by Jack McLoone

Sending six wrestlers to compete at the WIAA Sectionals next weekend, the Orioles performed well at the Regional competition hosted by Regis High School last weekend.

Of the six that earned the opportunity to extend their season, three placed first last Saturday.

Wrestling at 120 pounds, Blaine Brenner defeated opponent Treyton Ackman of Spencer/Columbus Catholic by a 7-0 decision after his top seeding earned him two byes.

Preston Potaczek received a bye in the quarterfinals and pinned Regis/Altoona’s Matt Mauer in 1:29. In the firstplace match, Potaczek notched his second pin of the day over Neillsville/Granton/Loyal’s Tommy Friemoth in just over five minutes at 160 pounds.

At 285 pounds, Tyler Krizan wrestled his first match against Regis/Altoona’s Riley Bauer after getting a bye through the semifinals. In 2:40, Krizan pinned Bauer for the win.

Alexander Nitz pinned Abbotsford/ Colby’s Lucas Baumann in 1:24 in the 113-pound quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he defeated Jarick Young o f Neillsville/Greenwood/Loyal by way of decision, 1-0. Nitz was defeated by Ashton Ackman of Spencer/Columbus Catholic in the championship match and left with second place.

Russell Dorn earned a bye through the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he pinned Abbotsford/ Colby’s Hunter Mess in just under three minutes. In the finals, Dorn fell to Dane Higgins of Medford to place second at 138 pounds.

Joseph McDermond wrestled Talon Severson of Abbotsford Colby in the semifinals and secured a technical fall win after 4:44 of wrestling. Medford Area’s Zeke Sigmund won the 145pound championship after a major decision win in the finals.

A s a team, the Orioles edged out Neillsville/Greenwood/ Loyal by a half-point to place second. The Orioles will compete at the WIAA Division 2 Sectionals hosted by Osceola High School.

Photos by John McLoone.