Saber grapplers overcome odds, win fifth straight WIAA regional title

Franklin - Trying to live up to high expectations was a tall order for the Franklin wrestling team all winter as the Sabers had to deal with massive graduation losses from their Southeast dual meet champion and WIAA state tournament qualifying squad of a year ago.

Things just did not go the Sabers' way much of the time.

Until last Saturday, when first-year coach Chad Phillippi and his squad were all on the same page and did what they have done the previous four years in a row and six of the last seven seasons: Win a WIAA regional title and earn a berth in the WIAA state team dual meet sectional championship.

"It felt pretty good to win the regional because of all the challenges we've faced this season," said Phillippi. "But Saturday is over and now it's time to get ready for sectionals. We still have room for improvement and goals to reach."

Which means earning a berth in the WIAA state team tournament, which the Sabers have also done every time they've won a regional title in this time span. They took on City Conference champion Bradley Tech Tuesday night at Oak Creek for that right. The state team tournament will be March 2 and 3 at the Fieldhouse in Madison.

"Tech is a tough team with some impressive records," said Phillippi. "However, we've wrestled some of the best teams in the nation in order to mentally and physically prepare us. We are confident in our ability and we are looking forward to the challenge."

In addition, the Sabers will send 13 wrestlers down to the WIAA Individual Sectional at 10 a.m. Saturday at Racine Horlick.

The top two in each weight class will advance to the WIAA State Individual Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison Feb. 23 to 25. Roman Stiff at 132 (31-9) and Kyle Smith at 170 (34-8) are both looking for repeat state tournament berths.

Franklin got individual titles from Xianou Xiong at 106 (30-11), Colin DeClark at 126 (24-7), Stiff at 132 (31-9), Smith at 170 (34-8) and Craig Christian at 220 (6-1) in turning in a team total of 261 points to win the eight-team regional. Racine Park was second with 239.

Xiong beat Racine Park (10-0) and Greendale/St. Thomas More (11-7) opponents for his title. Meanwhile, DeClark pinned both Park (3:13) and Greenfield (5:03) foes for his championship.

Stiff pinned a Greenfield opponent (0:36) and then edged a Horlick foe (7-5) for his crown. Smith pinned Case (0:29) and Park (2:50) opponents for his championship, while Christian pinned a Greenfield grappler (1:39) before edging a Park foe (1-0).

Taking seconds for the Sabers were Jon Kramschuster at 120 (23-19), Daniel Peyer at 152 (16-18), Myles Devine at 160 (2-1), Gavin Devine at 182 (21-20) and Brian Lacina at 195 (12-27).

Thirds went to Casey Clapper at 113 (13-20), Kodie Layman at 138 (6-22), and Kyle Orlinski at 285 (13-17).

"Although many people doubted us, we believed in ourselves and we expected to win," Phillippi said. "For the first time this season, we had our entire starting lineup and everyone down at their weights. It was a total team effort that the guys should be proud of."