Garett, Carter stay hot on the mat for Port

The team fared so-so at the Pulaski Invite on Saturday, but two Port Washington High School wrestlers continue to stand tall.

Defending state champion Garett Kawczynski won the 215-pound weight bracket and most outstanding wrestler of the meet, and Carter Melichar won the 157-pound bracket, leading the Pirates to 107 points and ninth place of 17 teams.

Kawczynski remained undefeated by pinning Alexander Johnson of Peshtigo in 1 minute, 3 seconds, winning a medical forfeit over Zach Winnekens of Kaukauna and in the finals winning a 19-4 technical fall over Preston Krueger of New London in 3:34.

Kawczynski, with more than 150 career victories, had never won most outstanding wrestler of the meet.

“It was pretty neat,” coach Angelo LaRosa said, adding Krueger is a tough opponent who may reach the state final.

“That guy’s really good. He’s really dangerous. Garett attacked him in the second period,” LaRosa said.

Kawczysnki said the win over Krueger was notable.

“The Pulaski meet was a great confidence builder. Getting a dominant win over a highly ranked opponent like Krueger of New London takes off a lot of stress heading into the postseason,” he said.

Melichar pinned Nathan Euhardy of New London in 1:22, beat Mason Boulanger of Luxemburg-Casco in an 18-3 technical fall in 3:54, then won two thrillers.

He beat Murphy Beyer of Freedom in a 7-0 sudden victory (overtime) in the semifinals, then beat Tristen Dood of Grandville, Mich., 4-0, in a sudden victory in the finals.

“He had a great tournament,” LaRosa said.

Graysen Koepke went 3-1 and got third place at 113 pounds. Grant Melichar went 4-1 and got fifth at 165 pounds, and Jackson Hatfield went 3-2 and finished seventh at 190 pounds.

Kaukauna won the invite with 264 points. Hortonville had 175.5.

“Overall, we had a nice day. We lost some winnable matches,” LaRosa said.

In recent Glacier Trails Conference dual meet action, Port lost at Kewaskum, 50-24, on Jan. 15. The Pirates beat Sheboygan South at home, 70-5, on Jan. 22, and they won at Plymouth, 51-27, last Thursday.

That keeps the Pirates in the running for the conference title.

Port, Kewaskum and West Bend Co-op each come into the Glacier Trails Conference Tournament with one loss.

“I’m super excited for the conference tournament. Our team spirit is high, and I truly believe we can bring the title back to Port Washington,” Kawczynski said.

Coaches will shift their grapplers to different weights in the chess game of wrestling, LaRosa said.

“People are going to move around. We just have to try to maximize our points and try to have the field help us out instead of hurt us,” he said.

Port hosts the conference tournament on Friday, Feb. 6.

Stewart continues hot streak

Port freshman Cora Stewart won the 114-pound weight class at the Stark Invite in Whitefish Bay last Friday.

She pinned one opponent in 1:42, won a 20-2 technical fall in 3:34, a 19-2 technical fall in 3:29 and in the finals beat Elliot Mulloy (29-6) of Waukesha West in an 11-2 major decision.

Last Thursday, Stewart (32-4) beat Plymouth’s Megan Schuenemann, a state place winner, in a 20-5 technical fall on the road.

“She’s a beast,” LaRosa said. “She’s very good, moving along and getting better every week.”

At the Stark Invite, Aubrey Rickard went 2-2 and finished seventh, and Ava Knitt went 1-4 and finished 15th.

The girls’ conference tournament is also on Friday, Feb. 6, in Port.