Jahnke, Madsen and Penn punch tickets to Madison

By Reagan Hoverman

Ellsworth wrestling head coach Mark Matzek regularly tells his team that “the crazier the battle gets, the more we love it” and his athletes put that on display late in the afternoon at the Division 2 Sectional wrestling tournament in Amery on Saturday, Feb. 18.

After Ellsworth senior Louis Jahnke fell behind 5-0 against Northwestern senior Tanner Kaufman midway through the second period of the 170-pound sectional championship match, things started getting crazy – and Jahnke embraced it.

Ellsworth’s senior co-captain went on the offensive and pushed the pace to a point that Kaufman couldn’t keep up with. As Jahnke continued to wrestle faster and more aggressively, Kaufman got called for stalling multiple times and even became physically ill near the scoring table with less than 30 seconds remaining in the third period.

Jahnke dug himself out of the five-point deficit throughout the third period and brought the match to within two points, 10-8, with 38 seconds remaining in the final frame. Both jockeyed for position and in the final two seconds of regulation, Jahnke scored a two-point reversal to force overtime.

Jahnke scored the championship-sealing takedown just 20 seconds into the overtime period and handed Kaufman just his second defeat of the season. Coach Matzek spoke about Jahnke’s season as a whole, his resilience and championship effort on Saturday afternoon.

“Louis had a great day. He has had a stellar year winning many tournaments and training very hard in the weight and wrestling rooms,” Matzek said. “His final match embodied the (embracing crazy matches) mindset. Going down 5-0 to a very good opponent and then continuing to push the pace, get stalling calls, score when the opportunity presented itself, and then ultimately will himself the reversal to send it to overtime as well as the final takedown in overtime. It was arguably the best match of the tournament.”

Jahnke wasn’t the only Panther who punched his ticket to Madison. Ellsworth junior William Penn won his first two sectional matches before ultimately falling to undefeated Neillsville senior Luke Dux in the 126-pound championship match.

Penn lost again in the second-place match but still advanced to Madison with a thirdplace finish. Coach Matzek spoke about Penn advancing to the state tournament later this week.

“Willy cruised to the finals and lost to undefeated Luke Dux once again, then he dropped a match to Holzer from SCC,” Matzek said. “Willy didn’t wrestle to his potential during that true second match, but qualified for state and has a very good chance of putting himself on the podium this week.”

Ellsworth senior co-captain Anthony Madsen was the third and final Panther to punch his ticket to the state tournament. Madsen won his first two matches of the sectional by pinfall to advance to the 182-pound championship bout against Amery junior Wyatt Ingham.

Midway through the second period, Ingham gained position on Madsen, pinned him and secured the 182-pound sectional title. Madsen advanced to the second-place match, where he lost a 5-3 decision to Regis/Altoona junior Brayden Albee. Coach Matzek spoke about Madsen’s matches and advancing to the state tournament.

“Anthony lost his first match since the second week of December in the finals then dropped a close match in the true second match as well,” Matzek said. “It’s tough wrestling in that true second match especially when you have just lost in the finals. It’s Anthony’s second time qualifying for the state tournament and he is not satisfied yet. His goal is to put his name on the wall.”

While Ellsworth had three Panthers successfully advance, it also had just as many athletes come up just short. None who missed the cut were closer than Ellsworth freshman J.D. Minder-Broeckaert, who earned a fourth-place finish in the 120-pound bracket – one win shy of advancing.

Minder-Broeckaert won his first match before losing by major decision to Amery sophomore Lane Anderson, the eventual third-place finisher. The Ellsworth freshman went to the consolation bracket and won his first match before falling in the match to go to state.

“J.D. was only one match away from qualifying for state,” Matzek said. “As all brackets are at sectionals, he was up against some tough competition that were upperclassmen, battled hard, and came up short this time. It was a great experience for him and he will definitely learn and grow from it.”

Ellsworth junior Carson Wright and sophomore Levi Nelson both lost in the first round of 106 and 145-pound brackets respectively. Both ultimately came up just short of qualifying in the consolation bracket.

“Carson Wright and Levi Nelson also finished their seasons Saturday,” Matzek said. “Levi wrestled very well but came up short, but this shouldn’t overshadow his 28-win season at 145 pounds as a sophomore. Carson had his opportunities but just couldn’t capitalize.”

The aforementioned Nelson and Madsen will be Ellsworth’s first two athletes to wrestle, as they are slated to compete at the Kohl Center on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:15 p.m. Since Jahnke was a sectional champion, he gets a first-round bye and will wrestle his first match on Friday at 11:15 a.m.

Ellsworth senior Louis Jahnke gets control of his opponent’s legs and successfully makes a takedown during his second match of the 170-pound Division 2 Sectional bracket. Jahnke won all three of his matches and claimed the individual sectional championship, which also punched his ticket to Madison for the state tournament. Photo by Reagan Hoverman