By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
For the third year in a row, the Burlington High School wrestling squad is the Southern Lakes Conference champion. There is one difference, though, this year.
The past two years, the Demon boys shared the crown with another team. This year, they do not have to share the crown.
After winning the regular SLC dual season with an undefeated 7-0 record, the Demons added the SLC Meet title Saturday. By winning both the dual and the conference meet, Burlington laid claim to the crown.
Burlington tallied 231.5 points, with Elkhorn finishing second with 181 points.
The Demons crowned four individual champions, had three finish second and two more place third.
“The kids wrestled pretty well,” head coach Jade Gribble said. “We had seven in the finals and six going for third. It was a nice team effort.”
Claiming individual titles were Ben Hornickle at 106, Derek Gill at 126, Willie Ehlen at 145 and Neal Miller at 285.
Hornickle, a freshman, opened with a pin and then scored an 8-1 decision in the semifinals.
In the finals he pinned Austin Schwarz of Delavan-Darien in five minutes 45 seconds.
“He wrestled great in the finals,” Gribble said. “He was winning big when he pinned him. He was really dominant.”
Gill was never threatened in his three matches, winning the first two by pins in 11 and 37 seconds. He scored a 16-0 technical fall in the finals over Union Grove’s Turner Albrecht.
“He was pretty dominant all day,” Gribble said of Gill.
Ehlen, ranked No. 3 in the state, had a first-round bye, then pinned his second-round opponent in 57 seconds.
In the finals, he beat the No. 6-ranked wrestler in Division 2 – Kiefer Bennett of Delavan-Darien – 7-0.
“He really took it to him,” Gribble said.
Miller won his opening match 5-0, and then squeaked past Connor Selvey of Elkhorn, 5-4, in the semifinals.
“He had a great semifinal,” Gribble said. “He had never beaten that Selvey kid. It was a huge win.”
In the finals, Miller pinned Logan Keena of Westosha Central in 3:03.
Matt Ehlen, at 132; Brandt Gavin, at 160; and Ryan Jazdzewski, at 182, all took second, losing in the finals.
Placing third were Wes Gavin (120) and Brody Fitzpatrick (138).
Wes Gavin was seeded eighth, largely due to not having enough conference matches.
Lucas Shenkenberg (113), Max Shenkenberg (152), Greg Miller (195) and Tyler Vorpahl (220) all finished fourth.
That meant 13 of Burlington’s 14 wrestlers finished in the top four in their respective weight classes.
WIAA Division 1 individual regional action takes place Saturday at Whitnall High School.
“We have high expectations for regionals,” Gribble said.
Waterford and Union Grove are also in the same regional.
The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for sectionals.
Team sectionals will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Mukwonago High School. That sectional includes four ranked teams – West Allis Central at No. 6, Burlington at No. 7, Mukwonago at No. 11 and Waukesha South at No. 12 – and one honorable mention team, Fort Atkinson.
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