Halopka brothers make podium

There was a steely look of determination in River Halopka’s eyes when the talented senior from Colby High made his way to the mats for the final time in his high school career.

There was also a homage to a bygone era when River went into his third place match. He came out wearing a singlet that has not been seen for many years.

Green and gold, and bearing the inscription “Hornets” down the its length, River donned the same singlet his uncle Steve Halopka wore when he captured the Class C 138 pound state title in 1985.

Perhaps there was some good luck in that piece of cloth. More likely it was River’s skill and inner fire, but whatever the reason, River capped his career by making podium at the WIAA D-2 state individual tournament for the second time in three years.

River wasn’t the only Abby/Colby wrestler to make podium. He was joined by younger brother Tanner, who made an auspicious debut as he also found his way to the podium on Saturday.

There was also a huge difference in the venue this time around. In his previous appearance, River wrestled under the bright lights of the Kohl Center in the state’s capital at Madison, but in a year underscored by COVID-19, the top D-2 wrestlers in the state took the trip to Adams-Friendship.

Not that any cared about the location most were happy just to be there.

River opened his day with a quarterfi- nal victory in the 145 weight class over Silas Dailey (17-2) of Plymouth, stopping Dailey with a tight, 2-0 decision. River would lose a 17-5 major decision to Zane Licht (11-2) of Lodi in the semifinals, but he put the sour taste of defeat behind him in his consolation semi bout with Henry Amborn, taking Amborn down with a 5-1 decision.

Halopka earned the right to wrestle for third place, where he again met Dailey, This time it was Dailey who escaped from River, stopping him with a 5-0 decision. For sure, River wanted more, but he can hold his head up high knowing he made podium when so many did not.

His fourth place finish matches his sophomore campaign, when he wrestled in the 106 pound division. Over the years, River has won multiple tournaments, racked up over 100 wins at the high school level, and his career now stands as a benchmark for future Abbotsford/ Colby wrestlers to follow.

It certainly seemed to have inspired younger brother Tanner, who also found himself amongst six wrestlers to make podium in the 138 weight class.

Tanner was pinned in his quarterfinal match to Gus Donovan, but he rebounded to pin Langdon Everson in 4:49 in his wrestleback. Tanner faced Jordan Penard of Amery for the second time in two weeks, but suffered another pin at the hands of Penard.

Tanner still had a chance to make podium, earning the right to wrestle for fifth place. Tanner faced off with Brady Schuh of Monroe, and picked up an exciting 8-3 decision. Tanner finishes the season with an 11-4 record. It’s a strong start for the talented wrestler. With three years left to him, Tanner has only just begun to write the tale of his career.