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Porter Klotz.

A name for Lomira fans that may make them wince upon reading. For Campbellsport supporters, this name may be an instant dopamine hit, another name in a long line of heroes that have helped maintain a perfect 230-0 record in the Flyway conference. 

Going into their dual against the Lions last year, Porter Klotz was not as much of a household name amongst the Flyway wrestling circle, but that status changed in one fell swoop. Down 14-2 against Andrew Reha in the 3rd period, Klotz ripped a head throw and picked up a fall in the final minute. The Campbellsport crowd, packed to the brim, blew the roof off of the place. It was one of the most deafening crowd moments I ever experienced in my career. The Cougars retook their first lead since the third match of the night. Four lead changes later, Campbellsport came out on top of the dual 32-31, their perfect conference record still intact. Between the youth night/alumni night/Coach P HOF Induction-ignited home crowd, the well-traveled Lomira fan base, and the mutual sense of both sides wanting this win almost as much as the kids on the mat, it was truly a one-of-a-kind environment to be a part of. It took a full team effort, but what was basically a ten-point team swing on one move by the sophomore Porter Klotz, he added his name to the list of Cougar legends.

Campbellsport has won their four conference duals since that night, and head into Lomira, also celebrating youth and alumni night, looking to maintain that record against the program that seems to give them the biggest run for their money on an annual basis. It is difficult to give justice to the atmosphere that Steve and I will be in on Friday night as we are talking about a rivalry that is both close in competition and geographic proximity (it’s about a fifteen minute drive from Campbellsport to Lomira), but if last year’s dual, which had one tie and SIX lead changes, doesn’t convince you that this will be worth attending, let me state again that Campbellsport’s 230-0 Flyway Conference record is on the line.

230-0. Almost 40 years in the Flyway and not one bout of bad injury luck, one team outmatching them, or even a few swings going the other way have occurred. It is a mark that is nye-impossible to truly wrap your head around, and has to be considered one of the most hyperbolic marks in Wisconsin wrestling history, and Lomira has another chance to add the first blemish to that mark in their home gym. 

Tentative Schedule

6:30 Alumni Introduced

6:48 Team runout

6:50 National Anthem (by youth choir) followed by lineups

7:00 Wrasslin’

Dual starts at 7, watch all the action for FREE on WIWrestle’s Facebook or here on Rokfin

Projected Lineups

Lomira

106: Juan Rosas (5-5, 10)

113: #4 Jordan Lisiecki (18-4, 10, 2024 State Qualifier)

120: Jack Baron (7-7, 11)

126: Jimmie Ward (9-6,12)

132: Cleary Twohig (3-7, 10)

138: #4 Marshall Hanke (28-2, 12)

144: Colin Weber (7-4, 12)

150: #6 Marek Lisiecki (27-4, 6th @ State 2024)

157: Cyle Zinner (11-11, 11)

165: Kolton Wagoner (18-9, 11)

175: Jayden Gibson (17-10, 11)

190: Luke Selzler (2-9, 12)

215: Trent Kulczewski (3-2, 10)

285: Josh Polster (20-7, 12)

Campbellsport

106: Logan Knoeck (21-7, 10)

113: #11 Jacob Allickson (20-8, 11)

120: Garrett Pickering (6-9, 10)

126: Forfeit

132: Ben Sabish (0-1, 12)

138: Anthony Hugley (9)

144: Gavin Pickering (10-7, 11)

150: Erich Cappozzo (16-9, 9)

157: Aydryan Meilahn (4-6, 12)

165: Conner Sitzberger (19-3, 12)

175: Porter Klotz (15-11, 11)

190: John Volz (6-10, 12)

215: Zach Zimdahl (7-9, 11)

285: Brock Bentz (20-7, 12)

