The Prescott wrestling team headed to Arcadia for the WIAA Regional wrestling competition Saturday, unfortunately without one wrestler who has meant so much to the program.

Senior Joe Schulte has been the rock on this year’s team, and he had everything going for him going into the post-season. He was ranked second in the state and coming off his third Middle Border Conference Championship the Saturday before.

Schulte was again the talk of the tournament, but mainly because his competitors were shocked by his absence. Schulte was stricken Thursday with appendicitis and had emergency surgery, meaning a big void both on the Prescott roster and on the spot he likely would have occupied on the podium the next several weeks.

While we’re impartial journalists, we couldn’t help but join in all the wrestlers at the WIAA Regional Meet collectively wishing Schulte the best. He was always humble in victory. We got the opportunity to interview Joe after he won his conference title, and he was excited and smiling like a kid who just won his first medal.

This reporter told him he hoped to see him on the podium in Madison.

Schulte knew there was a lot of work still to do: “Hopefully,” he replied.

That bout of appendicitis may have caused Joe Schulte from realizing the dream of every high school wrestler. But we know that every high school wrestling fan knows that Joe Schulte gave the Prescott wrestling program everything he had. He’s always a champion in our eyes!

That said, even though it was tough without their team leader, the Cardinals pressed on and had some impressive performances.

Sophomores Sam Murphy and Alex Iberg highlighted the day for the Cardinals and will wrestle at the WIAA Sectional event in Osceola this coming weekend after both placing second.

Bennie Olson, wrestling at 106 pounds, placed fifth after winning a decision over Osseo-Fairchild/Augusta/ Fall Creek’s Bryce Armstrong-Baglien, 10-5.

113-pound wrestler Ryan Pederson finished third following a major decision win over Ellsworth’s Corey Poellinger.

Iberg came in second wrestling at 120 pounds following his pinning of Arcadia’s Hector Hernandez in only 1:13. Iberg previously also beat West Salem/Bangor’s Carlyle Lyga with a pin in 5:24.

Shane Butler placed fifth wrestling at 126 pounds after a loss to Randon Rommel of GET in the quarterfinals match.

Murphy fell to Ellsworth’s Bailey Poellinger in the first-place match but defeated West Salem/Bangor’s Zach Servais at 132 pounds with a technical fall to secure his spot at sectionals. Matthew Lynes, wrestling at 138 pounds, won over Dustin Sudbrink of OF/A/FC to place fifth for the Cardinals.

Alex Holt placed fifth at 145 pounds after he scored a technical fall win over Black River Falls’ Brian Higuet.

Isaiah Tulip placed third wrestling at 152 pounds after he pinned Arcadia’s Cruz Patzner.

Shawn Thomason finished third after winning a 6-3 decision over OF/A/FC’s Isaiah Waggoner at 285 pounds.

Schulte placed fifth at the WIAA State competition last year.

Coach Jordan Poirier said his presence was missed.

“You can’t even make something like that up,” said Poirier. “We all felt horrible for Joe. He’s worked so hard.”

The Cardinals have a lot to look forward to with two of their teammates competing at the WIAA Sectionals and in future years.

“We had 11 kids out this year and seven of them are underclassmen,” Poirier said about the Cardinals. “Another year of maturing and we’ll hit the ground better than ever next year.”

Photo by Jon Claesson.

Photo by Jon Claesson.

Photo by Jon Claesson.