BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT

SUAMICO – The Bay Port wrestling team hosted the 13th annual “Battle on the Bay” tournament on Dec. 9 at the high school, with 24 other schools competing in the event.

The invite is considered one of the best in the state. Five defending Battle on the Bay champions were present, along with 41 state-qualifiers, 12 state place winners, two state runner-up and four state champions from a year ago.

For the third season in a row, Luxemburg-Casco won the tournament, this time with its 468.5 points overall. Bay Port finished in 13th with a 277 total.

The Pirates’ best finish on the day was recorded by sophomore Austin Heim in the 132-pound weight class. Heim won his quarterfinal match via pin over Wyatt Bruecker (Wrightstown) at 1:57 of the match, but then lost in the semis and the ensuing third-place match.

Senior Caleb Hale (160) finished fifth. Hale lost his quarterfinal match to Chase Coleman (East Troy) from a pin, but then won his next two matches to give the team 37 points overall on the day.

Marcus Delfosse (126, 6th) and Jack Ehrfurth (195, 6th) also both had strong showing for the Pirates.

Other Bay Port results were as follows: Tristan Warzynski (106) placed 11th; Connor Halverson (120) – 12th; Matt Grzybowski (145) – 18th; Chandler Stordeur (152) – 10th; Travis Jahnke (170) – 13th; Drake Anderson (182) – 12th; Max Meeuwsen (220) – 17th; William Townley (285) – 11th.

A season ago, the Pirates had two champions: Jarod Maes at 138 and Ben Kitslaar at 220.

“To make the podium at a tournament like this (top six), you have to come ready to wrestle,” said Bay Port head coach Brad Shefchik. “It’s a long day and our wrestlers have to be able to mentally and physically prepare to compete five different times throughout the day. I thought our team did a pretty good job. The guys that placed (Delfosse, Heim, Hale and Ehrfurth) have all wrestled in this tournament before, but for the rest of the team, it was their first time wrestling at the Battle on the Bay. We were really happy with their effort and are excited about their growth over the first four weeks of the season.”