Pulaski Invite

[beswres00]

Less than a week away from what I think is one of or is the toughest one day tournament in the state.

Rankings are based off Wisconsin grappler 1-10-24

6 ranked team

#1 D1 KK            #1 D2 LC      #4 D3 Cole
#2 D1 BP            #3 D2 Free
#7 D1 Hort

76 ranked wrestlers

106
#4 BP
#4 Cole
#7 LC
#8 KK
#10 WDP
HM Sey

113
#2 LC
#5 KK
#7 Sey
HM Cole
HM New L
HM OCF

120
#2 LC
#3 Cran
#3 New L
#4 BP
#8 KK

126
#4 BP
#5 LC
HM Cran
HM Hort

132
#2 KK
#3 Free
#4 LC
#9 Pul
HM Hort
HM Sey

138
#3 Cran
#4 Hort
#5 LC

144
#5 Cole
#6 LC
#8 Cran
HM Free
HM Hort

150
#2 LC
#2 Hort
#5 Cole
#9 Port
#10 KK
HM Pesh
HM BP

157
#2 KK
#6 Den
HM Pesh
HM Free

165
#3 Cole
#7 Den
#8 Ant
HM Pesh
HM Cran

175
#3 Free
#6 LC
#7 KK
HM BP
HM Cole
HM Hort
HM New L

190
#3 LC
HM Cole
HM Free
HM OcFal
HM Port

215
#2 Port
#3 Pesh
#6 Free
#7 Sey
HM LC
HM New L

Hwt
#2 Cran
#2 Free
#3 Cole
#6 KK
#8 BP
HM New L

Who come away with the team title?

Who wins each weight?

[rankwizard]

If LC can bring their full team it would be a great battle between KK and LC. Currently the LC 106 is out, and I am not sure if he plans on being back this weekend.

 It'll be interesting to see how Bay Port scores in certain brackets as they can stay within reach of KK.

There are a lot of good individual matchup to look forward to, the classic Pulaski final matches are always worth the price of admission.

[Armdrag]

my annual write up breaking this tournament down will be complete by Wednesday afternoon

[rankwizard]

my annual write up breaking this tournament down will be complete by Wednesday afternoon

Nice.

I know Hortonville's team didn't come together as I expected but they are still one of the top teams in D1 for sure. I may not be a fan of moving teams up to D1 and D2 as we'll do next year, but I'm definitely a fan of using a different method to create sectionals.

[rankwizard]

my annual write up breaking this tournament down will be complete by Wednesday afternoon

Were you planning on posting your write up on the forum

[Armdrag]

all right.........i tried to post the Pulaski Invite preview this AM and it would not post, too large.....also it really messes with the alignment and justification of the document.........I am still going to post but in smaller segments at a time..............lets see what happens

[Armdrag]

The Pulaski Invite

If it were a college football bowl game it would be the "Granddaddy of them All", the Rose Bowl. A horse race, "The Run For the Roses", the Kentucky Derby. A baseball game, "The Fall Classic", the World Series. Or  a stock car race, "The Great American Race",the Daytona 500. But it's one of the toughest, single day, wrestling tournaments in Wisconsin, and over the  past 54 years it has simply become known as "The Invite"!

Pulaski High School will be the destination once again as some of the best talent assembled in a one day tournament descend on Northeast Wisconsin to vie for the right to be called "The Invite Champ". As so many wrestlers have proved before them, if you are ready and worthy of winning the Pulaski Invitational, you are ready to take on Madison, and the State Wrestling Tournament.

This year's field of 17 teams is loaded with talent from all three divisions! Six of the seventeen teams will enter "The Invite" with State rankings, including two number one ranked teams!! 65 individual place winners from last year's Pulaski Invite will be back in action this year, including 4 champs. In total 79 state ranked wrestlers will be competing in Pulaski. That distinguished group is made up of 32 returning State Qualifiers, 16 of them State Place winners, including a State champ.


