State Wrestling Update: Johnson falls in semis
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MADISON – Dreams of a second consecutive state wrestling championship for Micah Johnson were dashed Friday evening in the Kohl Center.
Johnson was beaten 4-2 by Scott Pittz of Mineral Point in a Division 3, 152-pound state semifinal.
Ironically, two of Johnson’s three losses this season have come courtesy of Pittz, who also beat Johnson in an overtime bout in early December. The other came at the hands of Chetek-Weyerhaeuser-Prairie Farm’s Jonny Chamberlain, who also lost in his Division 2, 152-pound semifinals’ match.
The Boyceville sophomore fasted quickly with a takedown just eight seconds into the match and looked charged to take the match and earn a shot at another state title.
But Pittz, a junior, had others ideas.
About a half minute after being taken to the mat, Pittz scored an escape and then, with just a tick left on the first-period clock, completed a reversal to carry a 3-2 advantage into the second period.
After Pittz deferred his choice, Johnson took the down position to start the middle period. Unfortunately, Johnson could never free himself from Pittz’ grip and was even warned for stalling during that two-minute span in which the score remained unchanged.
Pittz took to the mat for the start of the third period and needed just three seconds to get the escape and improve his lead to 4-2.
And that is how it would end as Johnson could not get inside Pittz defenses for a match-tying takedown.
Johnson will face Isaac Weik of Chequamegon in the consolation semifinals tomorrow morning around noon. Johnson pinned Weik (42-4) in last week’s sectional finals in Osseo.