Five of six Lincoln County wrestlers competing at WIAA State Individual Tournament are still in the hunt for a medal as high as third place, and Merrill senior Mason Reinhardt (170 pounds) and Tomahawk junior Dane Borchardt (220) both reached the finals in Friday’s action.
Reinhardt dominated Muskego senior Brady McFarland (29-3)16-2 to improve to 47-1 on the season. Borchardt topped Wisconsin Lutheran junior Bryce Roberts 7-4, after pulling an 11-0 major decision on Evansville senior Devin Bjugstad (37-9).
MHS senior Scott Arneson (132) took just his second loss of the season when Burlington’s Josh Bird (45-1) worked a 12-5 decision. Bird is a former champion and runner-up.
Hatchet junior Kaleb Kaminski (182) took the first loss of his season when he was tipped 6-2 by Mount Horeb’s Matt Blome (44-2). He had defeated Chetek senior Mitchell Wozniak (36-4) in a 5-4 ultimate tiebreaker earlier in the day.
THS senior Jake Borchardt (285, 43-7) hung within 5-0 of Chetek’s undefeated Cole LaLiberty despite giving up at least 50 pounds, but he bounced back with a pin of Catholic Memorial’s Sam Gromacki (40-8).
Reinhardt will wrestle two-time state champ Beau Breske (Hartford, 50-0) in Saturday’s finals. Breske took a 4-2 match from Reinhardt earlier in the season to give him his only loss. Dane Borchardt will meet Sheboygan Fall’s Brady Koller (40-7).
Arneson needs to beat New London sophomore 37-6 Scott Cook to reach the third-place match. Kaminski’s bid features Wautoma senior 45-4 Taylor Rivers. Jake Borchardt matches up with Southern Door senior Mitchell Overbeck (44-5).