Dual Analysis and Predictions

Let’s start off with the flip. There’s two noticeable spots that catch my eye in this one: 126, and 175/190. Campbellsport does have the bodies to make moves and throw a body in to avoid an automatic six. Lomira also has the potential to make moves at the lower weights, and one of their priorities could be getting Jordan Lisiecki on Jacob Allickson and potentially getting bonus points on a wrestler that almost assuredly gets bonus point wins against anyone else in that part of the Lion lineup. Depending on how the dual shapes up, Lomira could also try to pit Gayden Gibson up against John Volz instead of Porter Klotz (they’ve both weighed in at 175 and are very interchangeable) if they are looking to secure a more automatic win. Not to say Klotz beats Gibson without a doubt, but the potential for moves is there. The issue in this is that 175 and 113/126 are not matched up and the winning team will have to decide which battle is more important. We won’t go too far into this as both coaches know these lineups far better than I could, and I can’t count the amount of times I’ve overanalyzed potential dual decisions only for a kid to weigh in at a different weight, or a lineup bump occurs in a spot that I couldn’t think of ahead of time. To tie the knot on this portion, you know it’s going to be a great dual when whoever wins the coin flip still has tough decisions to make, and I’m excited to see how the coaches play this one out!

If our projected lineups don’t get completely thrown out of whack (no promises), I see two factors that will majorly shape this dual. First and foremost, Lomira will look for eighteen points from their three-headed monster of ranked wrestlers. Bonus points will be scored in bunches in this dual, and this could end up being a race to who scores 40 points. The reason I emphasize the Lion’s hammers (#4 Jordan Lisiecki, #4 Marshall Hanke, #6 Marek Lisiecki) is that last year they picked up sixteen points in what came to a one-point loss. Credit to Campbellsport’s wrestlers for fighting hard to save two bonus points last year, but with another year of experience and a one-point dual loss, I’m expecting Hanke and the Lisieckis to fight more tactfully for the pin, which is a tougher battle this year given the new scoring system.

A couple of rematches from last year’s dual could also have a seismic impact on how this dual shakes out. At 144, Gavin Pickering and Colin Weber battled to a 6-4 decision in Weber’s favor and are both slotted in the same projected weight class. 165 could feature Conner Sitzberger vs. Kolton Wagoner, and the Campbellsport senior will look to not only match his victory from last year (12-7), but could look to build on that and potentially find a major if this matchup leads to the same high-scoring affair that we were treated to last year. This match is also key in that it could very well shape the lineup decisions made going into 175.

Last but not least, this is not a rematch nor a ranked match at that, but if this dual starts at 106 there is the potential this one comes down to two heavyweights in Brock Bentz and Josh Polster (both seniors at that) who share the same 20-7 record right now! It would be hard to top the story told between these two teams from last year, but a must-win match between two opponents of equal caliber at 285 certainly serves as a nice narrative.

This dual is going to have it all: momentum swings, lead changes, and more than likely a wrestler or two who, if they’re not known by the Wisconsin wrestling community now, will make a name for themselves by the time all is said and done tomorrow night. The atmosphere will be top-notch, the wrestling will be fun, and just like last year this dual will be a win for Wisconsin wrestling in general.

Predictions

Teague: Campbellsport 38, Lomira 35

Steve: Lomira 37, Campbellsport 34

I learned the hard way last year that picking against the Cougars and their magic Flyway Conference dust just isn’t the move. It’s funny that Steve and I essentially have this as a six point difference, so I’m guessing there’s a difference in opinion on a swing match or two. If things go the Lion’s way (and in their home gym at that!!) Steve will met with cheers and paraded out on a throne as he enters the predictions hall-of-fame by correctly prognosticating 230-1.

Dual starts at 7, watch all the action for FREE on WIWrestle’s Facebook or here on Rokfin

P.S. Our local eatery of choice beforehand will be at the Pioneer Keg in Theresa, just outside of Lomira. Steve loves himself a good burger and if you’ve read this far please feel free to throw an appetizer recommendation my way. The possibility of the Three-Pound Brewmaster’s Challenge (one pound patty, one pound of cheese curds, one pound of french fries) is enticing but now that I am 30-years old I have made the business decision that the Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger will do significantly less damage to my mind and body. Special thanks to Tom Kulczewski and the Buske family for donating to the cause, the Lomira hospitality is already shining through and we haven’t even stepped foot in their gym yet!