12/30 wrestling: Bi-State Notebook: De Soto ends 26-year drought

By Todd Sommerfeldt | tsommerfeldt@lacrossetribune.com

The De Soto High School wrestling team had one individual champion at the first Bi-State Classic in 1982.

Twenty-six years later, it has its second.

Junior Chad Johnson ended the Pirates’ drought at the Bi-State by winning a 6-3 decision over Lakeville South’s Zane Petersen in the 215-pound finals Tuesday night at the La Crosse Center. Johnson (14-0), the fourth seed, beat Petersen by scoring on an escape and takedown in the final 1 minute, 16 seconds to become the school’s first Bi-State champ since Paul Nickelotti won at 155 pounds in 1982.

The victory, which made him the only Bi-State champion from the Coulee Region this season, allowed him to avenge a second-round loss last season as the top seed in the bracket.

“That was disappointing,” Johnson said of last season. “To lose in the second round when I was the top seed was pretty devastating.

“But this makes up for it. It’s good for the program for us to win here.”

Johnson led 3-1 after two periods, but Petersen reversed him early in the third to tie the score. Johnson’s final two scoring moves ended the Pirates’ four-match losing streak in Bi-State finals.

VAN GUNDY NEVER GETS ON TRACK: Tomah’s John Van Gundy (17-1) advanced to the finals as the No. 3 seed at 285, but Portage’s Jake Hohlstein wasn’t going to be denied in his attempt to win the weight class for a second straight year.

The top-seeded Hohlstein (19-0) took Van Gundy down three times on his way to a 7-0 championship victory. Holstein followed up a fourth-place Bi-State finish as a sophomore with two straight titles.

RAASCH COMES UP SHORT OF GOLD: Westby’s Jason Raasch faced No. 1 seed Luke Wiegman of Cuba City/Southwestern in the 130-pound Bi-State championship.

Raasch (19-1) pinned his way into the finals. His fourth fall of the tournament came in the semifinal round, when he stuck Auburndale’s C.J. Hale in just over three minutes.

But Wiegman (18-0) ended Raasch’s streak, defeating the Westby senior 9-0.

“He was real strong. You can’t make any mistakes with him because he capitalizes on them,” Raasch said.

Westby coach Colin Green hopes the caliber of competition Raasch encountered in the finals will only benefit him as the year progresses.

“Jason’s wrestled a great tournament and a he’s had a great season thus far, and I’m sure he’ll be able to learn from this loss and go forward and be better for it,” Green said.

CORYELL CAPTURES TAKEDOWN, THIRD PLACE: Physically, Holmen’s Jordan Coryell was completely absorbed into the first overtime period of his third-place match against Jacob Gross (13-3) of La Crescent.

But mentally, Coryell (19-3) was also preparing himself for double overtime.

“I looked up at the clock and there were a few seconds left,” Coryell said.

“I figured I’d have the choice for the next period, I’d go down and I’d get out, and I know he can’t get away from me.”

His mentality isn’t surprising, considering Holmen coach Ross Needham’s philosophy.

“We train for overtime and beyond so we’re not surprised when we get there,” Needham said.

But neither Coryell nor his coach would ever see that second overtime period.

Coryell shot with just seconds left to secure the takedown and the 7-5 win for third place at 189 pounds.

The win came after a 6-2 decision in the consolation bracket over New Lisbon’s Anthony Edgren (15-4), which advanced him into the placement match.

STARK SETS TEMPO: West Salem/Bangor’s Steve Stark continued to shoot until time ran out.

Stark (12-1) racked up five takedowns in his 10-4 victory over Westby’s Austin Nottestad (16-5) in his quest for third place.

Stark defeated Tyler Karl of Auburndale 7-2 in the wrestleback round to advance into the third-place match.

The finish marks Stark’s second straight third-place medal at Bi-State, as his first came in 2007 over Logan’s Zak Welke by a score of 3-2.

BETTHAUSER EDGES SEE FOR THIRD: It was the veteran against the newcomer as the two 103-pound wrestlers vying for third place approached the mat.

Tomah’s Kevin Betthauser (17-2), a senior, finished with the upper hand over freshman Cody See of Westby.

See (19-3) lost 2-1 to Betthauser, who was runner-up at 103 last year.

Betthauser held De Soto’s Evan Miller scoreless in the consolation round Tuesday morning, earning the 7-0 win before advancing into the placement match.

GRANT INJURED IN THIRD-PLACE BOUT: La Crescent senior Travis Grant (16-3) had to default in his 160-pound third-place match against Belmont/ Platteville’s Josh Eastlick. Grant was taken down twice early in the match and injured his right leg on the second takedown. Grant confirmed Tuesday that he had a broken fibula and dislocated ankle, and would have surgery this morning.

NESS, TEAM CONQUER TOURNAMENT: Bloomington Kennedy’s Dylan Ness has multiple reasons to celebrate.

Individually, Ness (20-0) sealed his second straight Bi-State championship Tuesday night.

He pinned Holmen’s Ian Hackett in 4:34 to accomplish the two-peat.

But as a part of the Bloomington Kennedy stronghold, Ness found a couple more highlights.

Bloomington Kennedy, who finished first in Division 1 and overall, closed the tournament with 379 team points, a tournament record for most team points scored.

That number surpasses the 373 points scored by Owatonna in 1999.

For scoreboard, click here