March 24, 2017 at 1:15 p.m.
Rhinelander wrestling sends 6 to kids' state meet
Rhinelander wrestling sends 6 to kids' state meet
The Hodags sent six wrestlers to the event, which got underway Friday and concludes Saturday at the Alliant Energy Center.
Walker Hartman, Owen Kurtz, Aiden Ostermann, Autumn Pond, Ashley Schmidt and Abby Swanson qualified for the Hodags.
Ostermann and Pond placed at last year's state tournament - taking second and fifth, respectively - in their individual brackets. Hartman and Schmidt also qualified for state last year.
The athletes qualified for state by placing first or second in one of eight regional qualifying tournaments held throughout the state earlier this month, or by special invitation - as was the case with Kurtz who finished third in his weight class at the Merrill regional.
Pond was Rhinelander's only regional champion. She wrestled unopposed in the girls' 2004-05, 105-pound weight class in Merrill. Hartman, Ostermann, Schmidt and Swanson all placed second in their brackets. Ben Sinclair narrowly missed qualifying for state, placing third in his bracket. Logan Schwinger, Reid Schultz, Tanner Schmidt and Tim Fox also participated for the Hodags at regionals.
Here's a closer look at Rhinelander's six state qualifiers.
Walker Hartman
Class: Boys' 2002-03, 145 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, River Falls regional
Years qualifying for state: 4
Quotable: "My favorite part is just all the competition around the state. I'm hoping for good competition, but to place in the top four would be nice."
Owen Kurtz
Class: Boys' 2004-05, 130 lbs.
Regional result: 3rd, Merrill regional (in as a special qualifier)
Years qualifying for state: 1
Quotable: "My favorite part was just being able to end up making it to state."
Aiden Ostermann
Class: Boys' 2006-07, 72 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 2
Quotable: "My favorite part is just to be able to go to state this year. I'm hoping to place or at least win a couple of matches."
Autumn Pond
Class: Girls' 2002-04, 105 lbs.
Regional result: 1st, Merrill regional
Years qualifying for state: 2
Quotable: "I'm going to hope for a good bracket. I know it's going to be difficult, but I'm going to try my hardest."
Ashley Schmidt
Class: Girls' 2005-07, 85 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd
Years qualifying for state: 2
Quotable: "I kind of like losing because it showed people I have good sportsmanship. I try my hardest, but I still lose, but it's still kind of fun."
Abby Swanson
Class: Girls' 2002-04, 172 lbs.
Regional result: 2nd,
Years qualifying for state: 1
Quotable: "I like learning more moves."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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