Nicolet, Bay end state droughts

This is how a renaissance in North Shore area wrestling gets started.

Nicolet's Bobby Herrick was mobbed by teammates at the WIAA sectional at Hartford on Saturday shortly after winning the 140-pound weight class, giving the Knights their first state qualifier in three years.

He was so excited by being interviewed for the first time in his life that he exclaimed: "You got more questions? Keep them coming!"

A short time later, Whitefish Bay's Jake Beckert was also mobbed by teammates after learning he had become the Blue Dukes' first state participant in five years after taking second at 189 pounds.

Beckert, who had howled in relief after winning his quarterfinal match earlier in the day, ran to the top of the Hartford stands, breathing hard and trying to compose himself. Only then did he come down to receive the congratulations of all who could get to him.

Not bad for a guy who weighed in at barely 164 pounds, just above the WIAA minimum to compete at 189.

The pair will now be proud carriers of their school's wrestling banners when the WIAA State Individual Tournament gets under way Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison.

And their coaches could hardly be happier over the image this projects for the sport in the area.

"It's been so great," said Bay coach Dale Loebel. "The support that I've received from the guys I coach against has been amazing. Such great people. The (West Alls) Hale guys … and then there was Barry (Bernstein of Homestead) and Jason (Stromberg of West Allis Central). They know how hard we've worked. They know it's just so hard to get someone there (to state)."

"It was a great day for the North Shore, for both Nicolet and Bay," said Knights coach Gus Kaufmann. "Overall, the conference did a much better job, with a good number of qualifiers."

Their two in particular.

Career highlight

"This is probably the greatest accomplishment in my life so far," said the senior Herrick, who has been working with Kaufmann since fifth grade. "It's such a great uplift for the program. It's hard as hell to do, but it shows that hard work does pay off sooner or later."

As does patience.

Beckert understands that well. He went on an academic and spiritual trip last year to Israel, just as he was hitting his stride on the mat. He missed the WIAA tournament series, but could not wait to get back and give a run at state one more chance in his senior year.

"The trip was a lot more than I ever would have expected it to be," he said, "but I couldn't wait for this chance either. It's been unreal all day (last Sunday). I had to keep reminding myself that I'm going to state. In a lot of ways, it's just such a relief. To realize that we've come that far as a program, that I could really compete at that level. To know that going away was not a mistake and that I really could do this."

"Just an amazing kid," was all Loebel could say.

Herrick (29-14) will take on Oconomowoc's Jake Morrison (29-5) in his first round match, while Beckert (31-10) will get Appleton North powerhouse Tremayne Williams (29-2).

Kaufmann is confident that Herrick, who has battled knee and rib injuries for three seasons, can continue his high-level of wrestling.

"If he competes like he did last Saturday, I think he could even place," Kaufmann said. "He's been our go-to guy at 140-152 pounds. He's had some tough losses, he's made some mistakes, but he's never been a walk-through for anyone. He's always gone against the toughest wrestlers for us."

Coaches wanted more

And both coaches left the sectional wanting more.

Nicolet had senior Ethan Klein at 119 (36-9) lose a tough wrestleback for second, 3-0, to West Allis Central's Skylar Pedersen (32-5). A controversial no-call on what appeared to be an early takedown for Klein set the tone for the match.

"I'm not going to say anyone deserved this or deserved that," said Kaufmann, "but if someone deserved to go to state, it was Ethan. There was no one who worked harder."

And for Bay, there was senior Luke Davey (20-12), he of the days when Loebel was working with fewer than five kids on the team three years ago. The senior battled shoulder injuries for the last few years, but didn't quit.

He had the best finish for the team at regionals the previous week, but could not hold up as well as he would have liked in the sectional quarterfinals, losing a game 12-5 decision to a Germantown opponent.

"I really wish Luke was going with me," said Beckert. "It was so hard for him. He was there when we started our way back."

"He was the only varsity wrestler I had when we got started," Loebel said of Davey, "but he showed the other kids what was possible. He's disappointed, but he will be playing college soccer. Knowing that, he could have quit and gotten healthy, but he was determined to continue no matter what."

A real renaissance man.

State bound

Qualifying route for Nicolet's Bobby Herrick: beat Arrowhead's Jake Nelson, 13-4; pinned Germantown's Danny Krause; defeated Hartford's Casey Kenealy, 4-2.

Qualifying route for Bay's Jake Beckert: pinned Germantown's Eric Bloedorn; beat Sussex Hamilton's Dan Thompson, 7-5; lost to Hale's Zach Seefeld, 6-4 (no wrestleback).

Other sectional participants for Nicolet: 103: Chris Morrell (0-1 on the day, 23-7); 130: Dakota Mitchell (1-2, fourth, 32-9); 135: Matt Dineen (0-1, 25-15); 215: John McKay (0-1, 15-13); 285: Trevor Cole (0-1, 12-7).

Other sectional participants for Bay: 103: Joey Davey (0-1, 21-19); 112: Lukas Short (0-1, 3-9); 140: Rashadeem Gray (0-1, 13-13); 215: Henry Dixon (0-1, 6-11).