Raptor wrestling advances four to Sectionals

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SOMERSET — The Bloomer/Colfax Raptors had 11 wrestlers compete in the WIAA Division 2 Somerset Regional Wrestling tournament on Saturday, February 15, with four of them moving on to the individual sectional in Osceola this coming Saturday, February 22.

Three of the four qualifiers – Luke Blanchard, Sawyer Best and Mitchel Harmon – are from Colfax High School.

Sophomore  Luke Blanchard and senior Sawyer Best claimed regional championships while Mitch Harmon placed second. Bloomer sophomore Bowen Rothbauer was the other B/C sectional qualifier after he won the 152-pound gold.

Only the top two finishers in each of the 14 weight classes advance to the individual sectional meet.

Colfax’s Sawyer Best has been on a roll all season as he extended his season record to 43-1 with his 132-pound regional title run in Somerset. Best won the gold-title match with a close 7-6 decision over Jordan Penard of Amery. He also scored a 16-4 major decision over St. Croix Central’s David Olson in the semifinal round after receiving a first-round bye as the top-rated wrestler in the weight class.

Luke Blanchard also pinned down a first-place finish over Thomas Oswald of Osceola with a sudden victory (overtime) in the 113-pound weight class. Blanchard, who also had a first-round bye before besting Tyler Fink of Baldwin-Woodville 9-3 in the semis, now sits with a 38-5 record overall with sectionals yet to come.

Also advancing for Colfax is senior Mitch Harmon in the 160-lb weight class. Harmon (12-3) lost in the first-place match to Devin Wasley of St. Croix Central by 7-2 decision. Then in the wrestle back to retain second place and a sectional berth, Harmon scored another 7-2 decision this time over Bode LaGrander of Baldwin-Woodville.

Bowen Rothbauer buzzed through his 152-pound weight bracket pinning Logan Czech of Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg/Siren just 26 seconds into the pair’s semifinal match and majoring Grant Cook of Amery, 9-1, in the championship match to win the gold and advance to the sectional in Osceola.

Brison Tuschl and Colin Bohl also competed in Somerset and earned fourth and sixth places, respectively. Tuschl was pinned by Sam Kelling of Amery in the third-place match in the 106-pound weight class. Bohl was pinned at 3:48 of the second period in the 170-pound, fifth-place match by Aiden Burkman of Luck/Frederic/Grantsburg/Siren.

Bloomer/Colfax finished fifth in the seven-team regional with 147 points just eight behind fourth-place St. Croix Central. Host Baldwin-Woodville took the team title with 217 points and the berth in last evening’s (Tuesday, February 18) team sectional which the Blackhawks also hosted.

The Raptors will attempt to have their four wrestlers qualify for state at the Division 2 individual sectional in Osceola this Saturday. The top three place winners in each weight class will earn a berth to the state tournament to be held Thursday, February 27 to Saturday, February 29 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

106-Sam Kelling (A) pinned Brison Tuschl (B/C), 2:58; 113-Luke Blanchard (B/C) over Thomas Oswald (O), 5-3; 120-Hunter Bonte (B-W) pinned Alex Poirier (B/C), 3:29; 126-Isaac Lagesse (B/C) received forfeit; 132-Sawyer Best (B/C) dec. Jordan Penard (A), 7-6; 138-Erik Collins (SCC) maj. dec. Ethan Rubenzer (B/C), 16-5; 145-Logan Gordon (B-W) pinned Tytain Clements (B/C), 4:51; 152- Bowen Rothbauer (B/C) maj. dec. Grant Cook (A), 9-1; 160-Devin Wasley dec. Mitch Harmon (B/C), 7-2; 170-Aiden Burkman (L/F/G/S) pinned Colin Bohl (B/C), 3:48; 195-Nick Carlson (O) pinned Parker Redinger (B/C), 1:30; 220-Mason Baribeau (B-W) pinned Sabastiano Brunetti (B/C), 2:48.