Port freshman, senior win conference crowns

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

The North Shore Conference wrestling tournament didn’t go exactly as Port Washington and Grafton high schools were hoping.

Pirate freshman Garett Kawczynski and senior Kaiden Schumacher won titles, but the Pirates’ overall performance wasn’t where it could have been Saturday at Nicolet, coach Angelo LaRosa said.

“The two champs — they did what they were supposed to do,” he said.

Schumacher (27-11) at 132 pounds pinned Gus Schaub of Whitefish Bay in 1 minute, 10 seconds, Rhadei Kuck of Homestead in 4:43 and in the finals beat Grant Dickenson (33-15) of Slinger, 5-1.

“He wrestled well. He was happy about winning but wanted to win bigger in the finals,” LaRosa said.

Kawczynwki (34-2) pinned Gavin Jeske of West Bend West (20-21) in one minute and in the finals pinned Nathan Krause of Grafton in 42 seconds.

“He just kind of buzz-sawed through everybody,” LaRosa said. “I know the Grafton kid is good.”

Port scored 143 points and finished in sixth place. Grafton was last with 44.

West Bend West won the 10-team meet with 230.5 points. West Bend East had 209, followed by Homestead, 170.5; Hartford, 162.5; Slinger, 158; Port, Nicolet, 124.5; Cedarburg, 80.5; Whitefish Bay, 67.5; and Grafton.

LaRosa, who grew up in Grafton, said the league has improved.

“This is the toughest it’s ever been,” he said.

Port’s Nick Bensen (25-13) finished second at 195 pounds. He pinned Stefan Ferragut (5-5) of Cedarburg in 1:57 and won a 4-1 decision over Ty Buck (20-14) of Nicolet before being pinned by West’s Cole Mirasola (43-2) in 1:57 in the finals.

Mirasola is ranked in the top five in the nation by multiple organizations.

“Nick Bensen did the best he could,” LaRosa said.

Brandon Grabowski (21-3), who recently came back from an injury, finished third at 160 pounds. He pinned Grayer Pfister (12-16) of Cedarburg in 45 seconds, was pinned by Noah Deibert (39-7) of Hartford in overtime in 6:39, beat Ari Mapes (26-12) of Whitefish Bay by medical forfeit and in the third-place match pinned Max Gehrling (28-22) of Slinger in 51 seconds.

Grabowski’s loss was a tough one.

“He was winning the whole time. He wasn’t very happy about it, nor were we,” LaRosa said, adding Deibert tied the match right at the end.

Ramon Agrisoni at 106 pounds, Sam Green at 113 and Nate Streiff at 152 each finished fifth, higher than they were seeded.

“I thought they wrestled really well,” LaRosa said.

Port was still missing some wrestlers due to injuries and grades.

Port wrestles Saturday in a Division 1 regional at Nicolet. The top four individual finishers qualify for the sectional at Homestead on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Krause takes second for Black Hawks

Grafton senior Nathan Krause (32-8) pinned Dylan Gliniecki (16-9) of West Bend East in 23 seconds before losing to Kawczynski at 220 pounds in the finals.

Coach Brant Murray-McKelvey said the quick pin was a bit of a rough call.

“Both of those guys are really good competitors,” he said.

The rest of the team “came out flat” aside from James Volkmann (16-30), who was sixth at 152 pounds.

“He really stepped up his game. I don’t think anybody had him placing at conference,” Murray-McKelvey said. “He’s really hit a stride here these last few weeks. He has wrestled his entire life and things are starting to click now. They’re clicking at the right time.”

Grafton competes in a Division 2 regional in Jefferson on Saturday, Feb. 11. The top four finishers qualify for the sectional at Evansville on Saturday, Feb. 18.