By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
After competing in large, prestigious tournaments like the Marty Loy and Bi-State Classics, the Burlington wrestling squad needed some home cooking.
So when they hosted the Demon Invite Saturday at Burlington High School, the Demons were in their comfort zones and made their guests feel uninvited.
Burlington went 5-0, including a victory over state-ranked Oak Creek, and coasted to a tourney title.
“Everything is coming together,” Burlington coach Jade Gribble said Tuesday. “It was the best we’ve wrestled all year. We won a few matches we weren’t supposed to win.”
The Demons are getting near 100 percent with everyone healthy, and it’s showing as the team is now 7-1 in dual meets after starting the season 1-1 with a loss to Elkhorn.
“The early loss but a bulls eye on us, Gribble said. “We know what we have to do.”
Burlington, which is No. 8 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online state poll, benefitted from perfect 5-0 afternoons from Josh Bird (132), Ben Hornickle (138), Lucas Shenkenberg (145), Wes Gavin (152) and Hegeman Tiedt (220).
Gribble commended freshmen Derek Koenen (113) and Nate Crayton (170) for wrestling well Saturday, and Gribble said Luke Iverson and Isaiah Breener had solid days at the tournament.
“Isaiah is turning the corner,” Gribble said.
Oak Creek, who is ranked No. 4 in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel all-area poll, couldn’t handle the Demons, who won every weight class from 132 to 285.
Gribble said that freshman Jared Bird will be solid in the lineup sooner or later. Jared is the younger brother of Josh.
Overall, Gribble said he wants guys to continue wrestling well for Saturday’s Freedom Invite. Freedom is ranked No. 1 in D2.
“There are some quality teams there,” he said. “Our kids want to be good on the state level.”
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