Whitnall Wrestlers Fall to New Berlin Combine

Whitnall Wrestlers Fall to New Berlin Combine

Despite a strong showing in the lighter weight classes, Whitnall High School's wrestling team was unable to become the first Woodland Conference team to defeat the combined lineup from New Berlin's West and Eisenhower High Schools. The Falcons fell to New Berlin 36-24 in a Wednesday night match at Whitnall.

The night's premier pairing, featuring past state qualifiers Zach Noel (W) and Zach Brucker (NB) at 135 pounds, opened the event and set the tone for the 13 matches that followed. Brucker scored a 4-1 decision, but successive wins by Whitnall's Matt Price and Zach Menden gave Whitnall the team lead.

But New Berlin reeled off wins in the next six matches to build the margin the Falcons couldn't overcome. Whitnall won four of the last five contests with decisions to Kameron Bourgeois and Evan Olson, a pin by Demetrius Wall and a forfeit to Mason Howard, but New Berlin's Ross Rioppeli pinned Falcon Ruben Garcia in overtime to provide the victory margin.

That match was the key to the overall contest, according to Whitnall coach John Quinlan. "We had hoped to go 7-7 in individual matches and take the win on pin points," he said, "but (Rioppeli's) win was the big swing for New Berlin. It was great to have Zach Menden back in the lineup. Having one of our captains back after being out with an injury for more than a month gave us a big boost."

"It was a good, hard-fought match," said Quinlan, whose Falcons dropped to 2-3 in the Woodland Conference and 11-11 overall. "The effort was there, but being as young as we are, we've got to find a way to win those close matches."

The Whitnall wrestlers travel to Westfield, Wis., Saturday (1/9) to defend their title in the annual Pioneer Duals.