By Rich Palzewic
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SUAMICO – Now that the Bay Port wrestling team officially wrapped up the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) title, it can turn its attention toward a bigger prize — a trip to the WIAA Division 1 team state tournament.
Fueled by six pins and three forfeits, the Pirates, who finished a perfect 7-0 in the FRCC, easily turned back De Pere on Feb. 2 with a 66-10 victory in front of their home crowd.
The win secured Bay Port’s eighth FRCC crown since the conference was formed in 2007.
“It was good to finish the season with a win,” Bay Port coach Brad Shefchik said. “It’s good to be healthy going into regionals and the rest of the postseason.”
It was the Pirates’ first FRCC crown since 2018.
“It’s been a while,” Shefchik said. “We’ve been through a lot in the last few years with COVID and getting the kids to come back out. We’ve got a big team this season, and they’re ready to compete.”
The most competitive match of the night came at 113 between Bay Port’s Alois Schlumpf and De Pere’s Mycah Beckett.
With the match tied 5-5 at the end of regulation, Schlumpf recorded a two-point near fall in the first overtime to win via decision.
The Redbirds got consecutive victories by Michael Alexander (major decision) and Brennan Kincade (pin) at 182 and 195, respectively, for their only points of the night.
“It goes without saying — Bay Port is an excellent team,” De Pere coach Zach Hendzel said. “Brad and his staff do a great job. It’s tough to come into their house and wrestle against them. We have a lot of youth on our team and lots of development to teach. Hopefully, we can get to Bay Port’s level soon.”
The Pirates, the No. 2-ranked Division 1 team in the state, get their postseason underway on Feb. 11 at the Green Bay West Regional.
Other teams in Bay Port’s regional include Ashwaubenon, De Pere, Green Bay Preble, Green Bay United (West/East/Southwest), Pulaski, Shawano and West De Pere.
“We’ll have some good competition at our regional,” Shefchik said. “The key is to be healthy going in.”
For the first time ever in Division 1, the top two teams at regionals will advance to team sectionals.
“It’s always only been the top team that advanced (to team sectionals),” Shefchik said. “The coaches wanted this for a long time, so I’m glad it’s a reality this season.”
If the Pirates can finish in the top two at regionals, they would advance to team sectionals on Feb. 14 at D.C. Everest High School.
“The winner of our regional will face the No. 2 team from the Merrill Regional,” Shefchik said.
“The second-place team from our regional will face the winner from the other regional. The winning teams square off for the right to go to team state.”
The team state tournament is at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 3-4.
“Wisconsin Rapids is probably the front-runner from the other regional, and I think Wausau West and D.C. Everest will be pushing for one of the spots,” Shefchik said.
The Pirates have made two trips to the team state tournament — in 2013 and 2014, finishing runner-up in 2014
“We had a heartbreak in ’13, losing by two points after we won eight of 14 matches in the semifinals,” Shefchik said. “That motivated the kids to get back the next season, where we lost to Kaukauna in the finals. It’s been a while — most of the kids (on the current team) were only 6 or 7 years old.”
The individual state tournament will also be held at the Kohl Center from Feb. 23-25.
Milestone win
Recently, Alexander picked up his 100th career win — becoming only the 14th De Pere wrestler to accomplish that feat.
“Getting to 100 was nice, but I think more about getting third place the last two years at state,” he said. “Quite a few wrestlers win 100 career matches but not many win state. I think I can beat anyone when I’m on my game.”
Alexander garnered four points for the Redbirds against Bay Port with his 11-2 major decision victory over Ethan Farley.
“It was nice to have a tough match — I haven’t had one of those in a while,” he said. “I just recently got back. I broke my hand early in the season and haven’t wrestled much. I think this was my seventh match this season. I’m working on getting back to full strength.”
Bay Port 66, De Pere 10
285: Vaughn Campbell (DP) def. Jackson Bromberek (DP) (major decision, 8-0).
106: Landen Heim (BP) def. Brooke Corrigan (DP) (fall, 0:47).
113: Alois Schlumpf (BP) def. Mycah Beckett (DP) (sudden victory-1, 7-5).
120: Owen Wathke (BP) def. Easton Pollock (DP) (fall, 1:20).
126: Peyton Garcia (BP) def. Paden Clarke (DP) (fall, 2:54).
132: Owen Noel (BP) def. Ryan Rouse (DP) (technical fall, 20-4, 4:26).
138: Nicholas Schomaker (BP) won via forfeit.
145: Trevor Finger (BP) def. Charlie Jossart (BP) (fall, 1:38).
152: Sam Teddy (BP) won via forfeit.
160: Jacob Ward (BP) won via forfeit.
170: Carter Kallies (BP) def. Diesel Dekeyser (DP) (fall, 1:04).
182: Michael Alexander (DP) def. Ethan Farley (BP) (major decision, 11-2).
195: Brennan Kincade (DP) def. Jacques Knight (BP) (fall, 1:31).
220: Alex Warden (BP) def. Myles Rubringer (DP) (fall, 2:34).