By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Taking on one of the top teams in the Southern Lakes Conference, the Union Grove High School wrestling squad found the going tough in a 68-7 loss to at home to Lake Geneva Badger Tuesday.
Junior Tony Beck, at 285 pounds, and freshman Brett Kieslich, at 120, were the sole match winners for the Bronco boys.
Beck scored a 7-0 decision and is now 23-1 on the season, while Kieslich won 10-0, improving to 20-1.
Sophomore Adam Braley, who came into the dual 18-2 overall, faced Taylor Hildebrandt, the No. 8-ranked wrestler in the state in Division 1 and took him to the third period before being pinned in five minutes 37 seconds.
The loss drops the Broncos below .500 in dual meets this season at 12-13.
With a 4-1 dual record at the Palmyra-Eagle Invitational Saturday, the Broncos evened their season record at 12-12 in dual meets. In addition, the Bronco boys had four grapplers go 5-0 in their individual matches.
“We have some good things going here,” head coach Andy Weis said.
At Palmyra-Eagle, the Broncos had no seniors in the lineup, yet performed well while finishing second in the eight-team invitational.
“It’s nice to see the young kids keep progressing,” Weis said.
Union Grove went 3-0 in pool play, defeating Jefferson 51-27, Palmyra-Eagle 74-6 and Westosha Central 47-33.
In crossover action, where the top two teams from each pool play each other, the Broncos, who were first in their pool, won their first match 60-24 over Lake Mills, the second-place team in the other pool. Union Grove lost the final dual 50-19 to Whitnall, the team which won the invitational.
Beck and fellow junior Thurston Lovell, Braley and Kieslich all went 5-0 on the day.
Beck, at 285, scored four pins, and got his fifth win by forfeit. He is now 22-1 on the year.
“He didn’t see the third round,” Weis said of Beck, noting that the latest pin Beck secured was at the two minute 33 second mark.
“He’s turning into a pretty tough wrestler,” Weis said.
Keislich, at 120, who is 19-1 overall, had two forfeits, one technical fall, one pin and one decision.
Weis noted that Kieslich was part of Kids Club Program before high school.
Braley, at 195, had three pins, a technical fall and a forfeit. Braley moved into the district and has been a welcome addition to the team.
Lovell, 12-6 overall at 145, had two pins, a technical fall, a major decision and a forfeit.
Weis noted that the win over Jefferson avenged an earlier loss this season. He noted the ability to field a full line-up made the difference.
Union Grove was without the services of senior Nick Bonczkowski at 160. Bonczkowski hurt his shoulder in practice Friday and Weis kept him out. He was not available Tuesday in the Badger dual, either.
The dual with Southern Lakes Conference rival Waterford could easily have gone the Broncos way, with one wrestler losing in overtime, and another dropping a 14-12 decision. The result was a 42-34 loss at Waterford Jan. 3.
“It was a close dual,” Weis noted.
Union Grove got match wins from Kieslich, Ethan Willison (138), Bonczkowski (152), Braley, Cole Ryan (220) and Beck. All pinned their opponents with the exception of Kieslich who scored a 13-3 major decision.
The two deciding matches came at 170 and 182.
At 170, Tate Koester lost a 4-02 overtime decision, while at 182, Jack McCann lost a 14-12 decision.
McCann was down 12-6 going into the third period.
“He started getting takedowns,” Weis noted. “He was able to scratch and claw his way back. He ran out of time at the end.”
Willison was down 6-0 going into the third period when he got a takedown and then the pin for the victory.
The loss dropped the Broncos to 0-4 in the very tough SLC.
Union Grove will compete in the Badger Invitational at Lake Geneva on Saturday, Jan. 12.
Next week, they will host Westosha Central in an SLC dual on Tuesday, Ja. 15, at 7 p.m. This dual was originally scheduled for Dec. 20.
On Friday, Jan. 18, the boys will participate in the Homestead Invitational
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