter the third period with a 9-1 advantage. Anderson chose to start the third period on the bottom, and Gideon once again showed a great ability to control the position, finish the round without allowing Anderson to escape and winning 9-1.
Also competing at 160 pounds was Robby Hagerty. Hagerty also had a tough first round draw, facing the beforementioned Gage Coppock of Mosinee. Coppock earned a trip to state in 2019, but missed last season due to an injury. In the matches he has had this year, it looks like he is poised to make another run to the state tournament. In the matchup between Robby and Coppock, Coppock was able to secure a takedown and convert it into a pinfall victory in the first round.
The second round for Robby was a match with Blake Lorentz of Perham, Minnesota. Lorentz was able to control the match before winning by pinfall at 4:09.
Robby, like Gideon, was eager for the opportunity of a few additional matches. In his first match, he faced Aaron Diamon of Ashland. Robby was able to earn the first take down, but a reversal by Diamond ended the first period at a 2-2 tie. Diamond chose to start the second period in the neutral position, and earned a takedown and nearfall to take a 6-2 lead, before Robby was able to capture a reversal to cut the lead to 6-4. In the third period, Robby chose to start on the bottom, and earned a reversal. Unfortunately, a late reversal by Diamond gave him the 8-6 win in a back-and-forth match.
In the second round of the last chance bracket, Robby faced Ethan Lamoureux of Weyauwega. Robby was able to capitalize on a quick takedown and earned a pinfall victory in 39 seconds.
Competing in the largest bracket of the day (60 individuals), Seth Beaber took the mat at 138 pounds. His first-round match was against Cade Willis of Union Grove, the 5th ranked wrestler at 132 pounds for Division 1. Seth, much like his Antigo teammates, was able to fight off his back against the state ranked wrestler, but dropped a 17-1 match by technical superiority.
In his second match, Seth faced Matthew Kinzel of Muskego, dropping a match by pinfall at 4:39.
Seth also entered the last chance brackets, but unfortunately, his first opponent, Logan Schmitz of Fond Du Lac did not show up, so he won that match by forfeit.
In the second match of the last chance bracket, Seth faced Kacey Layton of Riverdale. Layton was able to hit an early takedown and nearfall to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Seth earned a late escape to end the first period 4-1. In the second, Layton chose to start on bottom, and after an escape and penalty point for locked hands, had a 6-1 lead. This is where Seth took control of the match. Seth was able to get a takedown in the second period, and then ride Layton out to enter the third down 6-3. Seth chose to start in the neutral position, and forced Layton into 3 stalling calls due to constant pressure and attacks. Unfortunately, that was just a little short of what he needed, and Seth dropped the match 6-5.
Competing at heavyweight for Antigo was Hunter Cordova. Hunter had a first-round bye, and faced David Gauderman of Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the second round. Gauderman is currently ranked 7th at 220 for Division 3. Gauderman was able to secure an early takedown, but was unable to turn Hunter for the remainder of the first period. Entering the second period, Gauderman chose to start in neutral, and earned another takedown, this one leading to a fall, at 3:21.
After another bye in the consolation rounds, Hunter faced Darren Wagner of Reedsville. After a scoreless first period, Wagner chose to start the second on the bottom, and earned a reversal about a minute in. Hunter was able to quickly escape and cut the lead to 2-1. A late takedown by Wagner, and another escape by Hunter ended the second at 4-2. A quick escape by Hunter in the third period narrowed the match to 4-3, but then the referee determined there was a little too much physicality on the feet, and disqualified the Antigo wrestler.
All in all, it was an exciting day of wrestling. A lot of state champions didn’t even make it to the finals, and the quality of wrestlers that came from other states was impressive.
The next match for the Antigo High School team is scheduled to be a dual meet at Mosinee on Thursday, the 7th.
2020 TOA – Holiday High School Classic Results for Antigo Wrestling Club
High School Girls 141-153
Alexandra Hofrichter’s place is 1st and has scored 18.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Alexandra Hofrichter (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Breanna Wier (Osseo) (Fall 1:14)
- Round 3 – Alexandra Hofrichter (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Nikki Krizan (stanley-boyd WC) (Fall 1:12)
- Round 4 – Alexandra Hofrichter (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Samantha Meyer (Chilton) (Fall 1:53)
- Round 5 – Alexandra Hofrichter (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Celestine Uherka (Unattached) (Fall 0:41)
HS BOYS SESSION 1 170
Josh Heuss’s place is unknown and has scored 6.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Josh Heuss (Antigo Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 – Josh Heuss (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Riley Klar (Unattached) (Fall 4:35)
- Champ. Round 3 – Evan Danowski (Askren Wrestling Academy Lake Country) won by decision over Josh Heuss (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-1)
- Cons. Round 4 – Gavin Kohel (Victory School of Wrestling) won by decision over Josh Heuss (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-1)
HS BOYS SESSION 1 160
Gideon Sass’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Braden Stauffenberg (Izzy Style Wrestling) won by tech fall over Gideon Sass (Unattached) (TF 18-2)
- Cons. Round 1 – Gideon Sass (Unattached) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Ronald Mason (Unattached) won by tech fall over Gideon Sass (Unattached) (TF 18-2)
Session 1 Last Chance 152-158
Gideon Sass’s place is 1st and has scored 6.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Gideon Sass (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by decision over Blane Keyes (Menomonie Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0)
- Round 3 – Gideon Sass (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Logan Anderson (Ithaca Wrestling Club) (Maj 9-1)
HS BOYS SESSION 1 160
Robert Hagerty’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Gage Coppock (CrassTrained: Weigh In Club) won by fall over Robert Hagerty (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:39)
- Cons. Round 1 – Robert Hagerty (Antigo Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Blake Lorentz (Northwest Wrestling Club) won by fall over Robert Hagerty (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Fall 4:09)
Session 1 Last Chance 151-157
Robert Hagerty’s place is 2nd and has scored 4.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Aaron Diamond (Unattached) won by decision over Robert Hagerty (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-6)
- Round 2 – Robert Hagerty (Antigo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Ethan Lamoureux (Wrestling Factory) (Fall 0:39)
HS BOYS SESSION 2 138
Seth Beaber’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Cade Willis (Higher Level Wrestling) won by tech fall over Seth Beaber (Unattached) (TF 17-1)
- Cons. Round 1 – Matt Kinzel (Muskego High School Wrestling) won by fall over Seth Beaber (Unattached) (Fall 4:39)
LAST CHANCE 2 132-136
Seth Beaber’s place is 2nd and has scored 4.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Seth Beaber (Unattached) won by forfeit over Logan Schmitz (Fond du Lac Wrestling Club) (FF)
- Round 2 – Kacey Layton (Riverdale Wrestling Club) won by decision over Seth Beaber (Unattached) (Dec 6-5)
HS BOYS SESSION 1 285
Hunter Cordova’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Hunter Cordova (Antigo Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 – David Gauderman (Unattached) won by fall over Hunter Cordova (Antigo Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:21)
- Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Cordova (Antigo Wrestling Club) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 – Darren Wagner (Reedsville wrestling) won by disqualification over Hunter Cordova (Antigo Wrestling Club) (DQ)