By Autumn Peissig

LAKELAND – On Thursday, Jan. 7, the Tomahawk Hatchet wrestling team traveled to Lakeland for a Great Northern Conference matchup against the Lakeland Thunderbirds and the Rhinelander Hodags.

The first dual of the night was against Lakeland. Presley Gutbrod, at 106 lbs., started the night off with a forfeit. Addison Peissig, the next match of the evening, also received a forfeit wrestling at 113 lbs. Lakeland’s Ben Nemcek was able to get a pin over Tomahawk’s Ryan Larson at 120 lbs., making the team score 12-6 in favor of the Hatchets.

Next, wrestling at 126 lbs., Blake Felser was able to get a victory over Lakeland’s Jerome LaBarge. Felser started off strong, ending the first period 9-0 and ending his match in the second period with a technical fall, leaving the match score 18-2, in favor of Felser. Brady Abb of Lakeland was able to get the victory over Tomahawk’s Mitchel Holloway with a pin. Logan Strasburg of Lakeland received a forfeit at 138 lbs.

With the Hatchets trailing the Thunderbirds 17-18, Micah Arnott of Tomahawk was able to beat Lakeland’s Jose Retana in the third period, 12-8. Logan Bishop wrestled at 152 lbs. against Zane Grams of Lakeland. In the first period, Bishop secured the lead over Grams, 2-0. In the second period, Bishop continued to stay in control, ending the period with a score of 4-0. In the third period, Bishop finished strong and beat Grams with a final individual score of 8-1. At 160 lbs., Tomahawk forfeited to Lakeland, which tied the team scores at 24-24.

Wrestling at 170 lbs., Isaiah Scheffler started the match off strong against Lakeland’s Jerry Goselin by taking him down in the first period. The second period was a very different story, with Goselin getting the pin. Freshman Ethan Trayes bumped up to 182 lbs. to receive a forfeit. With three matches remaining, the team score was tied 30-30.

Marcus Matti, wrestling at 195 lbs. for the Hatchets, had an exciting match and pinned his opponent Leonard Chosa with only 35 seconds remaining in the third period. With the Hatchets and Thunderbirds battling out for a team victory, Kade Wenninger did not disappoint for the Hatchets, ending his match with a score of 5-1.

Kade Wenninger gets the takedown on Lakeland’s L. Saglin. Photos by Autumn Peissig.

Although the Hatchets had already secured a team victory, 2020 State qualifier Erik Decker pinned his Lakeland opponent in 46 seconds, making the final score 45-30 for a Hatchet victory.

With a short break, the Hatchet wrestlers were back on the mat to face off the Rhinelander Hodags.

With the next dual underway, the Hatchets began their matchup against the Hodags starting at 113 lbs. with Addison Peissig of Tomahawk against Rhinelander’s Kyle Wiese. Peissig received six points for the team with a pin, which brought a new, exciting energy to the team. Tomahawk’s freshman, Ryan Larson, had an exciting match against Hodags’ Tanner Schmidt. Schmidt took the lead in the first period 5-1, but Larson pushed his way through to the lead in the second period, leaving the score 6-5. In the third period, Larson had a very exciting win, ending the match with a final score of 8-7.

Ryan Larson wins a close matchup over Rhinelander’s Tanner Schmidt.

At this point, the Hatchets held the lead over the Hodags 9-0. Tim Fox was able to get a pin over Blake Felser from Tomahawk at 126 lbs. Wrestling at 132 lbs. for the Hatchets, Mitchell Holloway took a nice shot to start off the match but then was thrown to his back and was pinned by Hugh Wiese, creating a close team score with the Hatchets trailing 9-12.

The Hatchets forfeited at 138 lbs. to Rhinelander’s freshman Robert Schramke. Tomahawk’s Micah Arnott helped the team by pinning Hodag Trevyn Rappley 3:24. Logan Bishop of Tomahawk received a forfeit at 152 lbs., and Rhinelander’s Cole Lehman, 160 lbs., also received a forfeit, making the team score 24-21 in favor of Rhinelander.

Isaiah Scheffler, wrestling at 170 lbs., had a very exciting match against Rhinelander’s Cayden Neri. Although Scheffler put up a good fight, he ended up losing in the third period 5-4. The team scores were once again tied 27-27. Ethan Trayes of Tomahawk handled his match like a seasoned veteran, pinning his opponent Kaeden Piller with 24 seconds remaining in the first period.

With a renewed energy, Marcus Matti took the mat, wrestling at 195 lbs. Matti took control of the match in the first period with a lead of 7-1 and ended the match by getting a pin midway through the second period. At 220 lbs., Kade Wenninger of Tomahawk faced Rhinelander’s Benjamin Sinclair for a quick match that ended with a pin in the first period, in favor of Wenninger.

The Hatchets now held the lead over Rhinelander 39-27, and Hatchet heavyweight wrestler, Erik Decker, pinned Rhinelander’s Owen Kurtz in 28 seconds. The Great Northern Conference matchup ended with a forfeit for Hatchet Presley Gutbrod at 106 lbs.

The final team score was 51-27 for a Hatchet win.

The Hatchets will host Antigo, Medford, and Rhinelander on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 5 p.m. at the Hatchet Fieldhouse.