Dux is D2 state runner-up; Ackman finishes third
As it turns out, two of the three best Division 2 113-pound wrestlers in Wisconsin reside in the Cloverbelt Conference. If not for a stalling point in one of their state semifinal matches, the two could well have squared off for a state title.
Sophomore Luke Dux of Neillsville-Greenwood-Loyal wound up as the state runnerup after the Feb. 13 WIAA State individual wrestling tournament in Adams-Friendship, and Spencer-Columbus junior Treyton Ackman finished third. The two wrestled against each other in the title matches at both the regional and sectional tournaments, and were on another possible collision course for a state title match. It did not materialize, though, when Ackman fell 2-1 in the semis to defending 106-pound state champion Rhett Koenig of Prairie du Chien, with a third-period stalling point looming large in the outcome.
Also at the D2 state tournament held in Adams-Friendship rather than Madison due to COVID-19 precautions, NGL sophomore Derek Zschernitz placed fourth at 120 pounds and NGL sophomore Gunner Hoffmann took fifth place at 285.
Ackman breezed through his first-round match, pinning Campbellsport junior Drake Muellenbach (18-3) in 1:38. Dux had a tougher opening match, and rallied from a 5-2 third-period deficit to defeat Plymouth senior Devin Gore 7-5 in overtime. Dux scored a tying takedown with 11 seconds left in the third period, and then repeated the drama with the winning takedown with just two seconds remaining in the first overtime period.
In the semis, Ackman faced the sophomore Koenig, who entered the state meet with a 16-1 season record. After a scoreless first period, Ackman scored an escape early in the second period and still led 1-0 after two periods.
In the third period, Ackman started on top and rode Koenig while working for position to turn him. The referee in the match did not think Ackman was working hard enough to score, though, and awarded Koenig a stalling point with 42 seconds left in the match.
At that point, Ackman intentionally released Koenig, opting for a takedown opportunity rather than trying to score from the top position. That didn’t work out, and Koenig escaped with the 2-1 win.
In his semifinal match, Dux took a 4-1 decision over Lodi junior Parker Heintz.
That put him in the finals against Koenig, and Koening took the second state title with a pin at the end of the sec-
Please see State, page 16
Spencer-Columbus junior 113-pounder Treyton Ackman strains to control Prairie du Chien sophomore Rhett Koenig in a semifinal match at the WIAA Division 2 state individual wrestling tournament on Feb. 13 at Adams-Friendship. Koenig, a 106-pound state champion in 2020, survived the match with a 2-1 victory over Ackman and went on to win a second state title. Ackman rebounded from the loss to win his next two matches to finish third.
Setting it Straight
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO
Neillsville-Greenwood-Loyal sophomore Luke Dux fights for takedown position against Plymouth senior Devin Gore in a WIAA Division 2 state quarterfinal match. Dux overcame a 5-2 third-period deficit to win the match 7-5 in overtime and went on to place second at state at 113 pounds.
dean lesar/staff photo
ond period. Dux’ season ended with a 14-3 record and the state runner-up finish.
Ackman dropped back to the consolation bracket and scored two wins to finish in third place. He defeated Oconto Falls junior Graeson Pankratz (14-4) on a 6-1 decision to reach the third-place match, and then took a 3-0 decision over Heintz (7-3). Ackman’s season mark ended at 13-1.
At 120 pounds, Zschernitz won two matches at the state tournament and ended up in fourth place in his weight class. In the opening round, he had the misfortune of drawing eventual state champion freshman Brody Hart of Winneconne, and was pinned in 5:52. Hart also won his next match by fall and took a 12-2 decision in the finals to finish at 20-0 on the season.
Zschernitz dropped back to the consolation bracket and won his next two matches. He first scored an 8-2 decision over Belleville/Montello/New Glarus freshman Mason Mau (13-3) and followed that with a pin in 4:13 of Campbellsport sophomore Ostin Blanchard (18-5). In the third-place match, Zschernitz dropped an 8-0 decision to Amery freshman Wyatt Ingham (20-1) to see his season end with a 14-5 record.
Hoffmann moved up to 285 pounds this year after reaching the state meet last year as a freshman at 220. His first match against Plymouth senior Evan Ladwig (18-2) was tight throughout, but Hoffman scored the winning takedown with 24 seconds left in the third period for a 3-2 win.
In the semis, he ran into eventual state champion Quincy Klister of Wrightstown (18-1).That match ended with a Klister pin in 4:57, and he went on to score a 5-1 decision in the finals against Amery junior Robert Beese (18-1).
In the consolation bracket, Hoffmann lost a 4-2 decision to Belmont-Platteville senior Michael Douglas (15-1) to put him in the fifth-place match. Hoffmann won that when Luxemburg-Casco senior Travis LeGrave (15-5) had to bow out due to injury. Hoffmann’s final season record was 11-3.
DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTOS
Neillsville-Greenwood-Loyal sophomore Gunner Hoffmann breaks down Plymouth senior Evan Ladwig in a first-round match at 285 pounds in the Feb. 13 WIAA Division 2 state individual wrestling tournament in Adams-Friendship. Hoffmann won this match 3-2 and finished fifth in his weight class.
