Englebert Advances to State for Wrestling

Grant Englebert had a long time to ponder what could have been.

Wrestling in the first round of last year’s Dodgeland Sectional, Grant Englebert was leading Random Lake’s Joey Bock 3-2 in the first period of their 138-pound match, when he suffered a concussion and lost by forfeit. Englebert’s disappointment was compounded when Bock went on to win the sectional and qualified for the state meet.

Englebert took advantage of a second chance with Bock Feb. 16, gutting out a 3-1 overtime win in the 145-pound Dodgeland Sectional final and qualifying for the Division 3 state meet Feb. 22 at the Kohl Center in Madison.

“Getting concussed in that match and then watching Bock go to state definitely motivated me to train harder,” said Englebert, a sophomore who improved to 38-11. “It also gave me confidence. Being right there competing with the guys who were advancing [to state] made me realize that it could be me the next year. As a freshman last year I didn’t necessarily have that confidence. I wasn’t looking big picture.”

The sectional title afforded Englebert a bye. He will face the winner of the first round match between Nelson Wahl of Cadott and Ithaca/Weston’s Monty Jennings today at 11:15 a.m.

Englebert opened sectional action with a 15-0 technical fall win over Ozaukee’s Anthony Pawling. In the semifinal match Englebert nipped Hayden Kurth of Dodgeville 7-6, which set up  his rematch with Bock.

After a scoreless first period, Bock took a 1-0 lead on an escape in the second period. Englebert tied the score with an escape in the third period, and finished Bock off with a takedown in the one-minute, sudden death overtime.

“We had also seen Bock at a few tournaments this year, but did not meet head to head,” Southern Door coach Jerry Englebert said. “Coming into this match we felt Grant could tire Bock out and beat his stance late, but we didn’t plan to do it in overtime.”

Grant Englebert said earning a bye affords him an opportunity to adjust to the big stage of Kohl Center.

“I have a day to prepare myself and walk around on the floor and watch the matches,” he said. “I need to scope things out, stay calm and treat [the first round] like any other match. The last two weeks things really started to come together. I’ve been wrestling my best ever.”

Three other Southern Door wrestlers participated in the sectional meet but didn’t advance. Austin Falish (106) and Kyle Conard (120) both were eliminated in the consolation semifinal. Drew Price was eliminated in the first round.

Jorns fall in first round

Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol’s Jeremy Jorns fell short of his return to the state meet, falling 7-5 in overtime to Ripon’s Joseph Kain in the first round of the Division 2 Wrightstown Sectional. Jorns compiled an impressive 80-10 mark over the last two seasons.