Wrestling: Balsiger brings home title
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Saturday, February 23, 2008 11:09 PM CST
Chi-Hi’s
Balsiger wins state
By The Chippewa Herald
MADISON — He just knew it.
Before Martino Balsiger took the mat against Tomah’s Ian Duncan in the 119-pound individual state championship, Chi-Hi coach Tom Pomietlo said nothing to his dynamic senior wrestler.
“He has this inner-confidence about him,” Pomietlo said. “He just went out there and got the job done.”
Balsiger (40-4) dominated the match, winning the state title with a 7-1 decision.
“It’s very rewarding,” Pomietlo said. “He’s come a long way in four years and for him to accomplish this is just great.”
Balsiger may have been the only area wrestler to win a title, but he wasn’t the only one in action at the WIAA state tournament Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center.
Cadott’s Al Yeager (45-5) came in second to Onalaska Luther’s John Poppie at 215 pounds, 3-1 in overtime.
“We knew it was going to come down to a takedown, and it did,” Hornets coach Ed Lenard said. “Poppie got the takedown with about 20 seconds left in the one-minute overtime period.
Lenard said the senior can go out for his career knowing he was one of the last two standing in the state championship match.
Cornell/Gilman’s Matt Kvapil (28-7) was the only wrestler from the area to reach the third place match in the consolation bracket. He took home a fourth place finish as he lost to Waterloo’s Buddy Lincks, 3-0. Kvapil also defeated Shell Lake’s Willie Christ Saturday.
Chi-Hi’s Alec Schindler and Cadott’s Mike Sonnentag and Josiah Yeager earned fifth place finishes while Bloomer’s Andy Marquardt took sixth as the consolation bracket came to a conclusion.
Schindler (44-4) wrapped up his senior season with a 4-0 win in the fifth place match against Arrowhead’s Al Yde at 145 pounds in Division 1.
“I think he was a little disappointed,” Pomietlo said. “He would have liked to finish in the top three, but there are plenty of wrestlers that would have loved finish in fifth. This will be something he will appreciate down the road.”
Sonnentag’s (31-2) freshman season ended on a high note as he won a major decision, 12-4, against Laconia’s Juan Rodriguez in the fifth place match at 103 pounds in Division 3.
Josiah Yeager (44-8) defeated North Crawford/Seneca’s Zach Miller for fifth place, 7-3, at 112 pounds in Division 3.
“They both had tough matches,” Lenard said of Josiah Yeager and Sonnentag. “It was really important to come back home 2-2 instead of going to state and leaving with a 1-3 record.
“This will be a stepping stone of these young guys.”
Marquardt (37-7) lost both of his matches and ended sixth at 152 pounds in Division 2. He was beaten by St. Croix Falls’ Joe Raygor in the fifth place match, 3-1, in overtime.
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