Three Hodags wrestlers win GNC titles

While the Rhinelander High School wrestling team struggled in the team standings on Saturday, it had some standout performances in the upper weight classes in the Great Northern Conference meet in Antigo. 

Logan Schwinger, Owen Kurtz and Reid Schultz claimed titles at 190, 215 and. 285 pounds for Rhinelander, which finished sixth in the tournament. The Hodags finished tied for fifth in the final conference standings with Antigo, which they beat head-to-head during dual meet competition.

“I think the championships show the kids who really cares right now about being successful and giving it their all every day at practice and giving it their all every day on the mat,” Hodag coach Scottie Arneson said afterward. 

Kurtz needed some late heroics in two of his five matches on Saturday to secure his third straight conference title. 

In the second round, Kurtz used a takedown in the final seconds of the third period to clinch a 4-1 victory over Lakeland’s Leonard Chosa. In the final round, Kurtz wrestled to a 1-1 tie through six minutes of regulation against Medford’s Braxton Weissmiller. Neither wrestler scored in the one-minute sudden victory period. In the first overtime session, Kurtz quickly escaped from Weissmiller, then caught him in a throw and finished a pin to secure the conference title.

“He was wrestling in what I think was the best bracket in the tournament. A state qualifier (Weissmiller) ended up finishing third,” Arneson said. “When that happens … the other two guys have to be pretty good as well. For those three guys to be battling in the same conference, that just shows how good that bracket actually is. 

“Just being able to finish the match and not give the opportunity for the other kid, that just shows how balanced Owen is. He was able to keep his composure late in the match. He doesn’t get too frustrated, too flustered like he used to late in matches.”

    Rhinelander’s Logan Schwinger attempts to put Tomahawk’s Blake Younker in a headlock during the GNC wrestling tournament in Antigo Saturday, Feb. 3. Schwinger won the conference title for the Hodags at 190 pounds. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Schwinger bumped up to 190 pounds for the conference tournament and took care of his first three opponents via pins. That set up a winner-take-all final round match against Medford’s Evan Wilkins, which Schwinger won by decision, 7-3.

“I think it was the best overall performance of his high school career,” Arneson said. “For him to go out there and wrestle the way he did today, he looked loose, he looked like he was focused and was ready to be on the attack. For him, it was an awesome day.”

    Rhinelander’s Logan Schwinger attempts to put Tomahawk’s Blake Younker in a headlock during the GNC wrestling tournament in Antigo Saturday, Feb. 3. Schwinger won the conference title for the Hodags at 190 pounds. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Schultz dominated the heavyweight bracket, pinning all five of his opponents, including a second-period fall over Medford’s Max Dietzman in the final round to secure the title.

“He wrestled really sound. I think he’s found what his offense is on the feet,” Arneson said. “We made some small adjustments in matches he was winning by quite a few points today. We made small adjustments match by match and it put us in a really good position to get a fall in the finals match. 

“Reid’s hips are really good. He’s fast for a heavyweight. He moves like a little guy. He’s just wrestling wide open, kind of like the guys that are winning matches right now — not hesitant, just going out there and trying to score as many points as they can and trying to have as much fun as they can.”

The top three finishers in each weight class earned all-GNC recognition. Senior Robert Schramke made the podium for Rhinelander with a third-place finish at 132 pounds. After dropping his first two matches, Schramke pinned his final three opponents to secure an all-conference award. 

“Robert finishing up his conference career as all-conference is awesome. I think he should have been second today. He just wasn’t ready to go right away this morning the first couple of matches and I think that cost him a runner-up, but Robert finished the day strong,” Arneson said. 

Cyrus Leisure finished fourth for Rhinelander at 144. Gavin Liebherr (106), Hoyt Dantoin (113), Anthony Boldt (126) and Dresden Klaver (138) all finished fifth. Maxi Singhammer was sixth at 175.

Medford finished with six individual conference champions and won the meet by 119 points as it locked up its sixth straight conference title. Tomahawk edged Lakeland and Mosinee for second place on the day, breaking a three-way tie for the runner-up spot in the conference through dual meet play. 

Rhinelander will be back in action this coming Saturday as it take part in a 13-team WIAA Division 2 regional in Medford. 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].