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WAUNAKEE WRESTLING

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10

Jan, 2019

Miller's victory lifts Warrior wrestling over Sauk

It’s not often when one match carries so much pressure.

The Waunakee wrestling team’s match on Friday featured the Badger North’s top two teams: Waunakee and Sauk Prairie. In the end, it came down to the very last match of the night.

Waunakee 33,

 

Sauk Prairie 30

The score was tied at 30 when Ty Miller stepped onto the match to face Sauk Prairie’s Jesse Huerth.

“Ty’s one of the guys you want out there; it’s not his first time…” said Waunakee’s Head Coach Mark Natzke. “There’s that extra pressure; it’s tense. He didn’t let it get to him.”

The winner would not just win his match individually, but take the match for the entire team. In fact, there’s a good chance that the winner of this match could determine the Badger North team champion.

“I was trying to block everything out and trying to relax…” Miller said of his mindset walking onto the mat. “I calmed myself down.”

Miller took an early 4-2 lead early in the first, and was able to protect his lead throughout the match. Although it remained close, Huerth never took the lead from Miller, and the Warriors ended the night victorious after Miller won 8-6.

“That was huge; it was closer than I would have liked it to have been, but it was a really good experience,” said Miller. “Sauk’s always been leading the conference; we’ve tied them the past few times. This is the year we can finally come through and be on top and end their streak of eight conference titles.”

 

“It’s a big win for the program,” added Natzke, “big win for him.”

Putting Waunakee’s 145-pound wrestler in the position to win the match were an abundance of teammates performing well. Though each team won seven matches, Waunakee had four wrestlers – Zach Marek, Reed Ryan, Kolby Heinz, and Sam Lorenz – win by fall, compared to just two for Sauk Prairie.

The Warriors also got crucial wins by Colton Grindle and Berhett Statz. Even in defeat, many Waunakee wrestlers contributed to the victory. Kaden Hooker nearly earned a victory in the first match of the night; his match was forced into overtime where he lost in sudden victory.

Other wrestlers, like Tristan Scott, Brian Gittens, Cade Reddington, and Braysen Ellis were unable to get wins, but wrestled smart matches that ended in decisions instead of pins. Those points proved invaluable in the end, allowing the Warriors to take control in the race for the Badger North.

“Everyone, up and down, our lineup battled. Guys got on their back but didn’t give up; they fought for the team and wouldn’t get pinned…” Natzke added. “Those guys deserve just as much credit.”

Waunakee’s next test comes at Beaver Dam on Friday, where they’ll again put their undefeated conference record to the test.

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