The Hortonville wrestling team after winning the regional championship in Hortonville on Feb. 13.

Hortonville wins team sectional

By Scott Bellile

This year’s Hortonville High School wrestling team will be one for the record books.

For the first time in the school’s history, Hortonville qualifies for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Team State Tournament taking place the first weekend in March.

The Polar Bears will advance to the Division 1 Team State Tournament after defeating the Pulaski Red Raiders at the Division 1 Team Sectional in Green Bay on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The Polar Bears beat the Red Raiders 50-21 in nine of 14 matches, including two by forfeit.

While powerhouse Hortonville has sent individuals to state in all but two years of Chris Gennrich’s 14 years coaching the team, until now the team has never pulled together to take the trip to Madison as one.

Gennrich said it feels great to advance to state as a team and he is “happy for the kids and the community.”

The Polar Bears will compete at the State Team Tournament March 4-5 at the UW-Madison Fieldhouse. They will wrestle in the quarterfinals March 4 at 5:30 p.m. against Sauk Prairie.

Eleven individuals are already headed to the individual sectional tournament scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. at Ashwaubenon High School. They are Eric Barnett (106), Bryce Gerner (113), Colin Schuler (120), Jacob Barnett (126), Curtis Diedrich (132), Nathan Lichtfuss (138), Joe Cliver (152), Brad Conger (160), Elliott Luker (170), Jack Huebner (220) and Jacob Stein (285).

If they win, they will advance to the individual state tournament at UW-Madison’s Kohl Center Feb. 25-27.

Last year Hortonville sent four individuals to state: Jacob Barnett, Cliver, Luker and Diedrich.

Results at Pulaski

106: Eric Barnett (Hortonville) defeated Owen Heinz (Pulaski) by a 17-2 technical fall.
113: Cole Gille (Pulaski) pinned Bryce Gerner (Hortonville) in 1:52.
120: Colin Schuler (Hortonville) defeated Logan Bellow (Pulaski) by a 3-0 decision.
126: Jacob Barnett (Hortonville) pinned Joey Le Sage (Pulaski) in 1:59.
132: Curtis Diedrich (Hortonville) pinned Brock Gracyanly (Pulaski) In 5:39.
138: Nathan Lichtfuss (Hortonville) won by forfeit.
145: Jordan Cheslock (Hortonville) won by forfeit.
152: Jake Gille (Pulaski) defeated Joe Cliver (Hortonville) by a 3-2 decision.
160: Matt May (Pulaski) defeated Brad Conger (Hortonville) by a 10-5 decision.
170: Elliott Luker (Hortonville) pinned Zach King (Pulaski) in 4:23.
182: Peter Karcz (Pulaski) defeated Griffen Cartwright (Hortonville) by a 6-3 decision.
195: Brandon King (Pulaski) pinned Nate Bohman (Hortonville) in 3:23.
220: Jack Huebner (Hortonville) pinned Taylor Brancefield (Pulaski) in 1:49.
285: Jacob Stein (Hortonville) pinned Steven Stiede (Pulaski) in 2:16.