Nine Bulldog wrestlers advance to districts, team wins sectional title
The MFL MarMac wrestling team placed first at the Class 1A sectional in Monona, while nine individuals finished first or second to advance to districts. Pictured (front left to right) are head coach Chet Bachman, sectional champions Jack Vorwald, Bryce Radloff, Tristen Koehn, Gabe McGeough, Karter Decker and Kashton Mathis; (back) assistant coaches Collin Stubbs and Travis Johnson, Taylor Herzmann, district qualifiers Holden Mathis and Andrew Heins, Austin Schlee, TJ Coleman, Collin Henkels, Austin Schaller, district qualifier Keith Anderson and assistant coaches Chip McGeough, Tracy Decker and Mike Meyer. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Karter Decker
Tristen Koehn
Kashton Mathis
Gabe McGeough
Bryce Radloff
Jack Vorwald
Keith Anderson
Andrew Heins
Holden Mathis
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Nine MFL MarMac wrestlers have advanced to districts after placing first or second at Saturday’s Class 1A sectional in Monona.
Jack Vorwald (120), Bryce Radloff (138), Tristen Koehn (145), Gabe McGeough (152), Karter Decker (160) and Kashton Mathis (170) were all individual champions—the highest number MFL MarMac has boasted at a tournament this season. Keith Anderson (113), Andrew Heins (126) and Holden Mathis (132) placed second in their weight classes.
The strong team effort made the Bulldogs sectional champions. They compiled 234.5 points, ahead of second place Beckman Catholic with 196.
“That’s what you’re striving for,” said head coach Chet Bachman, who noted the difference it makes to have a full team that’s finally healthy. “It’s fun to see it come together.”
Bachman called Vorwald’s success one of the highlights of the day. It marked the senior’s first tournament championship since fourth grade.
Anderson, who placed second after winning a wrestle back, was another highlight.
After a tough start to the season, “he fought his way through and the switch came on,” said Bachman. “Good for him.”
For Decker, this was just his first tournament of the season.
“It was good to have him back in there and win it,” Bachman said.
And Koehn was able to avenge his lone loss this season to an East Buchanan wrestler.
“It was really nice to beat him,” the coach stated.
Other Bulldog sectional competitors included junior Taylor Herzmann, who just missed advancing to districts with a third-place finish at 195 pounds. Austin Schaller was fourth at 220, while TJ Coleman (106), Austin Schlee (182) and Collin Henkels (285) placed fifth.
Bachman was impressed with Herzmann’s improvement throughout the season, and credited Schlee for wrestling up at 182.
“Austin Schaller also stepped in as a freshman and did well,” he added.
The district qualifiers will wrestle this Saturday, Feb. 12, at Cascade. But first, MFL MarMac will attempt a return to the state dual tournament. The Bulldogs, who are ranked 15th in Class 1A, will head to Nashua-Plainfield on Feb. 8, for regional duals. They’ll take on Central Springs, ranked 13th, in the opening round, with the winner facing fourth-ranked Nashua-Plainfield. The victor in that final dual will head to state.
“Right now, we’re focusing on Tuesday, then we’ll change gears on Wednesday,” Bachman said.
The duals will be tough, he noted, especially if the team faces Nashua-Plainfield, a squad that recently handed the Bulldogs their second dual loss of the season.
“If we get them again, some things have to be different. Some matches, we have to close the gap and find a way to win. We cannot give up falls,” he stated.
The wrestlers are ready for the challenge, though.
“Right now, our kids are believing, and we’re trending in the right direction,” Bachman said.
He hopes that momentum will also carry into districts. There, the athletes just have to wrestle.
“You may know what your opponent is going to do, but, ultimately, you have to go get it. You have to earn it and put points on the board for yourself,” Bachman said. “We have to be smart, aggressive and in position. Put that together and you’re going to be successful.”
