March 8, 2019 at 3:58 p.m.
Rhinelander wrestling team hands out awards
Rhinelander wrestling team hands out awards
The most prestigious of the awards went to sophomore Walker Hartman, who was named this year's most valuable wrester. Sophomores, in fact, claimed several of the team's high-profile awards with Ben Sinclair earning the team's most improved wrestler award and Hugh Wiese being named rookie of the year.
Hartman finished tied for the team lead in wins this season, finishing the year at 32-12 while primarily wrestling in the 152-pound weight class. Walker was the conference runner-up in that class and finished third at sectionals in a bracket that included the then first- and second-ranked wrestlers in the state.
"He's been an extreme pleasure, very respectful at all times, works his tail off, that's for sure and I'm super proud of him for the year he had," Rhinelander coach Nathan Piasecki said during the banquet. "He can compete. He has some intangibles. He had a beautiful, beautiful headlock. I've seen it many, many of times. He beat guys that were ranked in the state who didn't think they were going to lose to Walker."
Sinclair earned 25 wins for the Hodags as a sophomore, going 25-13 overall. He finished second in the GNC at 182 and was one of the team's eight sectional qualifiers. Piasecki said Sinclair was able to accomplish all of this despite being hampered near the midway point of the season by lingering effects of the flu.
"It wasn't a fun season for him up in the room, between the sickness and having to battle (Trevor Knapp) all the time, and to work his butt off. If Ben decides to be great at this sport, Ben is a two-time state qualifier ability in my book. I can see it happening next year," Piasecki said. "He's a sophomore with 25 wins, pulled off some big wins for us in some duals, was undefeated at the SPASH tournament. He beat some tough kids."
Wiese, a first-year wrestler, compiled 14 wins team and pulled off an upset at regionals to earn a berth to the sectional round. While Wiese took some lumps during his rookie campaign, Piasecki referred to him as "a natural" who has plenty of untapped potential the next couple of years.
"With no wrestling training whatsoever for the most part he became an extremely dangerous wrestlers," he said. "Hugh was probably the most exciting, for me, to coach because A) he was extremely coachable, B) he hated to lose and he didn't except losing from Day 1 ... He always expected to be really good, expected a lot out of himself. His condition - whether it from swimming or genetics, whatever it was - was really good to see."
Additionally, the Hodags named a wrestler of the year in each weight class. Gavin Ostermann was named the team's freshman of the year, Tim Fox was the sophomore of the year, Trevor Knapp was the junior of the year and Eric Grulke was the senior of the year.
Ostermann went 24-11 as a freshman while wrestling most of the year up two weight classes at 170 pounds. He finished third in the GNC at that weight class and qualified for sectionals. Fox finished with the team's best record at 32-11 and was one point away from qualifying for the WIAA state tournament at 106 pounds. Fox was an undefeated GNC champion at 106 this year. Knapp (25-12) was a second qualifier and placed third in the GNC at 220. Grulke - the team's only senior - went 27-10, placed third in the GNC, qualified for sectionals and scored dual-meet clinching wins over Lakeland and Mosinee.
Rhinelander went 2-3 and finished in fourth place in the GNC this year and placed sixth in the WIAA regional tournament despite being unable to fill several weight classes at times this season.
"We won so many of our close matches," Piasecki said, reflecting on the season. "We just keep instilling in you guys the third period is our period. Looking back, with the team we had, being in all those dual meets - even being handicapped by four or five forfeits - that was a beautiful thing. You guys stepped up to the challenge. I'm really happy and proud of you for that. It was a privilege to see you guys give it your all so many times."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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