By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
The wrestling world’s eyes were on Wrestlemania 31 Sunday night.
But locally, it isn’t about high-flying moonsaults, Stone Cold stunners or tombstone piledrivers.
It’s not the WWF you may know from childhood, but rather the WWF Kids Folkstyle State Tournament, and 13 Burlington boys competed.
Burlington’s rich wrestling tradition flexed its muscles and proved the younger guys are doing just fine, and the future of the high school program is in good hands.
Max Ehlen won a state championship at the event, which was held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Ehlen’s title came in the division with grapplers born in either 2002 or 2003, 105 pounds.
There were zero points scored on Ehlen the entire tournament.
Ehlen, a seventh-grader at Karcher Middle School, improved to 40-8 on the season. Ehlen is the son of coach Al Ehlen, and his mother, Cindy, is the club administrator.
Ehlen wrestles for the Burlington Youth Wrestling Club, which was started by Kevin Bird and the Ehlens back in 2001.
Also, Max competes for Higher Level Wrestling, an elite, supplemental wrestling program available to southeastern Wisconsin wrestlers.
Along with Max, teammate Qwade Gehring was the state runner-up in the same age group at 110 pounds.
Zach Wallace placed third in the 02-03 group at 100 pounds. Ben Kumprey landed fifth place in the same division at 85 pounds.
Evan Gill earned fifth place in the 06-07 age group at 48 pounds.
Finally, in the 00-01 age group, Zach Weiler was in sixth place at 105 pounds.
Almost 4,000 wrestlers competed at the eight regional tournaments held throughout the state.
Approximatley 1,450 Wisconsin kids advanced to the state tournament, with 88 age/weight classes.
Other Burlington state qualifiers were Jake Skrundz (00-01, 110 pounds), Jaden Bird (02-03, 67), Simon Rigert (02-03, 115), Zeke Tiedt (02-03, 120), Nolan Myszkewicz (04-05, 69), Austin Skrundz (04-05, 84) and Morrison Stutzman (06-07, 45).
Youth wrestling state results
Boys Born 2006-07 48 – Evan Gill’s place is 5th and has scored 13.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Evan Gill (Burlington) won by decision over Blake Underwood (Marathon) (Dec 4-0)
Quarterfinal – Evan Gill (Burlington) won by fall over Ethan Hady (Richland Center) (Fall 0:58)
Semifinal – Brant Laluzerne (Oconto Falls- Abrams) won by decision over Evan Gill (Burlington) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Semi – Blake Underwood (Marathon) won by decision over Evan Gill (Burlington) (Dec 6-4)
5th Place Match – Evan Gill (Burlington) won by major decision over Ethan Immel (West Bend) (Maj 9-0)
Boys Born 2002-03 85 – Benjamin Kumprey’s place is 5th and has scored 10.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Ben Kumprey (Burlington) won by decision over Alex Castillo (KWA Bulldogs) (Dec 8-1)
Quarterfinal – Benjamin Kumprey (Burlington) won by decision over Caden Fry (Reedsburg Youth) (Dec 1-0)
Semifinal – Braeden Whitehead (Advance) won by major decision over Ben Kumprey (Burlington) (Maj 11-0)
Cons. Semi – Charlie Stuhl (Prescott) won by decision over Benjamin Kumprey (Burlington) (Dec 2-0)
5th Place Match – Benjamin Kumprey (Burlington) won by decision over Caden Fry (Reedsburg) (Dec 2-1)
Boys Born 2002-03 100 – Zachary Wallace’s place is 3rd and has scored 21.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Zachary Wallace (Burlington) won by major decision over Gabe Carter (Wittenberg-Birnamwood) (Maj 9-0)
Quarterfinal – Brady Spaeth (Cadott) won by decision over Zachary Wallace (Burlington) (Dec 12-7)
Cons. Round 2 – Zachary Wallace (Burlington) won by fall over Danny Driessen (Askren Wrestling) (Fall 1:21)
Cons. Round 3 – Zachary Wallace (Burlington) won by fall over Karter Trace (Brillion) (Fall 0:41)
Cons. Semi – Zachary Wallace (Burlington) won by decision over Issac Ortegon (Fond du Lac) (Dec 3-2)
3rd Place Match – Zach Wallace (Burlington) won by fall over Dawson Dembroski (Ashwaubenon) (Fall 2:35)
Boys Born 2002-03 105 – Max Ehlen’s place is 1st and has scored 21.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Max Ehlen (Burlington) won by fall over Jacob Heiden (Edgar) (Fall 3:00)
Quarterfinal – Max Ehlen (Burlington) won by decision over AJ Miller (Janesville) (Dec 6-0)
Semifinal – Max Ehlen (Burlington) won by major decision over Robert Meinholz (Advance) (Maj 11-0)
1st Place Match – Max Ehlen (Burlington) won by decision over John Gunderson (Baraboo) (Dec 2-0)
Boys Born 2002-03 110 – Qwade Gehring’s place is 2nd and has scored 18.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Qwade Gehring (Burlington) won by decision over Brayden Richardson (Marshfield) (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal – Qwade Gehring (Burlington) won by injury default over Tretten Joles (Boyceville) (Inj. 2:25)
Semifinal – Qwade Gehring (Burlington) won by decision over Cole Wisniewski (LAW) (Dec 3-2)
1st Place Match – Ethan Heil (Edgar) won by decision over Qwade Gehring (Burlington) (Dec 5-3)
Boys Born 2000-01 105 – Zachary Weiler’s place is 6th and has scored 10.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Zachary Weiler (Burlington) won by fall over Zac Hamel (Wisconsin Rapids) (Fall 0:27)
Quarterfinal – Zachary Weiler (Burlington) won by decision over Sawyer Hamilton (Ellsworth) (Dec 7-0)
Semifinal – Jon Bailey (LAW) won by major decision over Zachary Weiler (Burlington) (Maj 8-0)
Cons. Semi – Joey Bianchi (X-Factor Elite) won by fall over Zachary Weiler (Burlington) (Fall 2:09)
5th Place Match – Traeton Saint (Prairie du Chien) won by decision over Zachary Weiler (Burlington) (Dec 4-2)
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