This story is sponsored by Dental Clinic of Marshfield
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Two-for-two for Spencer.
Both of Spencer’s wrestlers at the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament advanced to the quarterfinals after winning Division 2 first-round matchups Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
Danny Schubert had to grind out an 8-5 win over Garrett Riek of River Valley in a 160-pound match, while Nick Vaughan (41-4) edged Brandon Brennan of Valders 6-4 in a 220-pound first-round matchup.
Schubert (35-4) earned a pair of takedowns in the first period, another in the final seconds of the second and a reversal early in the third to provide his scoring.
“I wasn’t used to the atmosphere. It was kind of bright out on the mat,” Schubert said. “I got out there and try to work my shot and it didn’t work right away. I went back in for a shot, got two, and basically had to scramble right away until the end.”
Schubert will face Jordan Newman (24-2) of St. John’s Northwest Military Academy in a quarterfinal Friday at approximately 12:30 p.m.
“I think the nerves are gone for now, but tomorrow morning when we come back and wrestle two more matches, the nerves will be right back with me,” Schubert said. “I think it’s a good thing because it keeps you on your toes.
“Overall, I think I just keep wrestling how I did today and hopefully pull it off.”
Vaughan (42-4), a senior who is making his second state tournament appearance, used his experience against the Valders’ freshman to ride out a win.
Vaughan used an escape and a takedown with just under 1 minute to go in the third period to grab a 6-3 lead and he was able to keep control the rest of the way.
“He had a nice takedown on me in the third period but after that I got it back and just rode him out,” Vaughan said. “I was a little nervous, I guess, and I really didn’t wrestle to my fullest.”
Vaughan will have to be on the top of his game Friday as he takes on defending 215-pound Division 2 state champion Riley Delzer of Oconto Falls (39-1) in a 220-pound quarterfinal at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
“Is he going to wrestle to win or is he going to come out throwing?” Vaughan said of his opponent. “I don’t know, I guess I’m just going to wrestle him the way I do.”