Hilltopper grapplers sting Hornets in second meet

By Kelsie Hoitomt

GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City wrestling team squared off against the Cadott Hornets last Tuesday night, Dec. 4, at home for their second dual meet win of the season.

Even with two open weight classes the Hilltoppers’ were still able to pull off the win against the Hornets 48-30.

The dual started at 170 lbs with junior Blayze Wood taking the mat first against Brayden Bowe. The match went through all three periods with Wood earning the decision of 9-7.

Brennan Kessler was full force at 182 lbs against freshman Jerad Danielson as he controlled the entire match and earned the 11-6 decision.

There was a change at 195 lbs as Skylar Peterson dropped down to that weight class and received a forfeit.

Donovan Fornal then wrestled at 220 and made a quick match out of it as he pinned his opponent in 42 seconds which put the Hilltoppers ahead 18-0.

The Hornets would score their first points in the heavy weight match after Alex Little got stuck and was pinned late in the match.

The Hornets would quickly catch up on points due to forfeits on the Hilltoppers’ part in the 106 and 113 weight classes which put the score at 18-18.

At 120 lbs was Riley Knops who had the upper hand throughout the entire match as he worked the arm of sophomore Alex Licht until he rolled over onto his back and was pinned in the third period.

The scores were tied up at 24-24 after Damian Hoitomt was pinned in the first period by senior Greg Sonnentag.

It was again a tied dual after Jake Carlson pinned Tyler Gillet in a 1:14, but then Billy Norenberg was held to the mat to put the score at 30-30.

Then it was time for the Hammers, Adam Holmquist and Austin Moe. Both of them barely were on the mat long enough to break a sweat as Holmquist pinned Dylan Vitense in 28 seconds and Moe pinned Hunter Rudnick in 48 seconds.

The last match of the night was Jeff Kopacz at 160 lbs. It only took a few seconds before Kopacz had his opponent stuck, but instead of blowing the whistle for a pin, the referee called a blood time on Cadott.

When the match resumed, Kopacz held onto his momentum and again brought down Blake Borntrager for the pin in 36 seconds.

“Our kids came out focused to wrestle. I felt we were more aggressive than we were at John Timm. We are stressing improvement every match and practice which was evident in this dual. I like where we are right now as a team at this point. The attitude is good and our kids are focused on training for our next challenge,” shared coach Shane Strong.

The Hilltoppers had their next dual meet this past Tuesday evening in Luck. The varsity team will travel to Northwestern on Saturday and the junior varsity will have a tournament at home that day as well.

GLENWOOD CITY 48, CADOTT 30

106 – Brandon Pederson (C) received fofeit; 113 – Austin Najbrt (C) received forfeit; 120 – Riley Knops (GC) pinned Alex Licht (C), 5:03 ; 126 – Sean Sonnentag (C) pinned Damian Hoitomt (GC), 1:27; 132 – Jake Carlson (GC) pinned Tyler Gillett (C), 1:14; 138 – Chris Goettl (C) pinned Billy Norenberg (GC), 1:09; 145 – Adam Holmquist (GC) pinned Dylan Vitense (C), 0:28; 152 – Austin Moe (GC) pinned Hunter Rudnick (C), 0:48; 160 – Jeff Kopacz (GC) pinned Blake Borntrager (C), 0:36; 170 – Blayze Wood dec. Brayden Bowe (C), 9-7; 182 – Brennan Kessler (GC) dec. Jerad Danielson (C), 11-6; 195 – Skylar Peterson (GC) pinned Devon Wendt (C); 220 – Donovan Fornal (GC) pinned Cole Hanson (C), 0:42; 285 – Cadott pinned Alex Little (GC), 3:34.