Tulsa, Okla., — The Wisconsin men’s freestyle team was clear about their goal in Tulsa this weekend: win the national dual title.

Wisconsin Wins First Junior Men’s Freestyle Title
The championship finale was a spectacle over Ohio, and the match the team relentlessly tracked down came down to a 33-32 victory to cement their place in history as Wisconsin's first to win the junior title.

Tyson Peach (5-2) scored the first points at 144 pounds and secured a 12-6 winning result. Danny Heiser (5-1) added a team point at 150 pounds, but Ohio got their first wins there and at 157 pounds, with Jacob Herm (5-1) getting caught in a scramble.

The next five wins went to Wisconsin. Charlie Millard (7-0), who played ring leader in getting the team together, turned defense into offense to score first and then widened the gap until he secured the tech. Jake Stoffel (5-2) showed workmanlike positioning in his 6-3 win by decision. Aeoden Sinclair (7-0), Cole Mirasola (7-0) and Koy Hopke (7-0)  had a trio of techs.

“There was adversity throughout the match and I thought our team and our coaching staff handled it extremely well,” State Coach Coordinator Scott Kluever said.

Bryson Bussler (5-2), Camden Rugg, and Shane Rochon battled against a trio of tough Ohio lightweights. Rugg, who also represented Wisconsin on the 16U team, went 4-3 for juniors, and Rochon filled in with three days’ notice to help Wisconsin to victory.

Co’Ji Campbell, who went 5-2 on his first trip with Team Wisconsin, had a thrilling 14-8 victory that shifted the team score in favor of Wisconsin, 26-25. Liam Neitzel (5-2) and Lucas Peters (4-3) secured vital team points, leading to the final match, where Kellen Wolbert needed a shut-out tech or a pin to clinch the title with Wisconsin trailing by four points.

Tensions high and hearts racing, Wolbert stepped to the mat and came in clutch with a first-period fall to secure the dual outright. “Everybody on my team did their job today and throughout this whole entire week to get us to this point,” he said in a post-match interview. “I stuck to it and got it done.”

Wolbert's pin ignited celebration and raw emotion from the Wisconsin side, as Keaton Kluever could be seen finding a level head and ensuring coaches were off the mat while the end-of-match formalities took place.

The title, which Wisconsin battled for with a perfect 7-0 record, is the first for the Badger State in junior men’s freestyle.

Team Wisconsin’s Bond
The championship holds significant meaning for many, and the raw emotion and celebration shown from Wisconsin’s corner poured out in direct proportion to the years spent pouring in.

“I grew up with all these guys,” said Aeoden Sinclair in a post-match interview with USAW. “It means so much more for a state like us because we know each other, we’ve been together forever . . . this is really special for all of us—families, parents, coaches, athletes—it means so much.” Sinclair will wrestle at Mizzou and is joined by seven more seniors who came back to help Wisconsin make history—Cole and Connor Mirasola, Charlie Millard, Jake Stoffell, Koy Hopke, Lucas Peters, and Tyson Peach.

Connor Mirasola told interviewers outright after making Team USA’s junior World team that he and his brother would be at orientation at Penn State and then right to the duals to help Wisconsin to the title.

“It shows the type of character of the individuals that are on this team,” said Coach Nick Becker “Individuals with high character wanting to give back to the sport, give back to Wisconsin, and make history here.”

Randy Ferrell, the 16U director for the WWF, has worked with the teams as they grew through the age groups. “I am so grateful to our parents and our athletes that trusted us enough to say, ‘this is what we need to do, and I thank Ernie Millard and John Mirasola, who worked so hard in having a part to rally the parents to bring those guys back with us,” he said. “We had a couple of young guys that stepped up to fill in weights from the 16U and absolutely battled, so for us to get that title for the first time, it is truly special.”

As individuals, they stand out. Banded together, they’re a team for the ages that showcased crafty skills and world-class technique layered over rock-solid foundations.

“Our culture is now one that continually builds and looks toward tomorrow,” Ferrell said. “We already talked about how one isn’t enough, we want to continue to build and to strive to achieve this year in and year out.”

Wisconsin brought talent to Tulsa and it showed: “Yeaaa, buddy!!” Congratulations, champs.

• Final results: junior men’s freestyle

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