It was a rough first day for the Spartans, but they still find themselves near the middle of the pack and in the mix with some tough teams. At the end of day one, Sparta has 108.5 points, which is good for 16th. Southeast Polk leads all teams with 206 followed by Montini Catholic at 176.5, Marmion Academy at 167.5 and Apple Valley at 150.
The top team from Wisconsin is Kaukauna in 9th place with 136 points followed by Luxemburg-Casco with 125 (12th), Port Washington with 120 (15th) and then Sparta with 108.5 (16th). The Spartans find themselves just ahead of Plainview (98) while ahead of 4th-ranked Ellsworth (71.5) and Wisconsin Rapids (64).
On the individual side, Kyle Burkhalter is the only Spartan undefeated after day one. Burkhalter is 3-0. All other Spartans except Tristan Zurfluh have at least two losses. Dillon Erickson is 1-1, but only wrestled twice. Burkhalter went 3-0 with a bye and picked up two decision victories while Zurfluh was impressive in his first wrestling this season losing his third round match by sudden victory. Here is how the team did at the first day of the Cheesehead…
106 – Corey Zimmerman, 0-2
113 – Dylan Winchel, 0-2
120 – John Roddick, 1-2 with a technical fall
126 – Steven Kelly, 1-2
132 – Brock Polhamus, 1-2
138 – Tristan Zurfluh, 2-1
145 – Michael Murnane, 1-2
152 – Dillon Erickson, 1-1 with a pin
160 – Walker Polhamus, 0-2
170 – Greg Skon, 1-2 with a pin
182 – Kyle Burkhalter, 3-0 with a major decision
220 – Chase Bernett, 1-2 with a pin
285 – Joseph Benish, 0-2
As you can tell, it was tough to come by wins during the first day of action for the Spartans. I would expect that to change tomorrow as the Spartans compete in the wrestleback rounds. Top-ranked Dylan Winchel fell to Mt. Carmel’s Javier Hernandez (12-12) after getting caught in a headlock and fell by pin in 1:47. John Roddick ran into Ellsworth’s Jens Lantz, one of the toughest wrestlers in Wisconsin and currently ranked 20th in the nation in his third round match and fell by technical fall. At heavyweight, Luxemburg-Casco’s Newton Smercheck, currently ranked 5th in the nation, made quick work of Joseph Benish and won by pin in 1:11. This is the type of competition the Spartans are up against.
However, as you can tell by the team rankings, other very good teams like Ellsworth, Simley, Port Washington and Wisconsin Rapids also had rough first days. It also didn’t help that the Spartans are missing 195-pounder Daniel Dawley for the tournament.
We’ll have full results for you tomorrow night and some updates throughout the day. Go Spartans!!!
