MADISON — Lowell Arnold was ranked second in the state at 152 pounds in Division 2 entering sectionals last Saturday, and the Portage senior didn’t exactly do anything at that tournament to warrant dropping.
He lost in sudden-victory overtime, 6-4, to top-ranked Zane Licht of Lodi in the finals.
Still, the WIAA’s new seeding procedure, a computer model, didn’t reward him with a bye in Thursday’s prelims at the individual state tournament at the Kohl Center.
He thinks he deserved one.
“Yeah, you could say that,” he said. “But I realize I was injured earlier in the season.”
Indeed, missing the first half of the year hurt his résumé.
But he’s in the quarterfinals regardless.
Arnold won 15-2 over Freedom senior Caden Clausen on Thursday to advance to the next round, where he’ll face Brillion’s Garnett Stebane, who did get a bye.
People are also reading…
A two-time state qualifier, Arnold missed out last year and came to Madison looking for his first career victory at the Kohl Center.
“So it felt good to get one and work toward tomorrow’s match,” he said.
As for the 15-2 major decision Thursday, he said he could have tried to push for a technical fall but didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances.
“He just ended up going for bigger moves at the end, and I was playing it a little safe not to give up big throws,” Arnold said.
And as for not getting a bye, he said there is an advantage, above and beyond simply being motivated by the slight, to not having to sit around and wait until Friday to take the mat.
“You get to get a match in, you get to work some of that weight off on the first day, it feels good,” he said.
For the second postseason weekend in a row, they had a close match with each other, this time at sectionals; they lead list of 17 from area who are headed to Kohl Center
Should Arnold win on Friday morning and then again Friday night in the semifinals, and Licht does the same on the other half of the bracket, it would make for a thrilling third-match-in-three-weekends between the two — this time for a state title.
It’s a chance Arnold badly wants.
The senior mustered just five wins his freshman year. Now he’s 38-9 and headed to the Kohl Center to complete a journey years in the making.
Callen’s career is over
Portage senior Jack Callen’s wrestling career didn’t end the way he wanted it to.
During the prelims at 195 pounds, Callen was pinned in 3:50 by Abbotsford/Colby senior Carter Grewe.
“That kid was a hammer,” Callen said. “He came out there and he was ready to go. It felt like it was a heavyweight boxing match to me. I just wanted to be as tough as I could be.”
Callen said he saw Grewe going for a wrist technique for a pin and couldn’t stop it.
“It doesn’t upset me,” Callen said. “It upsets me that I got pinned like that. There’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Can’t get a better ending
The crowd could’ve played a factor in why Lodi senior Wyatt Ripp had butterflies heading into his prelims match at 220 pounds against Whitewater senior Mason DePorter.
Ripp found himself in a 4-0 hole early on, but 11 unanswered points not only gave him the lead but also the confidence to pin DePorter in 4 minutes, 28 seconds.
“I just have to trust myself,” Ripp said. “I’ve got to go out there and be confident. It’s my first year, going out there wrestling in front of a big crowd. It’s crazy. There is nothing like it. I’m glad I’m here and confidence goes a long way.”
Reedsburg’s Devin Judd and Sauk Prairie’s Nolan Vils remain alive on the consolation side of their respective brackets
Ripp said in his first two seasons he had been in the upper deck watching his teammates, so being down on the mat Thursday was a whole new experience for him.
“To be out there at that level was a huge difference,” he said.
Now, he will face Richland Center sophomore Teige Perkins in the quarterfinals on Friday.
“It only builds on. It’s only going to get better,” Ripp said. “I’m going to continue to do what I do best — going into the matches, you’ve got to be thinking, ‘What can I do? I know what I can do and it’s going to work.’ I’m going to go out there, take a shot and take them down and work for that pin.”
Also from Lodi on Thursday, heavyweight Brock Beyer suffered a 7-3 loss to East Troy’s Max Hudson in the prelims, ending his weekend.
Just 14 years ago Pardeeville dissolved the program. Now with their second state qualifier in three years and back on their own, the Bulldogs could be barking for years to come.
Big win for Becker
Pardeeville freshman William Becker edged out Cashton junior Colin O`Neil, 3-2, in the prellims.
“I was just trying to get my points and then the last period, I just tried to ride him out and not give up any points,” Becker said.
Becker said he wasn’t nervous going into his first-ever state match, but that the final four minutes were tough.
“I was getting a little tired,” Becker said. “I’ve trained extremely hard and know I have a lot of people beat with endurance.”
He will wrestle De Soto senior Aiden Brosinski Friday morning in the quarterfinals.
“I’m just trying to do my best and see what happens,” Becker said about moving on, needing either a win in that match or a win in the ensuing consolation semifinals to secure a spot on the podium.
Gosda gets it done
Mauston/Necedah’s Drake Gosda didn’t need much time on the mat Thursday to punch his ticket into Friday morning’s 113-pound quarterfinals, pinning Waukesha Catholic Memorial senior Fidel Jaramillo in 1:01 to advance.
Gosda will face Lodi’s Parker Heintz with a berth in the semifinals at stake.
Amacher advances
Poynette junior James Amacher controlled the match against Riverdale sophomore Rylee Wanek, winning 5-1 to advance to the quarterfinals against Cedar Grove-Belgium’s undefeated Cael Erickson.
Also for Poynette on Thursday, 170-pounder Owen Bahr suffered a 9-0 major decision loss to Mineral Point’s Bo Hanson and heavyweight Jackson Geitner was pinned by Ithaca/Weston’s Caleb Marchwick.
Two others from area bow out
Waupun 145-pounder Anthony Nighbor suffered a 7-0 loss to River Valley’s Landon Radtke in Div. 2 action, leaving 152-pounder Easton Hull, who had a bye, as the Warriors’ lone remaining competitor.
And Horicon 126-pounder Austin Zamorano lost by technical fall, 15-0, to Random Lake’s David San Felippo.
Photos: Action from Thursday’s opening rounds of the WIAA wrestling championships

Beaver Dam senior Kyler Neuberger lost a major decision 14-1 to Appleton North sopohmore Jake Stoffel in the quarterfinals of Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 individual state wrestling tournament.

