For the Tomahawk Leader
OCONTO FALLS – On Saturday, Feb. 19, Tomahawk’s eight qualifying wrestlers travelled to Oconto Falls to compete in the WIAA Individual Sectional tournament.
The top two individual place winners from the four Regionals compete against each other, and the top three place winners from the Sectional move on to the State Individual tournament.
Tomahawk competes in the Division 2 Sectional B tournament, which is widely heralded as being the toughest Sectional in the state regardless of Division. Most years, the top three wrestlers in each weight class routinely go on to either win State Championships or place highly at the State tournament, accomplishments no other Sectional can boast.
Tomahawk’s Sectional qualifiers were Presley Gutbrod (106), Drew Tollefson (113), Addison Peissig (120), Blake Felser (126), Mason Evans (160), Logan Bishop (170), Micah Arnott (182) and Marcus Matti (220).
Starting at 106 pounds, Gutbrod lost a close 9-8 decision. Gutbrod did not receive a wrestle back opportunity after his opponent lost the next round, ending his stellar sophomore season with a 36-7 record and a conference championship. At 113 pounds, Tollefson dropped his first round match and did not receive a wrestle back. Tollefson ended his freshman year with a 22-20 record and All-Conference honors. At 120 pounds, Peissig earned a first period fall before being tasked with wrestling Luxemburg-Casco’s returning State Champion. Peissig lost his second round match and earned another fall in his wrestle back to put him in the third place match with a chance at State. In his third place match, Peissig saw himself down 4-1 before tying up the score 4-4 at the end of the second period. After a tough ride for the first minute of the period, Peissig locked in a cradle that saw him and his opponent end up in a wild scramble that yielded both wrestlers four points and bringing the score to 8-8. Peissig’s opponent scored an escape with 12 seconds remaining. Peissig came up just short on his go behind attempt and fell 9-8 to place fourth. Peissig ends his junior season with a 32-12 record and Second Team All-Conference honors. At 126 pounds, Felser lost his opening matchup, and then dropped his wrestle back in a 7-4 decision. Felser ended his senior season with a 31-14 record and Second Team All-Conference honors.
At 160 pounds, Evans opened his day with a 46-second fall over his Amherst opponent. In his semi-finals match, Evans’ unrelenting pressure forward and offense saw him score three takedowns and earn a third period fall over his Luxemburg-Casco opponent and guarantee him a spot in the State tournament and a spot in the Sectional finals. Evans lost this Sectional finals match 4-0 and placed second. Evans heads to the State tournament with a 39-5 record. At 170 pounds, Bishop lost his first round matchup. Bishop received a wrestle back and earned a fall to put him in the third place match with a chance for State. Bishop dropped a 6-2 decision and placed fourth. Bishop ends his senior season with a 36-5 record and a conference championship. Arnott, at 182 pounds, dropped his first round matchup to his Freedom opponent. Arnott received a wrestle back and lost a hard fought 9-4 decision. Arnott ends his senior season with a 28-14 record. At 220 pounds, Matti won a gritty 3-1 decision over his Southern Door opponent. In the semi-finals, Matti opened up his offense and won a 10-4 decision over his Adams-Friendship opponent and guaranteed himself a spot in the State tournament. Matti lost his Sectional finals match. Matti also competed in a true second wrestle back, where he faced his opponent from last weekend’s Regional finals. Matti won 5-4 and placed second. Matti will bring a 43-3 record to State.
Tomahawk will send two of their wrestlers to the WIAA Individual State tournament in Madison that begins Thursday, Feb. 24, and ends Saturday night, Feb. 26. State Qualifiers are Mason Evans at 160 pounds and Marcus Matti at 220 pounds. Overall, Tomahawk finished sixth in the unofficial team scores, ahead of typically high-ranked teams such as Wrightstown, Denmark, and Two Rivers.
Both Evans and Matti will compete Thursday night down in Madison. Division 2 Session 1 begins at 7:15 p.m. Evans will see a rematch with Luxemburg-Casco’s Ryan Routhieaux (24-9). With a win, Evans will get another shot at Denmark’s Elijh Shefchik (31-5) in a rematch of the Sectional finals. Matti will meet Martin Luther’s LaShawn Wesley-Carter (26-10). With a win, Matti will also see a rematch of his Sectional Final against New London’s De Evian Ross (37-8).
Wrestlers of the Week
Tomahawk’s two State Qualifiers, junior Mason Evans and senior Marcus Matti, share Wrestler of the Week this week. Evans and Matti are both first-time State Qualifiers and hold a combined record of 82-8. Both Evans and Matti were Conference and Regional champions for Tomahawk. Both wrestlers have also been ranked in the top five in their respective weight classes for much of the year by WI Wrestling, and both are more than capable of placing highly on the podium. Evans and Matti are both exemplary student-athletes who have dedicated hours to out of season lifting and bust it every day at practice, as well as maintaining high GPAs. Good luck to both Mason Evans and Marcus Matti this weekend!
With the season coming to an end this weekend, special recognition is being given to the Tomahawk Wrestling coaching staff. Head coach Bob Garrou is in his 35th year coaching and was awarded GNC Coach of the Year this season. Also on staff are coaches Ted Towle (7 years), John Repinski (12 years), Dane Borchardt (three years) and Matt Turkiewicz (three years). Tomahawk Wrestling is coached 100% by Tomahawk alumni. The entire coaching staff puts hours into the offseason with out of season wrestling, lifting, and preparation for the next season. The coaching staff also gives the wrestlers more partners to train with and different styles and views to work with.
Tomahawk Wrestling is truly a family that works together and expects to accomplish individual and team success on the mat, at practice, and in life.