Thirteen of 14 individuals move on to sectionals
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
On Tuesday night in a Division 1 team sectional final at Kenosha Bradford, Burlington’s chances at a fourth straight team state tournament were fading fast.
The Demon grapplers jumped out to a 21-12 lead but dropped the next three matches to fall into a 28-21 hole.
With only four matches to go, Burlington’s studs showed up and led the team to Madison.
Jared Bird, Josh Bird, Ben Hornickle and Lucas Shenkenberg closed out Oak Creek with four wins, and Burlington’s 39-28 victory qualified it for the WIAA Team State tournament March 6-7 at the UW-Madison Field House.
“We had a great night,” said Burlington coach Jade Gribble. “I can find positives throughout the lineup, even the matches we lost. Wes Gavin and Jared Bird had key decisions. I’m very proud of how the young men competed tonight.”
Gavin, who missed the conference tournament due to injury, returned and won, 11-9, at 152 to start out the match. Isaiah Brenner (160), Hegeman Tiedt (220) and Nick Otter (285) all notched pin falls, and the Demons were in business at 21-12.
But the Knights stormed back with two pins and a major decision to take a 28-21 lead, and the pressure was on Burlington’s big three, the Birds and Hornickle, to bring the team back.
Jared Bird eeked out a 3-2 win, Josh Bird pinned his man and Hornickle won, 15-0, to give the Demons a 35-28 lead and seal the deal.
Shenkenberg’s 8-0 major decision was the icing on the cake.
“These seniors don’t know any different,” Gribble said. “These young men have found a way to win in tough situations all year, and it’s a testament to their character. This win sets the tone for the next three weekends.”
“Oak Creek is an up-and-coming program that is well-coached and talented.”
The Demons’ reward for making team state is a meeting right away with the state’s No. 1-ranked team, Kaukauna. The first battle will take place at 5:30 p.m. March 6 at the UW Field House in Madison.
Demons cruise to regional title
Saturday’s Racine Case Division 1 regional was more of a formality than anything for the Burlington wrestling team.
The Demons were going to win and advance to team sectionals, it was just a question of by how much? It’s gotten to that point when it comes to Burlington and winning regional team titles.
The Demons scored 269 points, a full 100 ahead of second-place Kenosha Bradford, and advanced to their fourth consecutive team sectional.
Along with the team accomplishment, 13 of 14 Burlington individuals advanced to this weekend’s individual sectional tournament, which will take place at Burlington High School.
Burlington boasted four regional champions, Jared Bird (126), Josh Bird (132), Ben Hornickle (138) and Nick Otter (285).
Furthermore, all four champs cruised to their respective titles.
Jared Bird (16-3) needed a 6-0 decision over Racine Case’s Jacob Lawson in the first-place match after a pin in the semifinal.
Josh Bird (39-1) won by pin fall and an a 18-2 technical fall in the finals.
Hornickle, fresh off a fourth straight conference title, improved to 45-1 with a technical fall and a 13-1 major decision in his first-place match.
Otter kept the domination going, as he started with two pin falls before a 10-0 major decision over Bradford’s Jose Sanchez in the finals.
Other sectional qualifiers for the Demons included Derek Koenen (113, second), Josiah Kusik (120, fourth), Lucas Shenkenberg (145, second), Wes Gavin (152, second), Isaiah Brenner (160, third), Nathan Crayton (170, second), Tristan Lind (182, fourth), Chris Marks (195, second) and Hegeman Tiedt (220, second).
Gavin returned to action after missing the conference tournament. He was edged by a 9-7 decision in the finals.
Marks was close to a title as well, as he fell, 1-0, in his title match.
Tiedt, who had just won his first-ever conference title, dropped to 41-6 overall with a 3-2 defeat in the title match against Kenosha Indian Trail’s Zach Lindahl.
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