By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Minus one of its top wrestlers, the Burlington High School wrestling squad placed fifth at the Mid-States Wrestling Classic held Friday and Saturday at UW-Whitewater.
The team had gone into the event hoping for a top-three finish, but was without the services of Ben Hornickle. Hornickle, who was slated to compete at 113 pounds, was unable to make weight as the Demons started to shift athletes to lower weight classes.
The Demon boys tallied 142 points. Kaukauna, ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 1, won the invitational with 179 points, with Elkhorn taking second with 175.
“I think if we’d have had a full team we’d have been right up there (in the top three),” head coach Jade Gribble said.
The Demons did get an individual title from freshman Josh Bird at 120 pounds.
Bird’s toughest match came in the semifinals when he took on M.J. Pritchard of New Trier (Ill.). Bird edged Pritchard 2-0. Bird scored a takedown in the opening period and made it stand up for the win.
Pritchard is ranked sixth in the state of Illinois in his weight class.
“That was probably the finals match right there,” Gribble said.
In the finals, Bird had no trouble with Ozaukee’s Cole Large, earning a 13-3 major decision.
In the latest Wisconsin Wrestling Online rankings released Wednesday, Bird is ranked fourth in Division 1 at 120 pounds.
Brody Fitzpatrick (138) and Cody Elsbury (152) each placed third.
“I thought they both wrestled fantastic,” Gribble said.
Fitzpatrick lost a tough 8-7 decision to Hank Mattson of Mukwonago, a familiar opponent, in the quarterfinals.
“He was up early, but was just not able to finish it off,” Gribble noted.
Mattson is ranked No. 8 in the state at 138 and Fitzpatrick No. 11.
Gribble was very pleased with how Fitzpatrick bounded back after the loss, noting it wasn’t easy to do so.
“He came back and dominated the rest of the time,” Gribble said.
Over his final four wins at the classic, Fitzpatrick defeated Austin Fjoser of Sauk Prairie, the No. 14-ranked wrestler, and Evan Hietpas of Kaukauna, an honorable mention wrestler.
Elsbury lost in the semifinals to Logan Ballering of Oconomowoc, 8-4. He followed that up with a pin, and a 3-1 decision in the third-place match.
“He’s trying to figure out exactly what his style is,” Gribble said. “This is the ability we’ve seen for years in the practice room.”
Gribble added he is pleased to see Elsbury, a senior experiencing success on the mat.
Kyle Crayton (160) finished sixth, while Koty Agnes (195) and Tyler Kirkeeng (285) both were seventh.
Crayton was 4-3 over the two days, while Agnes and Kirkeeng were both 5-2.
“Actually, the kids wrestled pretty well,” Gribble said of his entire squad. “I was happy overall.”
Burlington was host a tough Elkhorn squad tonight at 7 p.m.
“Their good kids are real good,” Gribble said. “Hopefully, we can compete with them.”
This dual is also T-shirt Night at BHS, with Gribble noting the first 750 fans will receive a T-shirt.
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