State qualifier seeking fourth bid
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Entering the Wilmot Union High School wrestling season, Jake Morgan has qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state tournament three years in a row.
Panthers’ coach John Watson hopes to send him to a fourth, and if his last two matches are any indication, he could make it.
“Jake is one of the greater wrestlers in the state, he simply is, no one is going to beat Jake, barring injury,” Watson said.
Watson noted that while the Panthers are in Year 3 of rebuilding, following an era where Wilmot Union garnered seven conference titles and a couple regional championships from 2000-10, he wants to send an additional wrestler to state.
“I have high hopes of sending one, or two, wrestlers to state,” Watson said.
Individually, Watson likes the Panthers, but acknowledged it will be difficult to win dual meets with open holes on the roster.
“We don’t have a full lineup right now, so we are going to have trouble winning dual meets,” Watson said. “We have put a kid in state the last 19 years, and we’d like to make that 20.”
In the Panthers’ 48-30 loss at Burlington Dec. 10, the 152-pound Morgan pinned Thomas Petrick in 4 minutes, 46 seconds. The senior carried momentum into the Panthers’ matchup against Fort Atkinson, pinning Nick Chapin in 2:25.
Morgan is one of nine returning letter-winners, including junior Jake Wagemann (106), sophomore Joey Graham (113) and Kyler Moudy (132).
Wagemann, cited by Watson for his work ethic, pinned Burlington’s Zeke Isaacson in 1:15 and won his next match on a forfeit against Fort Atkinson.
“It took him weeks and weeks to get the weight down, and he is currently 2-0,” said Watson, referring to moving down a weight class to make way for Graham.
Graham went the distance, winning a 9-2 decision, against Demons’ Zack Weiler. The sophomore won on a forfeit in the match against Fort Atkinson.
Kyler Moudy, who took a difficult loss via pin against Burlington’s Jared Bird, attempted to bounce back in a match against Fort Atkinson’s Nico Roscioli, but lost an 8-3 decision.
Despite losing to Burlington and Fort Atkinson in dual meets, Watson noted Burlington has always been a tough competitor.
“They have a lot of state qualifiers, Burlington is a fine team, they are one of the top teams in the state,” he said.
Other returning letter-winners are senior Jimmy Graham (126), senior Anthony Klein (145), senior Jacob Walker (145), junior Matthew Phillips (220) and senior Brody Steadman (195).
Burlington 48, Wilmot Union 30
152 – Jake Morgan, W, pin Thomas Petrick, 4:46; 160 – Hunter Valach, W, pin Lance Otter, 6:37; 170 – Louie Hardesty, B, forfeit; 182 – Nathan Crayton, B, forfeit; 195 – Tristan Lind, B, forfeit; 220 – Juanye Thornton, B, forfeit; 285 – Hegeman Tiedt, B, forfeit; 106 – Jacob Wagemann, W, pin Zeke Isaacson, 1:15; 113 – Joey Graham, W, def. Zack Weiler, Dec. 9-2; 120 – Drew Hebior, W, pin Justin Erickson, 2:41; 126 – Luke Iverson, B, pin Jimmy Graham, 3:46; 132 – Jared Bird, B, pin Kyler Moudy, 3:41; 138 – Josh Bird, B, pin, Jeremy Toro, :44; 145 – Anthony Klein, W, def. Ryder Elliot, Dec. 5-2.
Fort Atkinson 59, Wilmot Union 18
106 – Jacob Wagemann, W, forfeit; 113 – Joey Graham, W, forfeit; 120 – Nolan Kraus, FA, pin Drew Hebior, 1:24; 126 – Draven Sigmund, FA, def. Jimmy Graham, TF 15-0; 132 – Nico Roscioli, FA, def.. Kyler Moudy, Dec. 8-3; 138 – Keagan Healy, FA, def. Jeremy Toro, Dec. 9-6; 145 – Owen Worden, FA, pin Anthony Klein, 3:57; 152 – Jake Morgan, W, pin Nick Chapin, 2:35; 160 – Ryan Golich, FA, forfeit; Austin Kind, FA, forfeit; 182 – Chase Zablocki, FA, forfeit; 195 – Dalton Goldsmith, FA, pin Brody Steadman, 5:26; 220 – David Purcell, FA, forfeit; 285 – Cole Beavers, FA, forfeit.