73rd Annual WIAA Individual Wrestling Championship Tournament
2016 State Individual Wrestling Championships
145 lb. Josh Adams – 3rd Place
285 lb. Donte Johnson – 4th Place
Fondy’s Josh Adams caps career with pair of pins
MADISON – Fond du Lac’s Josh Adams had to do a double take when thinking about his career pin total.
He nearly forgot to add the one he ended his prep career with.
The Fond du Lac senior stuck Noah Jackson of Kenosha Tremper in 2:20 to cap his prep career with a third-place finish in the Division 1 145-pound bracket at the WIAA State Tournament at the Kohl Center on Saturday.
Adams also pinned Arrowhead’s Aidan Yde in 2:20 in the consolation semifinals, finishing with 104 for his career.
“It was a fun way to end my career, two pins,” Adams said. “I pinned 103 guys in my career… wait, now 104, so I figured I might as well go out like I have been doing.”
Adams’ teammate Donte Johnson finished fourth at heavyweight to lead the group of area wrestlers who earned their medals during the first session of the final day of the tournament.
Adams controlled the match before finishing up Yde but ran into a spot of trouble against Jackson when he was taken down in the second period. He recovered nicely though, getting an escape and then a takedown before finishing the match.
“(Jackson) gave me a good one with a takedown, but otherwise I felt in control much of the match,” Adams said. “Nobody was really that aggressive with me in the tournament except for (Stoughton’s Collin) Kraus so I wasn’t really expecting it. When he came out swinging, I figured I might as well go out that way, too.”
Adams finished 5-1 in his final high school tournament with three pins and a major decision win.
“He had a great tournament. He only lost to someone who we feel is state champ and put him on his back,” Fond du Lac head coach Joe Rens said. “Josh has been a great kid. Everybody looked to him for leadership because he does it on the mat, in the classroom. Couldn’t ask for a better kid.”
Donte Johnson won his first match on Saturday in overtime, beating Gabe Hauser of Holman 9-7 – a victory that included an impressive, powerful throw by Johnson on his near 300-pound opponent.
The junior, though, couldn’t get the offense going in the third-place match, falling to Wausau West’s Brady Lenz, 3-0
WIAA wrestling: Championship Saturday in Madison
Consolation wrestlebacks began at 11 a.m. for all divisions, and the March of Champions will begin at 6 p.m.
THIRD PLACE MATCHES
145 pounds
Division 1: Josh Adams, Fond du Lac, pin Noah Jackson, Kenosha Tremper, 2:20
285 pounds
Division 1: Brady Lenz, Wausau West, dec. Donte Johnson, Fond du Lac, 3-0
CONSOLATION WRESTLEBACKS
145 pounds
Division 1: Josh Adams, Fond du Lac, vs. Aidan Yde, Arrowhead, 3:20
Division 1: Noah Jackson, Kenosha Tremper, maj. dec. Marshall Jeppeson, Bay Port, 17-9
285 pounds
Division 1: Donte Johnson, Fond du Lac, overtime dec. Gabe Hauser, Holmen, 9-7
Division 1: Brady Lenz, Wausau West, maj. dec. Liam Arnold, Milwaukee King, 8-0
Division 1 Consolations
145 pounds
Fond du Lac’s Josh Adams looked strong in his two consolation matches on Friday, blanking Eau Claire North’s Justin Peterson, 8-0 and then topping Jaden Winchel of Sparta, 12-5. He will face Aidan Yde of Arrowhead.
285 pounds
Heavyweight Donte Johnson remained alive in the consolation bracket by stopping Hudson’s Isac Schindler, 12-3, in his first consolation match and then outdueling Madison East’s Mike Dunlap 3-1.
Fondy’s Josh Adams talks about his 145-pound consolation win
http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/sports/high-school/wrestling/2016/02/26/80989942/
Fond du Lac’s Donte Johnson talks about his win
http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/sports/high-school/wrestling/2016/02/26/80989682/
Division 1 – Second Round
Adams lost a 13-7 decision to Stoughton’s Collin Kraus, the top-ranked 145-pounder in the field, after falling behind 4-0 early in the match. Adams didn’t buckle and even had Kraus on his back with a cradle in the third period but couldn’t finish off the pin.
