Lodi used bonus points to advance to the team sectionals for the second year in a row with a victory over the Spartans. This time the final score was closer at 28-34. Last year it was 25-35. In both Sparta’s 41-31 victory over Cuba City/Southwestern and Sparta’s 28-34 loss against Lodi, the Spartans won eight matches. However, Lodi picked up bonus points in every single victory against the Spartans using five pins and a major decision to continue their season three weeks from now at the Field House in Madison.
Nick Winchel and Xavier Lopez wrapped up their careers at Sparta tonight. Winchel won both his matches with a pin and victory by decision while Lopez fell twice by pin. Sparta’s other seniors, Tom Tourdot and Morgan Leis, will continue their seasons Saturday at Evansville in the sectional tournament.
In the first dual of the night, it was Sparta picking up the big wins via the bonus. Sparta had five pins and one forfeit victory while Cuba City/Southwestern had four pins and one major decision victory. In the dual against Lodi, the Spartans kept winning, but only Tom Tourdot and Kyle Burkhalter could pick up bonus points. In the end, that would be what doomed the Spartans. I have a feeling these two teams will be meeting a lot in the next few years.
Here are how the duals went on the night. First against Lodi…
189 — Michael Watters (Lodi) pinned Ben Schaitel 3:17
215 — Tom Tourdot pinned Nathan Maerz (Lodi) 1:48
285 — Chris Beeler decisioned Ben Steuck (Lodi) 3-0
103 — John Joutras (Lodi) pinned Dylan Winchel 0:36
112 — Tristan Zurfluh decisioned Grant Robertson (Lodi) 4-0
119 — Michael Clapper (Lodi) pinned Bryce Nowaczyk 2:42
125 — Derek VonRuden decisioned Getasew Shimshak (Lodi) 6-2
130 — Nick Winchel decisioned Alex Ibinger (Lodi) 10-6
135 — Paul Vantassel decisioned Caleb Latham (Lodi) 10-7
140 — Clint Heimbecker (Lodi) major decisioned Michael Murnane 11-2
145 — Justin Miller (Lodi) pinned Toby Mosley 1:11
152 — Morgan Leis decisioned Jordan Worthing (Lodi) 3-0
160 — Jesse Ziegler (Lodi) pinned Xavier Lopez 3:15
171 — Kyle Burkhalter major decisioned Ben Kealty (Lodi) 10-2
FINAL: Sparta 28 – Lodi 34
And now for the dual against Cuba City/Southwestern…
189 — Forrest Thill (Cuba City/Southwestern) decisioned Ben Schaitel 8-5
215 — Tom Tourdot pinned Nathan Poll (Cuba City/Southwestern) 1:22
285 — Chris Beeler decisioned Cal Grutz (Cuba City/Southwestern) 6-1
103 — JJ Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) major decisioned Dylan Winchel 16-6
112 — Tristan Zurfluh won by forfeit
119 — Bryce Nowaczyk pinned Zach Guerin (Cuba City/Southwestern) 3:21
125 — Robbie Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) pined Derek VonRuden 1:47
130 — Nick Winchel pinned Marcus Theill (Cuba City/Southwestern) 5:10
135 — Dillon Schmeider (Cuba City/Southwestern) pinned Paul Vantassel 1:16
140 — Jarod Donar (Cuba City/Southwestern) pinned Mike Murnane 1:55
145 — Toby Mosley decisioned Scott Digman (Cuba City/Southwestern) 6-2
152 — Morgan Leis pinned Tyler Bass (Cuba City/Southwestern) 3:37
160 — Cody Ryan (Cuba City/Southwestern) pinned Xavier Lopez 3:48
171 — Kyle Burkhalter pinned Kyle Pickel (Cuba City/Southwestern) 0:18
FINAL: Sparta 41 – Cuba City/Southwestern 31
Sparta finished their season with a dual record of 15-3, which included a conference dual record of 6-0. Coming up next for the Spartans will be the individual sectional tournament in Evansville this Saturday. Derek VonRuden, Morgan Leis, Kyle Burkhalter and Tom Tourdot will wrestle for a trip to the state tournament. The top three advance out of sectionals to the state tournament.
Check back here in the coming days for a sectional preview. Congrats Sparta on a great dual season and thank-you seniors Nick Winchel and Xavier Lopez for all of you’ve done for the Sparta wrestling program. We thank-you!
