March 25, 2016 at 1:35 p.m.
Youth wrestlers heading to state
Youth wrestlers heading to state
Walker Hartman, Chase Redmond, Autumn Pond, Gavin Ostermann, Aiden Ostermann, Reid Schultz and Ashley Schmidt all qualified by finishing first or second in regional qualifiers held around the state earlier this month.
Here's a look at each of the state qualifiers and some thoughts they provided to the River News earlier this week:
Walker Hartman
Class: Boys' 2001-02, 115 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, River Falls regional
Years qualifying for state: 3
Hartman traveled the furthest of any of the Rhinelander state qualifiers, opting to take part in the River Falls regional where he went 4-1 with a pair of pins and a pair of decision victories. His lone loss was a one-point decision to the eventual regional champ.
"It was hard but it was easier than going to Merrill," he said. "It was a longer drive for better success."
Hartman said his goal is to make the podium at the state tournament.
Aiden Ostermann
Class: Boys' 2007-08, 66 lbs.
Regional result: 1st, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 1
Ostermann dominated his bracket, winning all four matches in convincing fashion. He recorded a pin, a technical fall and two major decisions, allowing only one point to an opponent the entire day. That point came due to a penalty in the championship match against Edgar's Preston Erickson.
Ostermann is the younger brother of fellow Rhinelander state qualifier Gavin Ostermann, and the sibling rivalry is quite apparent.
"I was hoping I could go to state and be the only person so I could brag to him all week," Ostermann said.
Gavin Ostermann
Class: Boys' 2003-04, 97 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 3
Ostermann had the most difficult road of the seven Hodag state qualifiers. A loss in the quarterfinals to Wisconsin Rapids' Cole Ladick sent Ostermann through the consolation bracket where he won four straight matches, including a rematch with Ladick in the third-place bout, to punch his ticket to Madison.
"I knew he was a little more tired than I was and used that as an advantage and I was playing a lot more aggressive than I was usually," Ostermann said of the rematch.
Ostermann said his goal at state is to place better than his brother, Aiden.
"Now, I know I have more competition because I know I'm going to place and he's not and I'm going to get the bragging rights," he said.
Autumn Pond
Class: Girls' 2001-03, 95 lbs.
Regional result: 1st, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 1
Pond was unopposed in her weight class at the Merrill regional as boys and girls are separated into different classes in the WWF tournament. Pond said she's looking forward to her first state meet.
"It's really exciting," she said. "It's actually my first time competing against the girls. I don't know how that's going to turn out but I'm pretty excited. A lot of the girls that go down to state are really good. They can be just as good as any of the guys down there."
Pond said she's hoping to place at the state tournament.
Chase Redmond
Class: Boys' 2001-02, 190 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 1
Redmond went 4-1 in his bracket with three pins and a decision victory. The lone loss came in the semifinals, a 7-3 decision to Antigo's Nicholas Roller.
"Tough loss. Should have beat him," Redmond noted.
Redmond qualified for state with a 10-4 decision over Park Falls' Parker Renken in the second-place match.
Like Hartman, Redmond said his goal is to make the podium at the state tournament.
Ashley Schmidt
Class: Girls' 2007-08, 75 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 1
Schmidt scored a runner-up finish in the Merrill regional, falling to Wausau West's Claire Calmes in the finals. Like Pond, Schmidt said she's used to battling the boys during the course of the season.
"I've never wrestled a girl (other than at) regionals," she said.
Schmidt said her goal at state is "not getting beat."
Reid Schultz
Class: Boys' 2007-08, 95 lbs.
Regional result: 1st, Merrill Regional
Years qualifying for state: 1
Schultz roared through his bracket in the Merrill regional, pinning a pair of Marathon wrestlers in 38 and 37 seconds respectively, to qualify for state. Schultz said he defeated his regional opponents earlier in the season.
"It was really fun," he said. "I was surprised that I was going to state and I was surprised I only had to wrestle two guys. That was the shortest bracket I've ever had."
As for his goal at state, Schultz said he hopes he will be, "kicking everybody's butts!"
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