A/C grapplers punch above their weight
The Abbotsford/Colby wrestling coop took part in one of the best wrestling tournaments Wisconsin has to offer, the Northern Badger Wrestling Classic.
From Wednesday, Dec. 29, to Thursday, Dec. 30, the Abbotsford/Colby matmen competed against ranked wrestlers from nearly 50 programs at River Falls High.
The co-op brought just five wrestlers for the Northern Badger Wrestling, but when the winners were crowned and the mats put away, the co-op finished eighth out of 14 scoring teams in Division II.
The Neillville/Greenwood/Loyal co-op won the Division II tournament with 277 points. Cadott placed second with 260.5 and St. Croix Falls was third with 246.5.
Two A/C grapplers made it to the championship rounds of their respective weight classes. Colby Highs’ Tanner Halopka and Carter Grewe each grappled for the title.
Halopka, a sophomore at Colby High, ascended the highest peak of the podium last week, capturing the 145 pound division and improved to 17-0 on the year.
Halopka won his first match via a technical fall, and then proceeded to pin every single one of his opponents in the following four matches for the title.
“It feels amazing and gives me more confidence,” Halopka said about his most recent tournament victory.
Halopka earned 47.5 points for the coop. A state qualifier last year, Halopka now enters 2022 ranked inside the top five in the state in his weight class. When asked if he feels any pressure coming into 2022, Halopka says the pressure is there, but he knows every victory also puts pressure on his opponents.
“I feel pressure from winning, but I like it. More people feel more pressure when they wrestle someone that won a big tournament.”
Senior Carter Grewe, also a state qualifier last year, showed all the makings of a state champion in River Falls. Grewe battled the top two wrestlers in the state in the 195 weight class and went 1-1.
“The mentality going into the tournament was hyper focused on intensity and concentration,” Grewe said. “I knew Ramberg and Hopke were there, and that made it a lot more exciting.”
Grewe began in imperious fashion, stopping his first opponent in 31 seconds. Grewe made his way into the semis after pinning Braden Zoellner of Elkhorn in two minutes to set up a match with Max Ramberg of Baldwin-Woodville, the top ranked wrestler in the state, and last year’s WIAA D-2 runner up.
The two talented wrestlers had tussled in Fargo in July last year, with Grewe losing. Grewe used that loss as fuel.
“I knew I was going to get a rematch from Fargo that I had been looking forward to since July. The match was super exciting. His state and national rank bothered me all summer and fall because I knew I was a better wrestler than him from the moment I lost in Fargo.”
Both young men came into the semifinal bout with an impressive record and resume, but it was Grewe who got the best of Ramberg, overcoming him by a 2-1 decision in the closing seconds.
“I rolled into a reversal and scored with only a few seconds left on the clock. Winning the match I was showered with joy and my fair share of congratulations on beating the #16 wrestler in the country.”
Grewe’s victory over Ramberg set up a title match with number two ranked Kale Hopke of Amery. The two squared off, and while Grewe was the more aggressive of the two, Hopke used his long frame to keep him at bay, coaxing a few mistakes for a 5-3 decision over Grewe.
“The match with Hopke was close,” Grewe said. “I had a hard time finishing my shots because he was so strong.”
The loss is Grewe’s first of the year, but Grewe’s record is still 15-1. Grewe was open about what he got out of the Northern Badger.
“This tournament acted as a good gauge on how I rank against the elite competition in our state and country. There’s always work and improvement to do.
“I think the tournament opened the eyes to the young wrestlers on our team on how good some guys are at wrestling. It gives them something to strive for someday and hopefully surpass.”
Jacob Hoppe, Levi Dommer and Talon Severson were also in River Falls for the Northern Badger, though none cracked the top ten.
Hoppe grappled in the 152 weight class, lost his first match, but won his second match with a pin in 1:52. Hoppe would then go on to lose his final match of the tournament, and earned three points.
Talon Severson moves to 10-5 on the year after winning two of his four matches last week. The Colby senior pinned his first opponent in just 42 seconds, but lost his next match by technical fall.
Severson bounced back to pin his next opponentin2:08intheconsolationround, but lost a 16-2 major decision in his final match to finish with seven points.
Levi Dommer also had four matches at the Northern Badger. Dommer is now 8-7 in the 220 weight class after winning his first match by pinfall in 36 seconds. He would lose his second match via pinfall, but bounced back in the consolation rounds to pin Kaedyn Kopelke of Flambeau in 1:48.
Dommer lost his final match via pinfall, but did collect seven more team points for the Abby/Colby co-op.
After being on the road for most of the season, the co-op will enjoy a home meet this Thursday. The co-op will host Barron and the Neillsville/Greenwood/Loyal coop for a triangular in Colby. Matches will began at 5:30 p.m.
