PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - FEBRUARY 28, 2007
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Eagles end season on high at state! to try. McKinney showed a positive future at the state tournament last weekend as he knocked off senior Devon Kansier in the first round by a 9-7 decision. McKinney was the only freshman in his bracket, which says a lot about what lies ahead, according to his coach Mark Ferguson. “We know what we have to work on,” said Ferguson. He’s a very coachable kid and I expect to see great things out of him for the next three years.” After winning his first match, McKinney lost by a 10-6 decision in the quarterfinal to Matt Kiel of Roncalli, and lost by 7-1 decision in the concilia-
Senior Devin Hoyt ends career best, while freshmen Dustin McKinneys career starts strong by Marty Seeger MADISON – He didn’t win a single match at the state tournament during his sophomore year, and won only one at state during his junior year, but this year was different for Unity’s Devin Hoyt (125). In his third trip to the state tournament last weekend in Madison, Hoyt received a second-place finish— and it didn’t come easy either. “This third year we were hoping that we would get him at least a sixth-place or better,” said coach Mark Ferguson who mentioned the hard work it takes just to move up one place at the state tournament. In his first battle, Hoyt defeated Stratford’s Brandon Karl by a 7-1 decision, but faced one of his toughest matches in the quarterfinal against Andrew Dahl of Cashton. Dahl came into the match as a two-time reigning state champion and Hoyt won the match by a 6-5 decision. Hoyt then moved into the semifinal round against Trevor Dyreson of Deerfield, and won in another close decision 5-3. Coach Ferguson said that it wasn’t Hoyt’s best match, but it was enough to get him into the first-place match against Cadott rival Greg Sonnentag (49-1), who lost to Dahl in finals last year. Sonnentag took second place as a freshmen at 103, and won state as a sophomore at 112. He followed that with a second-place finish at 112 in his junior year. Hoyt wrestled and lost to Sonnentag
Round three! Unity’s Devon Hoyt battled Cadott’s Greg Sonnentag for the Division 3 119-pound state title. Hoyt came home with second place as Sonnentag won the title with a 7-3 decision – Photos by Terry Kahl in December and again in February, and couldn’t get past him in the finals. Sonnentag defeated Hoyt by a 7-3 decision, giving Hoyt his first-ever secondplace finish at the state level. “He’s sure had a positive year this year,” said Ferguson. “Making it to the state finals was tremendous for him. We’re proud of him and everything he’s
accomplished this year. From where he was to where he got to was just incredible.” McKinney starts strong career MADISON – Unity’s Dustin McKinney (125) wasn’t able to place in the top six at the state tournament, but the freshmen will have three more years
Unity’s Dustin McKinney won his first match of the state tournament, but he fell in his next match and in the consolation round.
Rikkola takes fourth at state tourney! SCFs Justin Rikkola wrestles his way back from first-round loss by Matt Blumkin MADISON –What a difference a division can make. “It’s tougher,” said Saints 103-pound wrestler Justin Rikkola about the difference between Division 2 and 3. “We were in a tough regional.” With Luck-Frederic-Grantsburg, a Division 2 program, Rikkola fell short of sectionals at the regional tournament last year. After transferring from Grantsburg to Division 3 St. Croix Falls for this season, Rikkola stood on the podium at Madison with a fourthplace finish at the state individual wrestling tournament on Feb. 22-24. He went 45-7 for the season after winning 103 at regionals and sectionals this season. He also bounced back from losing his first match to take fourth. “Justin was right in the mix,” said Saints coach Dan Clark. Rikkola lost in a 4-2 decision to Nick Wendt of Cedar Grove-Belgium (44-8) in the 103-pound quarterfinals before his run for fourth. “I was nervous,” said Rikkola. “I had never been there before.” Rikkola won his first consolation
Justin Rikkola of St. Croix Falls lost his first match at the state tournament, but he wrestled his way into fourth place – Photo by Terry Kahl
round match against Shaw Oestreich of Peshtigo (39-7) in a 10-5 decision. Then, he advanced to beat Ethan Pipping (436) of Laconia in a 4-0 decision. “I knew I needed to win that one to go for third,” said Rikkola. Yet, J.J. Froelich (41-3) of Oostburg stood in the way in the third-place match. They wrestled to a 4-4 tie, but Froelich broke ahead at the end with a couple of points to take the match, 6-4. Clark commented on the parity of the 103 field saying, “they could have wrestled that bracket 10 times and come up with 10 different results.” Rikkola beat 103 second-place wrestler Bubba Gudis (39-9) of Bruce twice during the season, but they didn’t meet at the tournament. Rikkola, a junior, will have another shot to go for a state title, and he has the support around him to make another run. The Saints have a full team with successful wrestlers. They had 10 wrestle at sectionals this season in addition to reaching the team sectionals. LFG has struggled with numbers, and Rikkola had to wrestle eighth-graders there being at 103. “It’s nice being on a bigger team,” said Rikkola. “There’s more guys to wrestle. There’s guys to look up to.” He has to make the 45-minute trip from Grantsburg to St. Croix Falls each day for school and make new friends while keeping up on old friendships. Rikkola also ran on the Saints crosscountry team, and he plans to run track in the spring.