January 16, 2023 at 7:57 a.m.
Hodag wrestlers drop duals to Antigo, Lakeland
Hodag wrestlers drop duals to Antigo, Lakeland
That was the case for the Hodags again on Thursday where holes in six of the 14 weight classes were too many to overcome in a 40-36 loss to Antigo and an 48-30 loss to Lakeland in a GNC quadrangular in Minocqua.
The Hodags had a 4-3 edge in contested bouts over Lakeland, but Lakeland won the final three weight classes unopposed to win the Handrick Hammer for the second straight year. There were only three matches wrestled against Antigo, with the Robins taking two of them to edge out a victory.
"We knew that we probably weren't going to be winning the dual meets but every match we go out there we try to do our best to win," Hodag coach Scottie Arneson said. "Tonight we won more matches than we lost. That's really what we're trying to do ... We're getting better, it's just the lack of numbers right now. If we can get those numbers up, who knows where we can be."
Though both Rhinelander and Antigo sent eight wrestlers out in the opening match, they mostly aligned at different weight classes.
The end result was each side earning five forfeit wins, with a double forfeit at 106 pounds. Antigo locked up the dual early as Nolan Kielcheski beat Logan Schwinger by major decision, 19-11, at 170 while Robby Hagerty pinned Joey Evenson at 182. Antigo added three forfeit wins as it led 28-0 through five weight classes.
"With that match alone, because we only wrestled three matches, was the difference between us winning a dual meet and losing a dual meet," Arneson said. "But, only wrestling three matches means that we really weren't supposed to win anyways."
The Hodags ran off six straight wins from there, only one of which was contested. Freshman Anthony Boldt pinned Antigo's Aidan Kielcheski late in the first period of the 113-pound bout.
"Tony, at 113, got his first win, which was awesome," Arneson said. "Everything we've been working on in practice, we kind of spelled out the match for him and he went out and did exactly what we thought he should do and he got a pin. That was awesome for him."
Owen Kurtz (285), Aiden Ostermann (120), Kyle Wiese (126), Dresden Klaver (132) and Nathan Olds (138) all scored forfeit wins as Rhinelander moved ahead 36-28, but Hodag forfeits in the final two weight classes - 145 and 152 - gave Antigo the win.
Schwinger, Kurtz, Wiese and Klaver earned pins for Rhinelander in the match against Lakeland.
Schwinger started the dual by stopping Lakeland's Tommy Howard with six seconds remaining in the opening period at 170.
"Logan kind of banged up his knee in the first one, but came out in the second one and got a big pin," Arneson said. "He got a takedown and pin right at the end of the first period, which was awesome. He was pretty fired up."
After a scoreless first period, Kurtz stopped Lakeland's Esaube Brown 19 seconds into the second period at 285. Wiese needed 28 seconds to pin Moriah Lewis at 126 and Klaver pinned Ronnie Hilmer late in the first period at 138.
"Owen kept real solid position in his match tonight, got on top and used his horsepower to turn his opponent right over," Arneson said. "Kyle went out there and looked like he was feeling confident and got himself a first-period pin, which is awesome to see. Dresden's been doing an awesome job in practices and is just a horse when he gets his hands on people, snapping people's faces into the mat and doing what he has to do to make sure his hand gets raised at the end of the match."
Ostermann added a forfeit victory for Rhinelander at 120.
Despite the dual meet losses, Arneson said his team is starting to round into form as it hits the home stretch of the regular season.
"The intensity at practice is starting to pick up and the intensity is showing out on the wrestling mat," he said. "What we're doing at practice is making a difference and we'll see where we're at by the end of the season."
Rhinelander's two girls' wrestlers had a chance to compete in a couple of exhibition bouts during the meet. Mya Swanson won her match against Lakeland while Abby Swanson split a pair of matches on the night. She earned a first-period pin against Lakeland but lost to Antigo's Alex Hofrichter, who was the girls' 152-pound state champion last year.
Rhinelander (0-4 Great Northern) had a rare weekend off and returns to action this coming Thursday at Phillips. Both the Hodag boys and girls will compete this coming Saturday at an invite at Wausau East.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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