Kaukauna comes in as not only the reigning Pulaski Invite champs, but also the  State Team champs. They are the consensus number one ranked division I team in Wisconsin. Their line up is loaded with 5 returning Invite placewinners, including 2 returning champs. 9 of the Ghosts' wrestlers will come to Pulaski as state ranked wrestlers.

The other State ranked number one team is Luxemburg-Casco. They hold that ranking in division II. The Spartans are also coming off a State team title season a year ago. Finishing as a runner up to Kaukauna at last year's Invite, they will bring 9 returning placewinners from the Invite of 2023, one being a reigning champ. An amazing 11 Spartans are currently ranked in the State of Wisconsin. This could be an epic battle for the Team trophy in 2024!

Bay Port (#2 DI), Freedom (#3 DII), Coleman (#4 DIII), and Hortonville (#7, DI), enter this year's Invite field as the other four state ranked teams. Bay Port's line up will feature 5 returning placewinners as well as 6 state ranked individuals. The Irish of Freedom boast 6 returning placewinners from 2023, one of them an Invite champ,  and an impressive 7 individual ranked wrestlers. Coleman brings with them a line up that matches Luxemburg-Casco's 9 returning Invite place winners, as well as 9 state ranked wrestlers. While the Polar Bear of Hortonville will counter with 4 returning Pulaski Invite placewinners of their own and 6 state ranked wrestlers. These four will look to play the role of spoiler as this year's Invite.


The Teams

# Ranked Wrestlers   # Returning Invite Placers   2023 Finish   

Antigo            2         4             15th
Bay Port         6         5             3rd
Coleman            9         9             6th
Crandon            6         N/A             N/A
Denmark            2         2             9th
Elkhorn            1         1             11th
Freedom            6         6             4th
Hortonville         6         4             7th
Kaukauna         9         5             1st
Luxemburg-Casco         11         9             2nd
New London         3         1             12th
Oconto Falls         3         3             14th
Peshtigo         4         3             13th      Port Washington         3         2             10th
Pulaski            2         7             5th
Seymour            5         4             8th
West DePere         1         1             16th

[Armdrag]

The Weight Classes


106                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #4) Braeden Hamill (9) Bay Port
(DI WL) Nolan Micke (10) Kaukauna
(DI #8) Thomas Heraly (9) West DePere
(DII #8) Jake Jandrin (12) Lux-Casco      1st(106)      5th(106)
(DII WL) Logan Boehnlein (9) Seymour
(DIII #4) Parker Owens (10) Coleman       6th(106)

The early favorite here has to be Hamill of Bay Port. He holds a head to head win over 3 of the 6 ranked guys at this weight class. That includes a very close 4-2 win over Jandrin, last year's champ and state placewinner. But don't count out the Spartan, Jandrin is a Sr. wrestling 106 pounds and has experience at the Invite, a rematch is sure to be a battle. Nolan Micke is having a great season, and has not faced anyone in this bracket. He may be the guy to prevent a rematch. Parker Owens was pinned by Hamill earlier this season, but he also holds a win over DI #8 Heraly of West Depere. Looks to be solid, competitive depth at this weight class, whoever comes out on top will have wrestled a great tournament.


113                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #5) Andy DiPiazza (9) Kaukauna
(DII #2) Carson Blohowiak (11) Lux-Casco
(DII #5) Aidan Peters (9) Seymour
(DII #8) Garrett Ganter (11) Oconto Falls      4th(106)      Qualifier(106)
(DIII WL) Person Owens (9) Coleman

This weight class is wide open. My research shows no head to head matches between the 6 ranked wrestlers here. Blohowiak, brings in the highest ranking,and is an upperclassman. Fellow Junior, Ganter, the Panther from Oconto Falls is the highest returning placewinner, and only State qualifier in the group. DiPiazza, the second highest ranked wrestler, may also be in the running for the best name at the 2024 Pulaski Invite, but he will also be well prepared to win this weight class with the difficult schedule he has wrestled to date. Take your pick, I can't decide who the favorite is here.

