Fondy sends three to state
Division 1 Kaukauna Sectional: The Fond du Lac wrestling team will be well-represented at next weekend’s state meet.
The Cardinals advanced three wrestlers to state via first-place finishes at Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 sectional meet at Kaukauna — Josh Adams, Jason Toshner and Donte Johnson.
At 145 pounds, Josh Adams went 3-0 on the day, winning his first two matches by pin over Manitowoc Lincoln’s Luke Hutterer and Hartford Union’s Jared Baizley. In the first-place match, Adams defeated Kaukauna’s Drew Krepline by 5-2 decision. Go Joshstate
Jason Toshner also went 3-0 on Saturday at 195 pounds, picking up all three wins via pin. Toshner pinned Kimberly’s Derek Moore and Manitowoc Lincoln’s Kyle Rochon before pinning Oshkosh North’s Cullen Grunewald in 1:43 to take the sectional title. Toshnerstate
In the heavyweights, Donte Johnson received a bye in the first round and then pinned West Bend West’s Matt Elsinger. In the first-place match, Johnson pinned Keaton Kluever of Kaukauna in 45 seconds. D.Johnsonstate
All other Fond du Lac sectional qualifiers were eliminated in the first round, which included Seth Roffers (132), Tyrik Viebranz (138), Chase Krug (182) and Gage Zahradnik (220).
145: Championship: Josh Adams (FDL) over Drew Krepline (KAU), 5-2 decision. Second: Krepline over Jared Baizley, 9-3 decision.
195: Championship: Jason Toshner (FDL) pinned Cullen Grunewald (ON), 1:43. Second: Grunewald over Trent Trull (KAU), rule.
285: Championship: Donte Johnson (FDL) pinned Keaton Kluever, 0:45. Second: Kluever over Jacob Heath (OW), rule
State wrestling: Area competitors look to each other for support
For the first time in a while, Fondy will be well represented. Jason Toshner (192), Donte Johnson (285) and Josh Adams (145) are all headed to state after capturing sectional titles last weekend.
Jason Toshner was the lone Cardinal to make it each of the last two years, so he knows what it’s like to be competing in Madison all alone. And because of that, he is thrilled to have teammates this time around. “Just going with a group, you have more people you can push toward their goal too, instead of just being lonesome and everyone piles up on you,” Toshner said. “Having multiple people reduces the stress and allows you to focus more.”
Donte Johnson and Josh Adams are also excited that they won’t be going alone and will feed off Toshner’s two years of experience.
“I feel like communicating through it all will be the biggest key,” Adams said. “Just talking your way through it. If you’re done you can go under the bleachers and chill and talk and get away with everything.”
“It’ll be good because we have been practicing with each other all year and we are more comfortable with each other,” Johnson added. “We are like a family. We will be more comfortable being with each other.”
All D1 wrestlers will be wrestling at 3 p.m. Thursday.