Four Wolverines, Tiedt among regional champions
By Mike Ramczyk
MUSKEGO – All signs pointed to a triumphant return and school-record fourth straight trip to a state championship match.
Everyone around the Burlington wrestling team downplayed the severity of senior star wrestler Josh Bird’s knee injury, which he suffered Jan. 22 at a tournament in Homestead.
What nobody revealed is that Bird suffered torn knee ligaments, and despite his pleasant, jovial disposition from the bleachers during the previous weekend’s conference tournament, the effects of the injury weren’t going away any time soon.
That was painfully noticeable in Bird’s return Saturday at the Muskego Regional.
Grappling in a leg brace that began a few inches above his left knee and extended to his shin, Bird labored to a 2-1 deficit against Greenfield’s Nicholas Pollack in a Division 1 regional semifinal.
According to several Burlington sources, Pollack attacked Bird’s injured knee in a physical match.
Bird retaliated by slapping Pollack in the face repeatedly with an open hand and “fist” multiple times. Sources said Bird “lost it.”
Visibly frustrated from the pain in his knee, Bird’s outburst caused the referee to disqualify him midway through the first quarter.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the referee stopped the match near the edge of the outer circle and called Bird for the flagrant foul, and Bird “made an obscene gesture” to the Muskego crowd as he stormed off the mat.
Bird vehemently refuted the Journal Sentinel’s claims of him using a “fist” and making an obscene gesture.
He cleared the air Monday afternoon, citing his opponent’s wrestling style.
“I did not flip off the crowd. I don’t know why they said that (about ‘obscene gesture’), and I did not punch anybody,” he said. “My hand was open, and I was pushing him out of bounds. I’m putting the video up later to prove it. He was deliberately bouncing and punching my torn knee.”
Bird, who is the only wrestler in school history to win multiple state titles and reach three state championship matches, finished his season 34-2 and would’ve been the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 138 had he not been hampered by injury.
Later on Monday, Bird went on to say his pain level was extremely high. According to his father, Kevin Bird, Josh attempted a takedown that caused more pain. Josh looked to the crowd during the match and made eye contact with Kevin, who offered to throw in the towel by giving a signal.
Josh refused, and fought on. His opponent “ran,” or backed up and avoided contact, which frustrated Bird.
What looked like excessive slaps to the face was merely two wrestlers at a high level of competition being extremely physical, Kevin said.
Josh said he felt his opponent was excessively targeting his torn knee.
“The pain was serious,” he said. “I think my opponent was wrestling dirty, and I think the referees were extremely biased on the call.”
The 2013 120-pound state champion and 2015 132-pound state champion was the favorite to win a third state championship at 138 this season.
But the culmination of a frustrating injury and the realization this was the way his high school career would end had to be too much. Bird has said on multiple occasions in the past his goal was to wrestle in four state championships, and he makes no qualms about wanting to be a four-time national champion at Division 2 Chadron State University, where he will receive a full scholarship.
Burlington coach Jade Gribble said in the Journal Sentinel article that he thought Bird was struggling on his injured knee.
“There was a level of frustration and he let his emotions get in his way today,” he said. “You hate to see anyone finish his high school career like that.”
Tiedt, Krattiger, Ratkovec among six regional champs
Waterford boasted five regional champs, including Jared Krattiger (170), Justin Ratkovec (126), Tanner Cadman (160), Jack Trautmann (195) and Austin Thomas (145), while Burlington’s Hegeman Tiedt pinned his championship opponent, Mukwonago’s Aric Bohn, in 47 seconds.
Overall, 14 Wolverines and Demons advanced to Saturday’s New Berlin West Sectional.
At the Kenosha Bradford Sectional, eight Union Grove Broncos qualified for sectionals, including regional champs Brett Kieslich (126), Aidan Gutierrez (170) and Evan Storm-Voltz (195).
Other Grove sectional qualifiers are Kane Talley (113), Alex Rewolinski (145), Sam Larson (152), Todd Willms (182) and Clayton Esch (220).
