Lindner drops both matches at state wrestling tourney

The season ended for Rhinelander High School junior Cassidy Lindner Friday morning following her second loss at the WIAA state girls’ wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Lindner (50-8) dropped her opening match on Thursday, getting pinned by Bay Port’s Dakotah Athey in a rematch of the sectional final between the two wrestlers. That dropped Lindner into the consolation bracket Friday morning, where she lost to Arcadia’s Kalyce Sobotta via technical fall. 

Despite the outcomes, coach Caleb Radtke called the experience a positive one for Lindner, who became only the second girl in school history to qualify for the state meet.

“This is the best of the best, top 16 girls in the state. I mean it’s a great atmosphere. It’s a very fun weekend. I think Cassidy really enjoyed wrestling down here and taking this all in for the first time, and she deserved it,” Radtke said. “We’re close. We’re right there. We got to do a little bit of work this offseason. We got to have a good spring, good summer. I don’t have any doubt that we can be standing on the podium next year.”

Lindner’s match against Athey lasted longer than their sectional championship bout. Athey took the first meeting by pinfall with 11 seconds remaining in the first period. 

Athey, who eventually placed third in the bracket, got out to another strong start against Lindner on Thursday. She secured a takedown 15 seconds into the match before turning Lindner for a pair of four-point near falls to take an 11-0 lead after a period.

Athey started on the bottom in the second period, got a quick reversal and finished off the pin 25 seconds into the frame.

“It’s a tough draw. Athey’s a very good opponent. She’s pretty tested,” Radtke said. “We definitely looked better, I thought, on Thursday than we did last Friday (at sectionals). We had a bit of a gameplan, and we’re able to extend that match a bit.”

Things were more competitive for Lindner early in Friday’s match against Sobotta. The Arcadia junior recorded the first takedown 32 seconds into the one-minute opening period to take a 3-0 lead.

Lindner again chose to ride to begin the second period, but suffered a reversal 28 seconds into the period and was put to her back three times before the 15-point margin for a technical fall was reached with 20 seconds left in the period.

“It was a good first period. I thought we kept it close, and we were able to get our choice in the second to get it top,” Radtke said. “Ultimately just came up a bit short.”

Lindner’s 50 wins were the most in a single season for an RHS girls’ wrestler. She won the Great Northern/Wisconsin Valley Conference championship at 120 points before winning a regional title and finishing second at sectionals. 

“Unbelievable jump from her sophomore to junior season,” Radtke said. “I think she showed a lot of progress, a lot of development, which is exciting. I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t put together another season like she just did now, or even better.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].