Team effort sparks Panthers to third in own invite
PLYMOUTH – A strong team effort carried the Plymouth Panthers to a third-place showing in the 19th Annual Plymouth Wrestling Invitational Saturday.
PHS, led by junior Collin Rortvedt who was 5-0 at 125 pounds, finished 3-2 in the dual tournament. Rortvedt racked up an impressive four pins.
The Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters captured sixth in the eight-team meet with a 2-3 mark. Elkhart was paced by junior Joey Gruenke and senior Adam Ruechel who were 5-0 at 130 and 189, respectively. Gruenke and Ruechel had two falls each.
“The Panthers made some great strides this weekend. The wrestlers wrestled really well this past weekend,” said PHS head coach Bob Weix.
“The kids started to find moves they could rely on to make some things happen. I am really proud of our kids.”
The Panthers gave champion Lomira all it could handle in round three before falling just shy, 37-36, after a valiant comeback. Plymouth’s only other defeat was against runner-up Brookfield Central, 48-24.
Lomira posted a 5-0 mark and Central was 4-1. Lomira beat the Lancers, 48-27, in round five to earn the title.
The Panthers had three individuals with 4-1 records: Brandon Wiggins at 140, Zach Pfankuch, 171 and Clint Wyatt at 215. Wiggins and Wyatt also had an outstanding four falls apiece.
Posting 3-2 records for PHS were Dan Uribe at 119; Jake Ohman, 135; Justin Lesko, 145; Luke Ohman, 152; Eric Benti, 160; and Geno Kiela at 189. All three of Uribe’s victories were pins.
Three Resorters earned 4-1 marks – Luke Klotzbach at 135, Shane Schanke, 140 and Kyle Rentmeester, 171. Rentmeester and Schanke scored two pins apiece.
The following Elkhart wrestlers were 3-2 on the day: Austin Schmidt at 103; Tim Daehnert, 112; Neven Grgic, 119; and Deric Lightle, 215.
PHS trailed Lomira 37-15 before storming back. The Panthers reeled off four straight wins to close out the dual but the Lions held on for the one-point victory. Wiggins, Lesko and Ohman recorded pins to fuel the run.
“Collin Rortvedt put together another solid day of wrestling for the Panthers, and followed up with four pins,” said Weix.
“Collin is on a tear and it is nice to see him getting into the groove. Other wrestlers to put together outstanding days were Brandon Wiggins, Zach Pfankuch, and Clint Wyatt.”
In round one, PHS edged Brodhead/Juda, 37-36, on a criteria tiebreaker after the teams battled to a 36- 36 tie. Weix gave Lesko credit for not allowing more than a major decision in the final match against Brodhead/Juda’s top wrestler, Hunter Colden. Colden won, 15-9, to tie the dual at 36-all.
“I am very happy with the way we have come around as a team at this point of the season. The kids have gotten through a lot of adversities as a group and are still working out hard,” Weix said.
“We started out slow but did well in the last three rounds,” said Resorter head coach Dan Stephanie.
“Joey and Adam did very well. It was a good tournament overall for us.”
PHS had four individuals who participated in junior varsity competition at the tourney. The Panthers were led by Raven Welsch who was 2-1 with a pair of pins.
PHS will host Campbellsport in dual action Thursday, Jan. 14 and the meet will be Parents Night and Youth PAW (Plymouth Area Wrestling) Night. Parents and PAW club members are asked to meet at 6:30 to sign in and organized before the 7 p.m. dual.
Final team standings: 1. Lomira, 2. Brookfield Central, 3. Plymouth, 4. Martin Luther, 5. Brodhead/Juda, 6. Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, 7. Manitowoc Roncalli, 8. Milwaukee Bay View.
Plymouth Dual Results
Plymouth 37, Brodhead/Juda 36 (Plymouth won on criteria tiebreaker); Plymouth 54, Bay View 12; Lomira 37, Plymouth 36; Brookfield Central 48, Plymouth 24; Plymouth 60, Martin Luther 24.
Elkhart Lake Dual Results Brookfield Central 45, EL 24; Martin Luther 41, EL 39; EL 66, Roncalli 10; EL 72, Bay View 12; Brodhead/Juda 41, EL 33.