Division 1 Regionals
ELKHORN
Team scores— 1, Milton 224; 2, Badger 211.5; 3, Elkhorn 197; 4, Janesville Craig 174; 5, Wilmot 108; 6, Janesville Parker 96.5; 7, Beloit Memorial 66; 8, Delavan-Darien 24.
Sectional qualifiers— 106: 1, Dalton Shea, MILT; 2, Grant Truesdale, ELK; 3, Beau LaDu, BADG; 4, Byron Simons, DD. 113: 1, Benji Peak, ELK; 2, Brett Perkins, JP; 3, Joey Graham, WIL; 4, Edwin Chavez, BM. 120: 1, Daniel Stilling, ELK; 2, Nathan Ellis, JC; 3, Michael Sanders, BADG. 126: 1, Robby Mutimer, BADG; 2, Levi Garrett, MILT; 3, Nate Farrell, JC; 4, Tyler Curtis-Dupuis, BM. 132: 1, Tristan Woods, MILT; 2, Ethan Smith, JC; 3, Stevie Kraus, BADG; 4, James Welsh, ELK. 138: 1, Vince Digennaro, MILT; 2, Dyvonne Thornton, JP; 3, Nate Otero, BADG; 4, Jeremy Toro, WILM. 145: 1, Jake Morgan, WILM; 2, Nick Richards, MILT; 3, Douglas Reuss, BADG; 4, Gerardo Badillo, BM.152: 1, Michael Peter, BADG; 2, Bryce Jacobson, ELK; 3, Evan Whitehead, MILT; 4, Jacob Walker, WILM. 160: 1, Aristide Serrano, JC; 2, Konnor Mohr, ELK; 3, Taylor Prochazka, MILT; 4, Chase Craig, BADG. 170: 1, Billy Pitzer, MILT; 2, Logan Baker, JC; 3, George Somerville, BADG; 4, Riley Remington, ELK. 182: 1, Nick Halpin, BADG; 2, Everett Washington, JC; 3, Izaiah Jones, JP; 4, Jerry Lipke, MILT. 195: 1, Logan Murdy, JP; 2, Marquel Johnson, BM; 3, Reggie Kelly, BADG; 4, Kyle Zucaro, MILT. 220: 1, Jordan Barr, ELK; 2, Nicholas Knaub, JC; 3, Seth Willis, WILM; 4, Saul Gomez, BADG. 285: 1, Cole Mikrut, BADG; 2, Richard Heidemann, ELK; 3, Keeanu Benton, JC; 4, Tom Rakestraw, MILT.
KENOSHA BRADFORD
Team scores— 1, Kenosha Bradford/Reuther 245.5; 2, Kenosha Tremper 226; 3, Union Grove 139; 4, Kenosha Indian Trail 138; 5, Westosha Central 90.5; 6, Racine Park 83.5; 7, Racine Horlick 77; 8, Racine Case 56.5.
