Marshfield wrestlers heading to team state for first time since 2003
MARSHFIELD - With two weights left and the match and state trip on the line, the attention shifted to Nolan Hertel as one of Marshfield's most dominant wrestlers stepped out onto the mat with a chance to close things out.
It was a best-case scenario for the Tigers.
"A two-time (WIAA) state qualifier and the match comes down to him to seal the win, you feel that you are standing in a good position," Marshfield coach Jackson Hein said.
Hertel's performance didn't disappoint. The senior dominated from the start on the way to a technical fall win at 145 pounds which gave Marshfield a decisive 11-point lead on the way to a 41-36 win over Hudson in a WIAA Division 1 team wrestling sectional final.
"The score was pretty close and I knew if I won it would put it away, so I was doing everything in my power to do it," said Hertel, who is ranked seventh at 145 pounds in Division 1. "This is everything that we worked for all year and (after his tech fall) it was just a fluid rush of emotions."
The win moved the Tigers to the team state tournament for the first time since 2003. Marshfield, ranked seventh in Division 1 in the latest Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, will compete in the state quarterfinals on March 2 at the University of Wisconsin Field House.
"It was an emotional roller coaster of a dual meet, that is for sure," said Hein, who was part of three team state qualifying Wausau West teams during his prep career. "In the end it came down to the strength of this team. It's not just the 14 guys who wrestled tonight but the 31 who are on our team and wrestled every single day (this season) and are buying into our team concept. I'm just happy they have the opportunity to wrestle at team state."
The roller coaster ride began in the opening match of the night at 160 pounds. Marshfield's Payton Young nearly was pinned in the opening minute but rallied back and pinned Caleb Hatch at the 92-second mark.
"(Hatch) put me on my back right away but this is my last time I'm wrestling on this (home) mat and there was no way I was going to lose this time," said Young, who is one of five seniors on Marshfield's roster. "We got in a little bit of a scramble and I was able to get back on top, then did a reverse half (nelson) and got him on his back."
It was the second straight year the two teams met in the sectional final as Hudson edged Marshfield by three points last February in Stevens Point. The Tigers won four of the first seven weights against the fifth-ranked Raiders.
Marshfield's Gabe Pugh got a technical fall at 113 and Caden Dennee (120) and Tanner Kanable (126) followed with a pin and major decision to give the Tigers a 36-18 lead with four weights to go.
Hudson's Vincent Fanning and Mitchell Anderson followed with pins at 132 and 138 pounds, respectively, to bring the Raiders to within six points of the Tigers and set up the scenario for Hertel.
"He went after it," Hein said. "He was on the offense the whole time. He could have won it by one but I like how he went out and wrestled a dominant match."
Marshfield 41, Hudson 36
160-Payton Young M pin Caleb Hatch, 1:32. 170-Jacob Anderson, H pin Bentley Schwanebeck-Ostermann, 3:52. 182-Sam Mitchell, M won by forfeit. 195-Isaac Slark,M over Cody Cicha, 11-5. 220-Alex Brost, M won by forfeit. 285-Cole Godbout, H won by forfeit. 106-Leo Draveling, H pin Riley Wilcott, 1:52. 113-Gabe Pugh, M tech fall Matthew Feia, 17-2. 120-Caden Dennee, M pin isaac Hatch, 1:10. 126-Tanner Kanable, M maj dec Bryce Hunsberger 22-8. 132-Vincent Fanning, H pin Spencer Wirthlin, 0:40. 138-Mitchell Anderson, H pin Caden Pearce, 5:45. 145-Nolan Hertel, M tech fall Peter Hansen, 18-3. 152-Hank Gierke, H pin Brayden Richardson, 5:12.