Falcon Wrestlers Place Eighth in West Allis Tourney

Whitnall High School's wrestlers finished a very respectable eighth among the 17 teams in the Stech Invitational Tournament held over the weekend at West Allis Central High School.

The top three finishers -- West Allis Central (226.5 points), Mukwonago (220) and Hartford (191) -- are all ranked in the state's top 10. Whitnall scored 84 points, a half-point behind Menasha and a half-point ahead of South Milwaukee.

Senior co-captain Mason Howard was the top finisher for Whitnall, placing third in the 145-pound division and extending his season record to 17-1. Ty Fischer took fourth at 170 pounds. The McGee brothers, John (160) and Troy (132), both had fifth place finishes. Zach Barnhart (182), Evan Olson (138) and Peter Moore placed sixth in the tourney.

"Overall, it was a solid tourney," said coach John Quinlan. "All 14 of our wrestlers made it to the second day" (a wrestler who loses twice the first day is eliminated) "and in 20 years of coming here I can't recall that ever happening before."

Fischer, Barnhart and Moore were pleasant surprises for the coach. Fischer entered the meet at 6-7 and defeated three opponents who had winning records. Barnhart has competed mainly at the junior varsity level, and at weights well under his division in the weekend tourney. Moore was injured a day before the season began and had no varsity experience this season prior to Friday.

"These were kids we hadn't counted on," said Quinlan, "and they really stepped it up."

Though he lost an 8-3 decision to eventual class winner Joe Mattson of Mukwonago, Howard wrestled well throughout the tournament. "Mason's weight class was especially strong," Quinlan noted, "and he gave Mattson his best match of the tournament." In fact, Howard was the only wrestler to go the full six minutes against Mattson, who is ranked second statewide in his weight class.

The combined team from Wauwatosa East and West high schools served notice that it will be a force in the Woodland Conference, finishing fourth in the tournament. The conference itself was well-represented. "The Woodland had three of the top nine teams," Quinlan observed, "and the best team in the conference (Pewaukee) isn't even here."

The Falcons were originally scheduled to meet Wauwatosa Wednesday, but that contest has been rescheduled to Jan. 13 at Whitnall. The wrestlers will get some much-needed rest before returning to action on a Christmas trip to Louisiana for a tournament there. "We've thrown a lot at them in these first few weeks," said Quinlan, noting that the varsity regulars have had 18 matches in the 18 days since the season began. "Now it's time to get healed up a little bit," he said.

PinPoints:

--Whitnall's junior varsity was also in weekend action, participating in a 14-team event at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. The Falcons had four individual champions in the tournament: Ty Rabideaux, Blake Leslie, Mike Langenohl and Mark Burakowski.

--Co-head coach Craig Austin was recognized for 20 years of coaching wrestling at the fall banquet of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association.