MADISON–Denmark’s Josh Frerk is on the path of redemption.
After placing fourth last season at the WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament, Frerk is into the semifinals for the first time in his career.
There, he’ll face a well-known opponent in Spencer/Columbus junior Logan Zschernitz. Zschernitz beat Frerk twice during the state tournament last season, including the third place match.
In mid-January at the Freedom High School Invitational, Frerk beat Zschernitz in the championship match, via major decision, 16-7.
It’s no secret tonight’s semifinal match-up will be one everybody is watching, as it features the first and second ranked heavyweights in division two, according to WIWrestling.com
Elsewhere on the mat, seven local wrestlers qualified for tonight’s state semifinals.
Of them, four represent Luxemburg-Casco High School, who qualified the most wrestlers for this weekend’s tournament in division two.
The Spartans wrestling tonight are Lucas Joniaux (So., 106#), Colton Worachek (Jr., 145#) Devan Vandenbush (Sr., 152#) and two-time state champion Bryce Bosman (Jr., 126).
Wrightstown holds another favorite to win a division two championship, as sophomore Ben Durocher (132#) has been on a roll this season. Durocher, now 40-6, will see Edgerton sophomore Cole Bavery, 42-3, in tonight’s semifinal contest. According to WIWrestling.com, Durocher is the second ranked wrestler at 132 pounds, while Bavery is sixth. Rankings aren’t everything, though, as Bavery pinned third ranked Mike Smith in 1:13 earlier today.
The Northeastern Conference qualified nine wrestlers to the semifinals, with help from Luxemburg-Casco (4), Freedom (2), Denmark (1), Wrightstown (1) and Oconto Falls (1).
In division three, Kewaunee has a pair of semifinal qualifiers. Jack Severin (120#) won a sudden victory match this morning to advance to the semifinals, while Cam Hanrahan (132#) won via a 6-5 decision.
Severin, ranked fifth, will take on top ranked Caleb Gross of Coleman, who is the reigning state champion at 113 pounds.
Hanrahan, also ranked fifth, will wrestle #8 Reid Olson of Cumberland for a ticket to go to the state title match tomorrow.
