Bloomer/Colfax wrestlers fall to Ladysmith, compete in EC North Husky Invitational
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STUCK ON THE BOTTOM — Julio Hernandez of the Bloomer/Colfax Raptors found himself stuck on the bottom during his match against DJ Livingston of Ladysmith. Hernandez was pinned in the second period of the match with a 1:04 left. —photo by Amber Hayden
The young Bloomer/Colfax Raptor wrestling squad had a busy second week of competition as it opened the Heart O’ North season in Colfax last Thursday before competing in the Eau Claire North Husky Invitational on Saturday.
For the Raptors, the Bloomer/Colfax wrestling cooperative’s new moniker, youth and inexperience showed in a 51-26 loss to Ladysmith in a Heart O’ North South Division dual December 6 and a 17th-place showing in the 23-team Husky tournament held December 8.
B/C will compete in a trio of duals in a week’s time. The Raptors host Chetek-Weyerhaeuser-Prairie Farm in Bloomer this Friday, December 14 and will have road duals at Northwestern next Tuesday, December 18 and in Cameron on Friday, December 21 to wrap-up their pre-holiday schedule.
WEARING DOWN — Seth Korevarr of the Raptors couldn’t find the strength to get out from under Lumberjack Kyle Nelson and was pinned with 17 seconds left in the first period of his match last Thursday evening in Colfax. —photo by Amber Hayden
Ladysmith Prevails
There were as many forfeits – seven – as there were competitive duals when Bloomer/Colfax hosted Ladysmith last Thursday evening, December 6 in the Colfax High School gymnasium for both teams’ Heart O’ North dual-season opener.
The Lumberjacks received four of those forfeits compared to three for the Raptors but the visitors registered victories in five of the seven remaining matches including four by pin falls as Ladysmith defeated Bloomer/Colfax 51-26.
Bloomer/Colfax received forfeits at 106, 138 and 152 pounds which accounted for 18 of the team’s 26 points. Colfax wrestlers Luke Blanchard (106) and Trey Hovde (138) were among the three Raptor wrestlers that were awarded forfeits. The other two team wins came at 160 where Cal Lueck beat Ladysmith’s Ryan Vollendorf 8-5, and at 170 pounds with Bowen Rothbauer’s 19-3 technical fall over the Lumberjacks’ Connor Franson.
Ladysmith won by pin falls at 120, 132, 195 and 285 pounds and saw their wrestler Tyler Dicus nip the Raptors Alex Poirier 7-4 in the 113-pound match.
Ladysmith 51, Bloomer/Colfax 26
220-Josh Jenness (L) received forfeit; 285-Wade Stanger (L) pinned Thomas Geist (B/C), 2:29; 106-Luke Blanchard (B/C) received forfeit; 113-Tyler Dicus (L) dec. Alex Poirier (B/C), 7-4; 120-Derick Vollendorf (L) pinned Isaac Lagesse (B/C), 1:18); 126-Trent Vollendorf (L) received forfeit; 132-DJ Livingston (L) pinned Julio Hernandez (B/C), 2:57; 138-Trey Hovde (B/C) received forfeit; 145-Caiden Engel (L) received forfeit;152-Austyn Bartz (B/C) received forfeit; 160-Cal Lueck (B/C) dec. Ryan Vollendorf (L), 8-5; 170-Bowen Rothbauer (B/C) tech fall Connor Franson (L), 19-3 (5:15); 182-Grant Rydlund (L) received forfeit; 195-Kyle Nelson (L) pinned Seth Korevaar (B/C), 1:45.
Eau Claire North Invite
Just six Raptor wrestlers competed in the Eau Claire North Husky Invitational held this past Saturday, December 8 but each scored points for Bloomer/Colfax which finished 17th in the 23-team tourney with 123 points.
Defending WIAA Division 2 state champion and perennial power Ellsworth took the team title, besting St. Croix Falls 444 to 433. Medford was a distant third with 359 points, Baldwin-Woodville took fourth with 308 points and Arrowhead rounded out the top five with a score of 282.
Bloomer/Colfax was led by some outstanding performances by its underclassmen.
Freshmen Bowen Rothbauer and Luke Blanchard had the top finished for the Raptors as Rothbauer, 3-1 in the tournament, captured fifth at 160 pounds and Blanchard copped sixth at 106 pounds on a 2-3 performance.
Another Raptors’ freshman, Alex Poirier, placed eighth at 113 which is the same finish that junior Cal Lueck had at 152 pounds.
Colfax sophomore Julio Herand placed 15th at 132 pounds and Bloomer senior Thomas Geist was 12th at 285 pounds.
