Spencer/Columbus wrestling whips Abbotsford/Colby, clinches tie for Cloverbelt title

Spencer/Columbus’ Ashton Ackman rolled to a major decision at 106 pounds of the Rockets’ win over Abbotsford/Colby on Thursday at Spencer High School. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)
Spencer/Columbus’ Hunter Luepke works on a pin during the 220-pound match of Thursday’s Cloverbelt Conference dual meet against Abbotsford/Colby. (Photo by Paul Lecker/MarshfieldAreaSports.com)

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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com

SPENCER – The Spencer/Columbus Catholic wrestling team clinched a share of the Cloverbelt Conference title with a dominating 62-12 victory over second-place Abbotsford/Colby on Thursday night at Spencer High School.

The Rockets improve to 6-0 in conference dual meets and can wrap up sole possession of the regular-season championship with a win at Osseo-Fairchild/Augusta/Fall Creek next Thursday.

Spencer/Columbus won five matches by pin and four more by forfeit to cruise to the victory over the Falcons.

SC sophomore Ashton Ackman started the onslaught with an 11-1 major decision at 106 pounds.

After a forfeit win, and a double forfeit, the Rockets went on to build an insurmountable 22-0 lead on a pin by Dominick Wichlacz at 126 and another forfeit from Abbotsford/Colby.

Bryce Shaw (145) and Caden Schillinger (152) added back-to-back pins, Carson Hildebrandt won a major decision at 170, and Cody Derks (182) and Hunter Luepke (220) finished off the win with two more pins and two forfeit victories.

“We’re rolling pretty good,” Spencer/Columbus coach Jake Zschernitz said. “We’re wrestling good right now, a few injuries, a little banged up. We’re looking at getting healthier and some guys possibly cutting some weight, I don’t know, that will play itself out. I think we’re wrestling really well at the right time and we’ll see what happens.”

With defending Division 2 individual state champion Luepke (30-0) and 285-pound junior Logan Zschernitz (28-2), a third-place finisher at state last year, anchoring the Rockets’ lineup, Spencer/Columbus looks to continue its strong season into the postseason.

The Cloverbelt Conference Tournament will be Feb. 3 at Osseo-Fairchild, with the WIAA Division 2 tournaments starting with regionals at Medford on Feb. 10.

“I knew coming into the season we had a really good team,” Jake Zschernitz said. “It was senior night tonight and the seniors (Wichlacz, Shaw, Caden Schillinger and Luepke) have really stepped up all year. The underclassmen have been winning matches when they need to be.

“It’s pretty fun to watch (Luepke and Zschernitz). We’re pretty fortunate to probably have the two best athletes to ever come through this gym at the same time, on the same team. It’s pretty awesome.”

Spencer/Columbus 62, Abbotsford/Colby 12
106: Ashton Ackman (SC) won major dec. over River Halopka, 11-1.
113: Leo Rodriguez (SC) won by forfeit.
120: Double forfeit.
126: Dominick Wichlacz (SC) pinned Juan Tzintzun, 1:18.
132: Colten Schillinger (SC) won by forfeit.
138: Logan Ruesch (AC) pinned Dylan Bohlinger, 3:14.
145: Bryce Shaw (SC) pinned Chance Clement, 2:38.
152: Caden Schillinger (SC) pinned Jed Becker, 1:51.
160: Joseph Aguilera (AC) pinned Tanner Kleinschmidt, 2:38.
170: Carson Hildebrandt (SC) won major dec. over Christian Raasch, 17-4.
182: Cody Derks (SC) pinned Alonso Torres, 1:12.
195: Daniel Richmond (SC) won by forfeit.
220: Hunter Luepke (SC) pinned Angelo Hutman, 1:02.
285: Logan Zschernitz (SC) won by forfeit.