Kraus was able to break out of the hold and reverse Adams to collect the win that left both wrestlers exhausted and laying on the mat after the final buzzer.
Johnson also fell behind early against Badger’s Cole Mikrut, trailing 5-1 after the first period, but also battled back and got within 10-6 in the third period. Johnson tried a desperation throw late in the period that Mikrut fended off and scored a takedown for a final 12-6 victory.
Division 1 – First Round
MADISON — Fond du Lac’s Josh Adams nearly got away from Waterford’s Austin Thomas on his initial attempt at an escape early in the second period.
The second time he tried, he ended up with a victory.
Adams reversed Thomas right to his back and picked up a pin in 2:35 in his 145-pound first round match at the WIAA State Wrestling Tournament on Thursday.
“I was looking for the escape or reversal. I knew last time I faced him, he kind of held me down,” said Adams, who scored a takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead. “I learned (the first time I tried to escape) he likes to trap the elbow. I’m not sure which elbow, but I knew if he trapped that elbow again, to get him off of it and get away.”
That’s what Adams did and once he took control, he didn’t waste time getting the pin.
“When I started hearing the ref count “1, 2 (for back points),” I knew he was in rough shape,” Adams said.
Adams, who was ranked third entering the state tournament now faces top-ranked Collin Kraus of Stoughton later Thursday afternoon.
“It is very important to make a statement first round because I have one of the favorites next round,” Adams said. “I have to give him all I got.”
Fond du Lac’s Donte Johnson didn’t take long to post his first win of the state tournament pinning Muskego’s Jorin McGuire in 1:47 in first-round heavyweight match.
Both wrestlers spent the early stages of the first period trying to get a feel for the other before Johnson stepped up his aggressiveness. He leapt for a headlock but couldn’t get McGuire down but followed it up with a takedown and got McGuire right to his back.
The referee slapped the mat just seconds later.
“I feel comfortable in scramble situations if I can move in them. I’m a lighter heavyweight so that helps me out,” Johnson said. “I put him on his back and just squeezed.”
Fondy’s Josh Adams wins first match at state
http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/sports/high-school/wrestling/2016/02/25/80950142/
Fondy’s Josh Adams pins Waterford’s Austin Thomas
http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/sports/high-school/wrestling/2016/02/25/80950030/
Fondy’s Josh Adams trip to WIAA state meet
http://www.fdlreporter.com/videos/sports/2016/02/24/80884642/
Josh Adams look for strong state finish
Every senior wrestler wants to end his high school career with a state title. It’s become almost cliché to even mention it anymore. It’s the fairytale ending everyone dreams of, but only a few actually live.
For the three area senior wrestlers who qualified for this weekend’s WIAA individual state tournament in Madison, the ultimate goal of capping a prep career with a state championship actually has some legitimacy to it.
Fond du Lac’s Josh Adams, Lomira’s Jordan Michael and Oakfield’s Ross Ellison all have the talent, drive and experience to make it a reality — showcasing their skills last weekend as each won a sectional title in their respective divisions.
It’s not a pipe dream for them. A podium finish could be in the cards for all three, with a state title in the realm of possibility.
At the Division 1 level, Fond du Lac’s Adams (41-2 record) is making his second straight appearance at the Kohl Center. Wrestling at 145 pounds, Adams is considered one of the favorites to capture a state championship and that’s his No. 1 priority.
Also in Division 1, Fond du Lac junior Donte Johnson (285 pounds, 32-3) is in action Thursday afternoon against Muskego’s Jorin McGuire (38-7).
“It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to win the state tournament,” Adams said. “I’ve never won a youth state title in my life, I’ve never won anything statewide. I’ve always been third or close, ranked No. 1, but never able to finish it. Senior year, I think it’s the right time to do it.”
