They very well could’ve been first. But injuries hindered the cause. Nonetheless, Chatfield wrestling took on the massive, super-competitive La Crosse Bi-State Wrestling Invite and had a very solid day. Travis Bartels’ group (153.5) took second in the smallest Division 3 team grouping. Stratford (Wisconsin) took first (282.5) and La Crosse Aquinas third (132.5). Senior Cael Bartels (120) was the Gophers headliner. The coach’s kid effectively wrestled a gauntlet of state-ranked Wisconsin wrestlers. After a bye and a 17-5 major decision, Bartels beat Belmont/Platteville’s #9 (D-II) Tristen Gilbertson (12-5) by 6-1 decision, Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards’ #3 (D-II) Blaze Thurber (14-4) by 10-5 decision, and Marshfield’s #10 (D-I at 126) Keagan Cliver (16-6) by 16-1 tech fall to make the 120-pound final. There, Bartels faced off with Stanley Boyd/Owen-Withee’s #1 (D-II at 126) Blaine Brenner (20-0). Brenner stayed perfect on the year via an 8-2 decision. Bartels (#5 in A at 126) took second of 56 wrestlers. His foes’ combined records were 76-22. All five had at least 12 wins. Bartels improved to 10-2. His other loss is to Winona’s #3 in AAA at 126 Ryan Henningson. Seth Goetzinger (#5 at 138) was Chatfield’s next highest placer. The junior used back-to-back first period pins and injury default to make the 145-pound quarters. He then fell to Waunakee’s #8 (D-I at 152) Berhett Statz (19-4) by 7-5 decision. In the consolation bracket, Goetzinger had four decisions, winning the first two (3-0 and 11-4 over Medford’s D-II #7 Zeke Sigmund), losing the last two (10-3 to Marshfield’s D-I #9 Ryan Dolezal, 6-4 to Baraboo’s 22-3 Eli Davidson). Goetzinger (12-3) went 5-3 for the tourney, improving to 12-3 on the year. Excluding his opening opponent, Goetzinger faced foes with a collective record of 120-29. Seven had at least twice as many wins as losses. The next busiest wrestler was junior Cody Guenther (132), who wrestled a team-high nine matches over the two-day tourney. Guenther lost his opening bout by fall (to Viroqua’s D-II #2 Cale Anderson). He then won five straight pins in the consolation bracket. Guenther went 1-2 over his final three matches (L 13-5 major, won pin, loss pin to Richland Center’s D-II #8 Gus Donovan). Cody took 10th place, finishing 6-3 for the tourney. He was one of only three guys with six pins. The other two guys took third. His “seed” was 63, giving him the largest seed/place difference (53) of the tourney. Grady Schott (170) and A.J. Karver (220) each also placed taking 12th. Schott won his first three matches (pin, pin, 2-0 decision) to make the quarters, but then fell by fall. He then lost a second time by fall and had to medically forfeit his last two matches. His seven foes were all above .500, collective records 78-34. Karver rode a bye and two wins (pin, injury default) into the quarters as well. He then injury defaulted, and couldn’t continue in the tourney. Elsewhere, Kail Schott (126) went 3-2 for the tourney. He had to forfeit his last match. Lukas Carrier (113), Tate Karver (152), Campbell Berge (160), and Luke Irhke (182) each went 2-2. LARP also competed. The Screamin’ Eagles took 21st (of 24) in the D-II grouping. Tyler Kreidemacher (113) was the only LARP grappler to place. Via a bye and a pin-fall victory, the sophomore made the Round of 32. He fell there to Spencer/Columbus Catholic’s #1 (D-II) Ashton Ackman by 4-1 decision. Kreidemacher then had five more matches decided by decision. He won 7-0 and 6-5, then lost 6-0 and 5-4 (to Riverdale’s D-III #8 Justice Dilley), only end on a 6-4 win. He went 4-3 to take 11th place, improving to 16-7 on the year. Carter Jonsgaard (120), Gable Speltz (138), and Caleb Mueller (145) each went 2-2. Top LARP grappler Ross Herber did not compete. LARP had only six guys give it a go.
Gophers/Bartels Take Second at Bi-State
