DeMeyer wins first two matches

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Rhinelander High School junior wrestler Jacob DeMeyer is two matches closer to being able to win an individual state title.

DeMeyer opened the WIAA Division 1 Individual State Tournament on Thursday at the Kohl Center in Madison with a pair of victories wrestling at 145 pounds. DeMeyer won on a 7-2 decision over Hamilton senior Owen Gorges and then recorded an 11-3 major decision victory over Racine Horlick senior Subhan Umar.

DeMeyer, who improved his season record to 42-0, wrestlers in the state semifinals Friday night against La Crosse Central senior Jaden Van Maanen, who is also undefeated on the season at 47-0. The winner will compete for the state title Saturday evening.

Of the other three Hodag wrestlers who qualified for state, two of them won their opening matches Thursday when they also lost their second bouts and the other lost in the first round.

At 160 pounds, RHS senior Alec Bess pinned Appleton North’s Weston Verhoff before losing on a 12-0 major decision to Sparta junior Hayden Krein. Bess then was eliminated Friday in the consolation bracket when he lost a 13-5 major decision against Kenosha Bradford sophomore Jake Deates.

Hodags junior Alec Kurtz won his opening match at 182 pounds on a technical fall over Slinger sophomore Bennett Connolly before losing a 12-0 major decision against DeForest senior Jackson Hemauer. Kurtz then won a 5-3 decision Friday in the consolation bracket against Madison La Follette senior Salvatore Schiro.

At 113 pounds, RHS junior Rueben Guzik opened the tournament losing a 7-4 decision to Pulaski senior Cole Gille and then was eliminated in the consolation bracket Friday morning after dropping a 9-7 decision to Sauk Prairie junior Dylan Herbrand.