In his first state trip last year, Adams won his first match before losing twice. He’s banking on the experience he picked up in 2015 to help him a bunch this weekend, where he will begin his journey for a title Thursday evening with a first-round match against Waterford’s Austin Thomas (40-4).
“(The experience) will help me tremendously,” Adams said. “Last year, I felt like I wrestled pretty well down there, it’s just that once I got on the loser’s side, I felt kind of bad. I lost hope. This year, I’m ready to turn it around. I know what to expect. I can handle a loss as long as a kid’s beating me at my best.”
With a tough road to Saturday, Adams will need to be at his best if he wants to return to Fond du Lac with a championship in tow. Fond du Lac coach Joe Rens believes as long as he sticks to what he does best, Adams has what it takes.
“He’s really feeling good right now,” Rens said of Adams. “He feels his timing is on. He feels good about stuff. It’s going to be a tough road, but he really feels like he’s wrestling well right now. For him to come back with a state title, he’s just got to do what he does.”
Although all three are certainly happy to be ending their distinguished careers at the Kohl Center, the week leading up to state is a bit nostalgic. Whether or not they go out like they want in Madison, their prep wrestling careers will be over after the weekend.
“I’ve been realizing that the last couple tournaments,” Adams said. “I’ve noticed that all the coaches are kind of saying their goodbyes to me. They’ve been saying ‘Good job, it’s been fun watching you. You’ve wrestled a heck of a career.’ It’s kind of getting to me. I bet I’ll feel even more at the end of the season, when it’s all said and done.”
That said, finishing their careers at state is still something that will leave the three with lasting memories. After incredibly successful careers that include school records for Adams, Michael and Ellison, there’s no place more fitting to end their time as prep wrestlers than a mat on the Kohl Center floor.
Adams, Michael and Ellison may be the only area seniors competing at this weekend’s state meet, but there are a bunch of other wrestlers also making the trip to Madison.
Fondy’s Josh Adams, Donte Johnson heading to state
SLINGER – Fond du Lac’s Josh Adams and Donte Johnson are both heading back to the state tournament after picking up sectional titles at Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 sectional meet, hosted by Slinger.
Adams (145 pounds) went 3-0 on the day to take first, winning by 8-4 decision over Jordan Weinzetl, of Kimberly, in the championship match.
Meanwhile, Johnson (285) was also 3-0, recording two pins, and winning by 9-2 decision over Kaukauna’s Keaton Kluever in the first-place match.
Colton Wasieleski (195) and Gage Zahradnik (220) both came in third place to just miss out on the state meet.
The top two finishers in each weight class in Division 1 advance to state.
Fond du Lac: 145: Josh Adams, first place, 3-0, 1 pin. 152: Colin Athanasiou, 0-1. 182: Garret Sphatt, 0-1. 195: Colton Wasieleski, third place, 2-2, 1 pin. 220: Gage Zahradnik, third place, 2-1, 1 pin. 285: Donte Johnson, first place, 3-0, 2 pins.
Josh Adams – Colton Wasieleski – Donte Johnson win regional titles for Fondy
The Fond du Lac wrestling team had three individual champions in a WIAA Division 1 regional tournament the Cardinals hosted on Saturday.
Josh Adams (145 pounds), Colton Wasieleski (195) and Donte Johnson (285) all finished in first place on Saturday to earn a spot at next weekend’s sectional tournament.
Fond du Lac finished in third place as a team with 159 points. Slinger won the regional with 221 points.
Cameron Casetta (138), Colin Athanasiou (152), Garret Sphatt (182) and Gage Zahradnik (220) all placed fourth or higher to advance to sectionals as well. Zahradnik was second, Athanasiou third and both Sphatt and Casetta were fourth.
Team Scores: Slinger 221, Beaver Dam 171, Fond du Lac 159, Oshkosh North 146, Oshkosh West 144, Hartford 135, Plymouth 96.5, Watertown 54. .
106: Championship: Cameron Tonsor-Heesen (SLIN) decision over Jered Stark (H), 6-2. Third: DJ Allen (ON) decision over Kolbe DeLosAngeles (BD), 10-6.