Beaver Dam sophomore Gabe Klatt, bottom, shoots on Waunakee senior Kaden Klatt during the 195-pound Division 1 quarterfinals on Thursday.

Beaver Dam sophomore Gabe Klatt, top, tries to pin Waunakee senior Kaden Hooker in the second round of their quarterfinals match during Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 individual state wrestling meet.

Pardeeville’s Will Becker (top) wrestles Cashton’s Colin O`Neil in the Division 3 quarterfinals at 152 pounds during the WIAA individual state wrestling tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center.

Lodi’s Wyatt Ripp, left, wrestles Whitewater’s Mason DePorter during a Division 2 quarterfinal at 220 pounds at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Tomah’s Gavin Finch, right, wrestles Brookfield East’s Aiden Crawley during a Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Badger wrestlings’ Logan Clausen, left, wrestles Menomonie’s Brayten Casey during a Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Stoughton’s Nicolar Rivera works against Kimberly’s Tyson Peach during a Division 1 quarterfinal match on Thursday at the Kohl Center.

Division 1 preliminary wresting matches take place at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Sun Prairie sophomore Christopher Anderson, top, wrestles Arrowhead freshman Collin McDowell during the Division 1 quarterfinals of Thursday’s WIAA individual state tournament.

DeForest’s Brody Hemauer, right, takes down Kenosha Tremper’s Jackson Henderson during a 160 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Beaver Dam’s Kyler Neuberger, top, wrestles Kaukauna’s Connor Smith during a 132 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Stoughton’s Trenton Dow celebrates a win over Marshfield’s Garrett Willuweit during a 152 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Monona Grove/McFarland’s Guenther Switzer (left) competes against Waunakee’s Jack Schweitzer in the 220 pound Division 1 prelims on Thursday afternoon during the WIAA individual state tournament at the Kohl Center.

Stoughton’s Chance Suddeth, back, wrestles Kenosha Indian Trail’s Edwin Estrada during a 120 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Beaver Dam’s Gabriel Klatt defeats Waunakee’s Kaden Hooker during a 195 pound Division 1 quarterfinal match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Beaver Dam’s Gabriel Klatt, right, wrestles Waunakee’s Kaden Hooker during a 195 pound Division 1 quarterfinal match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

DeForest’s Brody Hemauer, right, wrestles Marshfield’s Ryan Dolezal during a 160 pound Division 1 quarterfinal match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

West Bend West’s Ben Bast wrestles with the foot of Pulaski’s Ethan Eggert in his face during a 113 pound Division 1 quarterfinal match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Reedsburg’s Jesus Gonzalez, left, takes down Neenah’s Bryce Fochs during a 285 pound division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Verona’s Jay Hanson, right, wrestles Appleton North’s Ethan Hansen during a 285 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Waunakee’s Kaden Hooker, right, wrestles Kenosha Indian Trail’s London Kiser during a 195 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Badger wrestlings’ Logan Clausen, left, talks to a coach prior to his 106 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Reedsburg’s Devin Judd holds his head in his hand following a loss to Marshfield’s Camren Dennee during a 170 pound Division 1 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Reedsburg’s Jesus Gonzalez tries not to get pinned by Neenah’s Bryce Fochs during the preliminary round of the Division 1 heavyweght match of Thursday’s WIAA individual state wrestling tournament.

Beaver Dam senior Kyler Neuberger lost a major decision 14-1 to Appleton North sopohmore Jake Stoffel in the quarterfinals of Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 individual state wrestling tournament.

Beaver Dam senior Kyler Neuberger lost a major decision 14-1 to Appleton North sopohmore Jake Stoffel in the quarterfinals of Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 individual state wrestling tournament. He is catching his breat after the match.

Stoughton’s Chance Suddeth wrestles Marshfield’s Caleb Dennee during the 120-pound quarterfinals of Thursday’s WIAA Division 1 state individual tournament.

Royall’s Gunnar Wopat, top, wrestles Random Lake’s Jackson Averill during a 120 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Poynette’s James Amacher, top, wrestles Riverdale’s Rylee Wanek during a 145 pound division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Portage’s Lowell Arnold, right, wrestles Freedom’s Caden Clausen during a 152 pound Division 2 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Aquinas’ Calvin Hargrove, top, wrestles Fennimore’s Wyatt Ahnen during a 160 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Shiocton’s Dylan Herb, front, wrestles Boyceville’s Ira Bialzik during a 160 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Cadott’s Cole Pfeiffer, top, wrestles St. Joseph Catholic Academy’s Jayden Gordon during a 160 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

A referee calculates points as Random Lake’s David San Felippo, top, wrestles Horicon’s Austin Zamorano during a 126 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Poynette’s Owen Bahr, right, wrestles Mineral Point’s Bo Hanson during a 170 pound Division 3 preliminary match at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL

Family and friends, from left, Easton Kammerud, Shania Sarbacker holding Slayer McCullick, Chakayla Stank and Cyntanah Nafzger cheer on Mineral Point’s Trapper Nafzger during Division 3 preliminary matches at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL