Luxemburg-Casco, Sturgeon Bay, Southern Door and Kewaunee will all be represented in the 70th Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Individual Wrestling Championship Tournament opening tonight. The three day event is held at the Kohl Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
There will be champions crowned in 14 weight classes in three divisions. Wrestlers who finished in the top three of each weight class at last weekend's sectionals qualified for the tourney. There are 168 qualifiers in both Divisions 2 and 3, including 72 teams in both Division 2 and Division 3.
Ellsworth and Sparta have qualified the most wrestlers in Division 2 with seven. Amery, Lomira and Luxemburg-Casco are next with six qualifiers.
L-C is one of the most decorated high schools in the state of Wisconsin in regards to wrestling. They are chasing Mineral Point for the state record of individual champions. Mineral Point has produced the most individual championships with 49. Luxemburg-Casco is tied for fifth with 32 state champs.
One of those champions is coming back for more this year. Spartan senior Newton Smerchek is the defending state champion at 285. He has his sights on retaining the crown, entering competition with a 44-2 record this season.
Below is the schedule of competition for the individual tournament. All weight classes will be wrestled in consecutive order through the classes on a “next available mat” basis within the mat assignments.
Thursday, Feb. 21
Session 1:
Divisions 2 & 3 Preliminaries - approximately 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 22
Session 2:
Divisions 2 & 3 Quarterfinals - approximately 11:15 a.m.
Divisions 2 & 3 Consolation Semifinals - approx. 2:45 p.m.
Session 3:
Division 2 Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 3 & 4
Division 3 Semifinals at 7 p.m. on mats 5 & 6
Saturday, Feb. 23
Session 4:
Division 2 Consolation Wrestlebacks at 11 a.m. on mats 3 & 4
Division 3 Consolation Wrestlebacks at 11 a.m. on mats 5 & 6
Session 5:
Division 2 Championships at 6 p.m. on mat 2
Division 3 Championships at 6 p.m. on mat 3