113: Championship: Caleb Ziebell (SLIN) decision over Reese Thompson (OW), 5-0. Third: Johnson Hoang (BD) pinned Connor Schmidt (PLY), 1:44. 2nd-place wrestleback: Reese Thompson (OW) pinned Johnson Hoang (BD), 3:59. 4th-place wrestleback: Connor Schmidt (PLY) pinned Austin Gruszynski (H), :58.
120: Championship: Devin DeLosAngeles (BD) pinned Rey Brewer (ON), 1:25. Third: Chris Melius (SLIN) pinned Josh Coopman (OW), :35. 2nd-place wrestleback: Rey Brewer (ON) decision over Chris Melius (SLIN), 8-2. 4th-place wrestleback: Josh Coopman (OW) decision over Will Birkholz (PLY), 8-2.
126: Championship: Hudson Mountjoy (SLIN) pinned Spencer Rahn (H), 2:40. Third: Pablo Lopez (PLY) decision over Dylan Surprise (BD), 10-9.
132: Championship: Dalton Holmes (ON) decision over Josh Koll (PLY), 5-1. Third: Miguel Flores (BD) pinned Michael Fay (OW), 1:44. 2nd-place wrestleback: Josh Koll (PLY) decision over Miguel Flores (BD), 7-4. 4th-place wrestleback: Michael Fay (OW) pinned Tyler Wagar (SLIN), 2:55.
138: Championship: Nathan Logan (WAT) decision over Jake Budnik (SLIN), 9-7. Third: Jesus Heredia (OW) pinned Nathan Francis (PLY), 1:36. 4th-place wrestleback: Cameron Casetta (FDL) DQ over Nathan Francis (PLY).
145: Championship: Josh Adams (FDL) pinned Edgar Heredia (OW), 3:58. Third: Patrick Kanas (SLIN) decision over Peyton Aplin (BD), 2-1.
152: Championship: Adam Beine (SLIN) major decision over Colin Athanasiou (FDL), 8-0. Third: Hunter Berholtz (OW) pinned Erik Ohman (PLY), 3:48. 2nd-place wrestleback: Hunter Berholtz (OW) decision over Colin Athanasiou (FDL), 7-2. 4th-place wrestleback: Erik Ohman (PLY) pinned Nick Horner (H), 2:38.
160: Championship: Logan McConnell (ON) decision over Reed Yoder (OW), 8-2. Third: Hunter Braun (BD) pinned Adam Grudzinski (SLIN), 1:06. 4th-place wrestleback: Adam Grudzinski (SLIN) pinned Austin Baatz (FDL), :35.
170: Championship: Logan Stegemeyer (SLIN) decision over Dan Stefan (H), 11-4. Third: Jaryd Jenkins (BD) decision over Nolan Martell (OW), 5-3.
182: Championship: Beau Breske (H) pinned Zach Ben-Ismail (ON), :41. Third: Bennett Connolly (SLIN) pinned Mitchell Klug (BD), 3:40. 4th-place wrestleback: Garret Sphatt (FDL) decision over Mitchell Klug (BD), 5-1.
195: Championship: Colton Wasieleski (FDL) decision over Ben Salzman (ON), 12-7. Third: Manuel Prado (BD) pinned Stephen Maule (WAT), :57. 2nd-place wrestleback: Ben Salzman (ON) pinned Manuel Prado (BD), 3:56. 4th-place wrestleback: Jeremiah Miller (SLIN) decision over Stephen Maule (WAT), 8-7.
220: Championship: Wyatt Wells (BD) decision in 2OT over Gage Zahradnik (FDL), 2-1. Third: Gavin Haehl (ON) pinned James Funk (H), 3:25. 4th-place wrestleback: Zachary Collins (OW) decision over James Funk (H), 7-6.
285: Championship: Donte Johnson (FDL) pinned Quinn Meinerz (H), 5:54. Third: Bernard Smith (ON) decision over Casey Osterberg (SLIN), 7-1. 4th-place wrestleback: Casey Osterberg (SLIN) pinned Andrew Kalfas (OW), 1:02.