The match-ups for the finals of the 2018 State Individual Wrestling Tournament have been determined with 84 wrestlers remaining in contention for gold medals after semifinal bouts at the Kohl Center Friday.
There are 19 former champions advancing to the finals Saturday evening, including three seeking their fourth State championship. A.J. Schoenfuss and Jeremy Schoenherr, both of Stratford, and Sam Stuhl of Ellsworth are on the brink of history. Schoenfuss is attempting to win the 126-pound title in Div. 3 and Schoenherr is gunning for the crown at 138. Stuhl is in the final at 138 in Division 2. Only 14 other wrestlers have accomplished the feat in the history of the State tournament.
There are an additional two wrestlers attempting to win their third titles. Bryce Bosman of Luxemburg-Casco will wrestle in the 126-pound final in Division 2, and Brock Schlough of Boyceville has advanced to the championship bout at 152 in Division 3.
Other former champions still in contention for a second title including seven in Division 1, three in Division 2 and four in Division 3. The seven in Division 1 are Eric Barnett of Hortonville at 113, Keegan O’Toole of Arrowhead at 132, Drew Scharenbrock of Sun Prairie at 145, Peyton Mocco of West Allis Hale and Tyler Dow of Stoughton at 160, Aric Bohn of Mukwonago at 220 and Keaton Kluever of Kaukauna at 285.
In Division 2, Cody Holmes of Two Rivers advances to the final at 120; Shane Liegel of River Valley is in the 170-pound championship match, and Hunter Luepke of Spencer/Columbus Catholic will battle for the crown at 220 pounds. The four champions aiming for a second title in Division 3 are Ryan Anderson of Clear Lake at 106, Koltin Grzybowski and Caleb Gross of Coleman at 113 and 120, respectively, and Garrett Joles of Boyceville at 195.
There are 13 of the 560 wrestlers that qualified for the State tournament that have yet to experience defeat this season. In Division 1, Barnett (45-0), Scharenbrock (50-0), Parker Keckeisen of Nicolet (30-0) at 170 and Beau Yineman of Neenah (44-0) at 195 are one victory away from a perfect season.
The undefeated finalists in Division 2 are Aidan Medora of St. John’s NW Military (33-0), Liegel (47-0) and Luepke (48-0). The six without a loss in Division 3 are Anderson (45-0), Schoenherr (35-0), Schlough (46-0), Ryan Neu of Dodgeland (43-0) at 170, Joles (41-0), and Tanner Weber of Markesan (43-0) at 285.
Among the teams represented in the finals, Stratford and Arrowhead have the most wrestlers advancing to the championship bout with four. Coleman, Prairie du Chien, Stoughton and Two Rivers each have three.
The 75th Annual State Individual Wrestling Tournament resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with the consolation wrestlebacks in each division. The finals are schedule to begin with the March of Champions at 5 p.m.