Davis, Pfleger lead Grafton

Grafton High School’s wrestling team took 45th of 67 teams at the On the Water Classic in Oshkosh last weekend. Coleman won with 365 points. Slinger scored 332.

Alec Davis and Ellis Pfleger were the only two Black Hawks to place.

Davis (14-5) took sixth at 195 pounds, his highest finish ever in the event. In the fifth-place match, he lost a 9-3 decision to Issac Banker (19-3) of Bonduel.

Davis went 3-3 in the tournament. He pinned Houston Ciesielski (8-6) of Amherst in 4:22 and Owyn Neuman (16-4) of West De Pere in 1:27, and won a 12-8 major decision over Matt Koelbl (13-2) of Campbellsport.

Davis was pinned by Marshall Kools (20-1) of Neenah and lost a 5-3 decision to Brock Sanger (19-6) of Waupaca.

“He did some great things,” coach Mike Dodge said.

Pfleger (20-4) took ninth place at 152 pounds. He won the ninth-place match with a 13-1 major decision over Josiah Streblow (16-6) of Fond du Lac.

Pfleger went 5-2 in the tournament. He pinned Johnathan Bedolla (0-2)  of Kenosha Indian Trail in 56 seconds, won a 13-1 major decision over Joshua Hess (14-7) of Antigo, won a 15-0 tech fall over

Colton See (2-2) of Chilton/Hilbert and won a 7-0 decision over Jake Bernarde (19-7) of Slinger.

Pfleger lost a 1-0 decision to eventual tournament champion Aiden Vandenbush (19-0) of Random Lake and a 6-1 decision to Logan Pye (14-7) of Wilmot Union.

“It was a hard-fought match. I think it could have gone either way,” Dodge said of the Vandenbush match.

Davis and Pfleger, Dodge said, did a great job in showing the team’s younger wrestlers how to perform in a big tournament.

Nick Swenson at 138 pounds didn’t place but went 3-2.

“Everybody wants to win more but I think these guys are getting some great experience,” Dodge said.

The Hawks wrestle at West Bend East at 7 p.m. Thursday.