CG-Belgium outduels Ozaukee

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s wrestling team topped one of its rivals at home last Thursday in the final tune-up before postseason matches.

The Rockets won four of seven matches and another seven forfeits in a 64-15 victory.

Rocket junior Cael Erickson, undefeated and possibly on his way to being ranked nationally, pinned Jaysen Delleree in 3 minutes, 23 seconds at 145 pounds.

“I haven’t lost yet so hopefully I can keep that going,” Erickson said.

He doesn’t want to stop until he has a gold medal hanging around his neck. He finished third at Division 3 state meet last year, battling illness the entire tournament.

“I definitely want to blow through regionals and sectionals. I want to be state champ,” Erickson said.

“Cael’s on a mission to push this year,” coach Trevor Peterson said, crediting his extensive offseason wrestling schedule for some of his success.

“He’s working hard; he’s wrestling hard,” Peterson said.

Two of the other three Rockets’ victories came via pin. At 106 pounds, Jesse Burg pinned Tayten Platner in 58 seconds, and at 285 pounds, Diego Morales pinned Zach Bell in 2:22.

At 126 pounds, Mason Hoopman beat Philip McLarty by a 15-2 major decision.

The Warriors had two pins in their three wins.

At 113 pounds, Mya Delleree pinned Logan Filtz in 3:08. At 120, Efran Altamirano pinned Owen Race in 4:27.

At 132 pounds, Cael Large, who finished fourth at state last season, beat Winston Reichle, 10-3.

“I think we looked a little flat tonight,” coach Kevin Koepke said. “Not as aggressive as the last couple of weeks. I’d like to see a lot more out of everybody, especially (Cael).”

Delleree provided one highlight.

“She looks strong. I’m anxious to see what she, and everybody else, does next Saturday,” Koepke said.

In exhibition matches, held to give wrestlers more experience since tournaments have been canceled this season, Jaysen Delleree and Bell both pinned their opponents, and Rocket Gavin Davies pinned his foe.

Wrestlers only got about 10 matches each this year when normally they would have more than 30 at this point in the season, Peterson said.

“I think we’re ready to go. We’re looking forward to the postseason now,” he said.

Koepke is thankful that a postseason tournament is being held during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I couldn’t be happier, especially for the seniors. They get a chance,” he said.

The Rockets and Warriors compete in a Division 3 sectional at Random Lake on Saturday.

The top team and top two individual finishers advance to sectional competition at Dodgeland Feb. 6. The top two individual finishers advance to the state meet Feb. 13 at Wausau East. The sectional team winner wrestles at team state Feb. 20 at Wausau West.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is not allowing its facilities to be used for high school competitions this year due to the pandemic.