Burlington Youth Wrestling puts on impressive showing at state tournament

Kumprey, Skrundz, Ehlen all reach final match

By Daniel Schoettler

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The Burlington wrestling team sent 16 wrestlers to the recent WWF Kids Folkstyle State Championships at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The boys earned three runner-up finishes at the tournament.

“The kids wrestled very well,” Burlington wrestling coach Kevin Bird said. “I think they were peaking at the right time, and I was very pleased with as many kids as we did get through to the state tournament.”

Ben Kumprey finished runner up in the 01-02’ 110 pound weight division. Kumphrey led 5-4 over Ben Stevenson of Higher Level with 10 seconds left in the final period before being pinned.

Jake Skrundz also was a runner-up in the 01-02’ 120-pound division. Skrundz reached the first-place match with three wins, with two being by decision and one by pin fall.

Max Ehlen finished runner up in the 01-02’ 125 weight division. Ehlen won by fall over Austin Smith of Chippewa Falls to reach the quarterfinal and won in sudden victory over Traeton Saint of Prairie du Chien to reach the semifinal.

In the semifinal, Ehlen won by decision over Ben Durocher of Wrightown but lost the first-place match.

“These three kids improved so much since they began in the program years ago,” Bird said. “They have certainly put in the time in offseason.”

Grant Otter placed third in the 05-06’ 120 pound division after being defeated by major decision over Luke St. Peter of Denmark.

Kade Boyd placed fifth after winning by decision over Nolan Wikowski of Verona.

“I would say he may be our most improved wrestler,” Bird said. “He is a great kid, great attitude and a lot of fight.

Grant Koenen placed sixth after posting three victories in the second and third consolation rounds. Koenen went on to lose the fifth-place match by decision to Leo Draveling of Hudson.

Nathaniel Cortez reached the third consolidation round in 01-02’ 110 pound division before losing by decision to Cayden Henschel of West Bend.

Logan Pye wrestled in the 01-02’ 125 weight division and reached the second consolation round before being defeated by decision by Traeton Saint of Prairie Du Chien.

Quade Gehring and Manny James both wrestled in the 01-02’ 135 pound weight division.

Gehring reached the second consolidation round before being defeated by decision to Andrew Forsythe of North Fond du Lac. James reached the first consolidation round before losing by fall over to Devyn Wauters of Peshtigo.

Jaden Bird reached the first consolidation round after losing by major decision in his first match. Bird went on to win by decision over Kailix Roe in the consolidation round.

Mason Gill wrestled in the 03-04’ 73 pound weight division. Gill reached the third consolidation match before falling to Dylan Moureau of Aviators.

Nolan Myszkewicz was in the 05-06’ 75 pound weight division and reached the first consolidation round.

Evan Gill wrestled in the 05-06’ 54 pound weight class. Jack Kumprey wrestled in the 05-06’ 66 pound weight class.

Both Gill and Kumphrey reached the third round consolidation matches.

Ben Guerra wrestled in the 07-08’ 60 pound wrestling class and reached the first consolidation match.“The biggest thing we can improve on is more off-season wrestling, so they can get more match time, improve position, and continue to fine-tune the basics,” Bird said. “Like every sport, it is about getting as many repetitions of the basics and im-proving position.”

Bird thanked the coaches, parents and kids for their dedication.

He also thanked Cindy Ehlen for 15 years of service to the Burlington youth wrestling program.