Sectional qualifiers— 106: 1, Mason French, KT; 2, Eric Rodriguez, RP; 3, Collin Widmar, KBR; 4, Andrew Koroly, WC. 113: 1, Reese Dutton, KT; 2, Joey Moore, KBR; 3, Raymond Cervantes, KIT; 4, Kane Talley, UG. 120: 1, Tyler Hansen, KBR; 2, Ryan Cavil, WC; 3, Avry Nichols, KT; 4, Isaiah Malon, KIT. 126: 1, Brett Kieslich, UG; 2, Kyree Noble, KT; 3, Justin Cihler, RH; 4, Jordan Lattimore, KBR. 132: 1, Marco Infusino, KBR; 2, Jason Cihler, RH; 3, Tyler Nitsch, KT; 4, Jefferson Kearby, WC. 138: 1, Jake Deates, KBR; 2, Austin Kukla, WC; 3, Jacob Rodriguez, RP; 4, Logan Davidson, KT. 145: 1, Noah Jackson, KT; 2, Subhan Umar, RH; 3, Michael Thomey, KBR; 4, Alex Rewolinski, UG. 152: 1, Frank Garcia, KT; 2, Logan Ramos, KBR; 3, Sam Larson, UG; 4, Dennis Grubb, WC. 160: 1, Jose Rodriguez, KIT; 2, Tony Martin, KBR; 3, Cheryron Brumfield, RP; 4, Michael Merz, KT.170: 1, Aidan Gutierrez, UG; 2, Nicholas Freeze, KIT; 3, Riley Christensen, KBR; 4, Dwayne Ford, RC. 182: 1, Oscar Ramos, KBR; 2, Evan Taber, KIT; 3, Tyler Cunningham, KT; 4, Todd Wilms, UG. 195: 1, Evan Storm-Voltz, UG; 2, Austin Decker, RP; 3, Zachary Lindahl, KIT; 4, Reid McNeill, WC.220: 1, Jacob Simar, KIT; 2, Steve Nixon, KT; 3, Clayton Esch, UG; 4, Gabe Aguilar, KBR. 285: 1, Jesus Vega, KBR; 2, Luther Egerson, RC; 3, Joey Carravetta, KT; 4, Angel Gonzales, RH.
MUSKEGO
Team scores— 1, Mukwonago 220; 2, West Allis Central 192; 3, Waterford 168; 4, Muskego 154; 5, Greenfield 123; 6, Burlington 117.5; 7, West Allis Hale 94; 8, Whitnall/Greendale 52.5.
Sectional qualifiers— 106: 1, Jake Shulte, MUK; 2, Quentin Brown, WAC; 3, Parker Bevilacqua, MUSK; 4, Charles Wagner, WAH. 113: 1, Aaron Schulist, MUK; 2, Sam Winski, WAT; 3, Zack Weiler, BURL; 4, Ed Jimenez, WAC. 120: 1, Tyus White, WAC; 2, Tom Wintheiser, MUSK; 3, Jake Mariani, MUK; 4, Luke Iverson, BURL. 126: 1, Justin Ratkovec, WAT; 2, Nick Armstrong; 3, Jared Bird, BURL; 4, Marshall Rushton, WAH. 132: 1, Peyton Mocco, WAH; 2, Nathan Smith, MUK; 3, Seth Nowak; 4, Mateo Arteaga, GRE. 138: 1, Mauricio Cardoso, WAC; 2, Evan Sinda, MUSK; 3, Nicholas Pollack, GRE; 4, Simo Gruichich, WAH. 145: 1, Austin Thomas, WAT; 2, Oliver Arena, WAH; 3, Jacob Stachowski, MUK; 4, Adam McNally, MUSK.152: 1, Tre’Vaughn Craig, GRE; 2, Collin Miller, MUK; 3, D’Andre Brown, WAC; 4, Jordan Danowski, WAT. 160: 1, Tanner Cadman, WAT; 2, Lance Otter, BURL; 3, Jorge Barragan, WAC; 4, Alex Timmers, MUK. 170: 1, Jared Krattiger, WAT; 2, Dustin Diebitz, WAC; 3, Zac Hinz, MUK; 4, Austin Spitzer, WAH. 182: 1, Grant Balconi, MUSK; 2, Nathan Crayton, BURL; 3, Jon Ryback, MUK; 4, Hunter Dziewik, WAC. 195: 1, Jack Trautman, WAT; 2, Jeff Leflore, WAC; 3, Hunter Bourdo, MUK; 4, Jacob Hein, MUSK. 220: 1, Hegeman Tiedt, BURL; 2, Aric Bohn, MUK; 3, Sharan Preet Singh, GRE; 4, Chase Kendall, WG. 285: 1, Jorin McGuire, MUSK; 2, Laren Stadler, WAC; 3, EJ Mastrocola, WAT; 4, Erik Hendriksen, MUK.
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