February 16, 2022 at 3:35 p.m.
Hodag wrestlers seek state berths at sectionals
Hodag wrestlers seek state berths at sectionals
The Hodags will head to Eau Claire North tomorrow looking to get wrestlers back to the state meet after missing out on a state tournament that was restricted in numbers last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The expectation for sectionals is that we just go out there and compete as hard as we possibly can," coach Scottie Arneson said. "We're really going to focus in this week on getting those five guys better. Everybody that's on our team will be practicing this week. When there's more people in the room, the morale and the energy stays up."
To get there, each of the Hodags' qualifiers -Aiden Ostermann, Cole Lehman, Gavin Ostermann, Joe Fugle and Owen Kurtz - will have to finish first or second in their respective weight classes. A loss in the sectional quarterfinals spells instant elimination. Lose in the semifinals and it's a matter a winning the third-place match while hoping that your semifinal opponent wins the championship match to create an opportunity to wrestle the championship loser for the second and final qualifying spot.
As regional champions, the Ostermann brothers have the easiest path early on, as they will wrestle the fourth-place finishers from last weekend's New Richmond regional. Kurtz, as a regional runner-up, will face the third-place finisher in New Richmond while Lehman and Fugle will each face regional runners-up following their third place showings last weekend.
Each Hodag wrestler will likely have to get through one or two wrestlers ranked in the latest Wisconsin Wrestling Online rankings to make it to Madison.
"Any given day anybody can be beat. If we wrestle our perfect day, I honestly believe that we can get all five to the state tournament," Arneson said. "Realistically, a perfect day for everybody, that doesn't happen in any sport, but we've put ourselves in great positions to be successful and that's what supposed to happen at the end of a season."
Here's a quick look at each of the brackets.
106 - Aiden Ostermann (22-5)
1st round opponent: Eden Henning, New Richmond (22-15)
Ranked wrestler(s) in bracket: Liam Neitzel, Hudson, 7th (36-2)
160 - Cole Lehman (25-11)
1st round opponent: Chase Feirer, New Richmond (34-6)
Ranked wrestler(s) in bracket: Ryan Dolezal, Marshfield, 3rd (38-3); Tyler Haydon, River Falls, honorable mention (34-6)
182 - Gavin Ostermann (34-3)
1st round opponent: Jin Yang, Eau Claire Memorial (23-18)
Ranked wrestler(s) in bracket: Gavin Kohl, River Falls, 7th (36-6); Ben Draveling, Hudson, 12th (34-12); Ostermann, Rhinelander, honorable mention
195 - Joe Fugle (22-16)
1st round opponent: Josh Boyette, Menomonie (15-3)
Ranked wrestler(s) in bracket: Joseph Behrens, Wausau West, 7th (33-3); Ryan Rambo, Hudson, honorable mention (34-8)
285 - Owen Kurtz (31-6)
1st round opponent: Riley Mercer, Eau Claire North (20-8)
Ranked wrestler(s) in bracket: Vito Lassa, River Falls, 2nd (32-4); Jaren Rohde, Stevens Point, 3rd (31-0)
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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