December 18, 2017 at 1:36 p.m.
Lakeland wrestlers continue to grow
Lakeland wrestlers continue to grow
By Nick Sabato-
The Great Northern Conference dual meet schedule began Thursday as Lakeland made the trip to Antigo. On Saturday, the T-Birds competed in another tournament, this time the Willard Schmidt Scramble at Green Bay Preble High School.
T-Birds fall to Antigo
Lakeland wrestled Antigo for the second time this season in a dual meet, with the first being at the John Roberts Duals to start the season.
The first time around, the T-Birds hung with the Red Robins as the middle of the lineup was stout. Lakeland wanted a complete effort from its entire lineup this time around, but it was not to be.
Some of the top wrestlers on the team did not fare well, but others did in a 40-23 loss.
Robert Burgess and Xavier Burgess both scored wins, as did Sawyer Duir, Henry Evenhouse and Delsin Flemming.
Tate Olson and Harry Nemcek suffered close losses, while Jack Scandin was beaten, 12-2, by William Hull. Dejay Nordrum also lost by default when Nordrum accidentally slammed Logan Edwards to the mat and the latter couldn't continue the match.
"We would say that it was an opportunity lost," LUHS head coach Adam Bremer said. "When you try to look for positives in the situation, Antigo is a very strong team. They represented well last year in the GNC as well as the regional. There was one point in the dual where we were up on them, 23-22. As much as the result was not what I wanted it to be, I would also say that it was definitely an eye-opener for us that we are right on the cusp of transitioning to being on another level and being a different team."
Bouncing back
Lakeland was able to bounce back from its loss against Antigo by competing at Green Bay Preble's Willard Schmidt Scramble.
The T-Birds were able to secure fourth place in a tournament of 16 teams, getting champions in two weight classes.
"We only took 10 out of our 13 weight classes that we can cover right now," Bremer said. "One of the things we always talk about as a coaching staff is where the best place to put our wrestlers so they can continue to improve and grow and have the success they need to become the wrestlers that we think they can. Sometimes, even if we have a kid out at a weight class they can fill, we think they're better served going to a different tournament to get a different kind of experience. With 10 wrestlers out of the 14 weight classes, I think it's a phenomenal showing. There were several fifth places that finished beyond the podium but still had one loss on the day."
Nordrum and Scandin were both able to bounce back from losses on Thursday to win their respective weight classes.
Nordrum pinned Benjamin Pacheco-Rojas of Waupaca in 1:56, before winning by decision in his next two matches to reach the finals, where he beat C.J. Grisar of Waukesha West, 10-1, to win the 126-pound class.
Scandin avenged his first loss of the season by pinning his first three opponents - two in less than a minute - before beating Kyle Erickson of Sparta by major decision to win at 138 pounds.
"That's back-to-back weekends that they've been champions and they just continue to solidify themselves as leaders on the team and wrestled really well," Bremer said. "I would argue that Dejay probably had the strongest weight class of the tournament. The No. 1 seed was 14-0, the No. 2 seed was 14-1, we had (C.J. Grisar) from Waukesha West that we meant in the finals and, believe it or not, even though Dejay was a state qualifier, he was seeded behind all of those guys. It was exciting to watch him have a lot of success ... His finals match was probably the best match I've seen him wrestle. From start to finish, he had control, he had poise.
"Jack continued the dominance. He got back to his aggressive style of wrestling," Bremer continued. "Even when he had some adversity - he gave a takedown late in the finals and worked his way out of it. I continue to be impressed that these guys get better, even when they're already at a high level. I'm just hoping that they see the opportunity they have as we move forward."
Jason Hilgart and Quinten Rizzo each placed fifth, with each only suffering one loss on the day. Andre Starynski and Flemming both finished sixth.
The Burgess' once again had a big day. Robert placed third, only losing to the eventual champion at 152 pounds and Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament, Kade Cummings of Green Bay Preble.
Meanwhile, Xavier took second place at 170 pounds, pinning three opponents like Robert did, before falling to Levi Smith of Eau Claire Memorial in the finals.
"Xavier Burgess had a big win to put himself in the finals. I know that was a hump he was kind of excited to get over," Bremer said. "He ran into a buzzsaw from Eau Claire Memorial in the finals. A really strong wrestler and really talented. Xavier's got a little bit of a funky style and the guy that he wrestled in the finals was very smooth and had quick transitions from one end to the other. The finals didn't go his way, but in order to get there he had to go 4-0 to start the day.
"(Robert) had a phenomenal day as well," Bremer continued. "If his seed had been a little bit different and he didn't have to face the No. 1 seed in the semifinals, I think there was probably a pretty good chance that he would have finished second instead of third. Again, it's just exciting to see the growth that we have."
Lakeland (1-1, 0-1 GNC) competes in another dual meet on Thursday at Three Lakes, which is a non-conference meet.
Nick Sabato may be reached at [email protected] or via Twitter @SabatoNick.
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