120                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #4) Owen Wathke (11) Bay Port         3rd(113)      Qualifier(120)
(DI #9) Nick Jenkins (11) Kaukauna         3rd(106)      Qualifier(106)   
(DII #2) Carson Neubert (9) Lux-Casco   
(DII #4) Wyatt Magolski (12) New London      2nd(113)      4th(113)
(DIII #3) Mason Dewing (11)                     Qualifier(113)

Only five ranked wrestlers in the field at 120 pounds, but loaded with talent. Three of the five are high returning placer winners  from the invite of 2023, and 4 have State tournament experience. Carson Neubert is the highest ranked wrestler here and sports 3 wins over the DI #4 wrestler, Wathke of Bay Port. While New London's Wyatt Magolski, the lone wrestler with a State medal here, also has an 8-0 win over Wathke and an 8-5 win over Crandon's Dewing. Will the Sr. Magolski's experience at the Invite, being a runner up last year, be enough to help him take out the higher ranked freshman Neubert? Will Mason Dewing, DIII's lone ranked representative here make some noise? Or perhaps Jenkins, who does not have a head to head match with any of the ranked guys here, steps up and turns his bronze from 2023 into gold in 2024. No matter how it shakes out I feel we are in store for a great weight class.


126                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #4) Alois Schlumpf (10) Bay Port         4th(120)      4th(113)
(DI #9) Tristin Ellerman (12) Hortonville
(DII #5) Michael Bostwick (12) Lux-Casco      5th(113)      6th(113)
(DIII WL) Brayden Madl (11) Crandon               Qualifier(120)

Three of the four ranked wrestlers in the field at 126 pounds have been to the Kohl Center, with two of them bringing home State Tournament medals. On paper it appears that Schlumpf of Bay Port is your favorite. He has the highest finish from last year's invite, highest ranking, highest State finish, and has 14-1 over the other State medal winner Bostwick. Brayden Madl, has experience wrestling at the Kohl Center as well, and I am sure has his sight on the top of the podium. Don't count out Hortonville's Tristin Ellerman, his resume includes some wins over highly ranked wrestlers this year. He will also play a factor in who stands on top on Saturday night.

132                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #2) Lucas Peters (12) Kaukauna         1st(126)      1st(126)
(DI WL) Conner Nooyen (12) Pulaski         
(DI WL) Cash Botting (10) Hortonville               Qualifier(120)
(DII #3) Peter Tomazevic (11) Freedom      3rd(120)      Qualifier(120)
(DII #4) Blakelee Bastien (11) Lux-Casco      2nd(126)      3rd(120)
(DII WL) Connor Steffen (11) Seymour      6th(120)

There are a lot of Pulaski Invite tournament medalist on display here, and a State Champion. That being said it would be hard to argue against Peters as being the favorite at 132. Not much head to head action to use as comparison here. So based on ranking and past placements Tomazevic and Bastien are your next best bets to face Peters in the finals. A lot will depend on seating here. Don't write off Steffen and Botting either. As Steffen placed 6th here last year, and Botting was a state qualifier. Nooyen will have the hometown crowd behind him which always means a lot at the Invite!


138                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #4) Nolan Skebba   (11) Hortonville               Qualifier(120)
(DII #6) Caleb Delebreau (11) Lux-Casco      3rd(138)      6th(138)
(DII #7) Cole Bozile (11) Oconto Falls      4th(126)      4th(126)
(DIII #3) Elias Glinski (12) Crandon                  4th(132)

There will be four ranked wrestlers competing for the title. But man those four bring some serious credentials with them. Cole Bozile of Oconto Falls, 4th in 2023 at the Invite and the State tournament is a serious contender. Neither Crandon's Glinski, or Hortonville's Skebba competed in the 2023 version of the Invite, as Crandon was not a team entry and Skebba was injured. Both, however, advanced to the State tournament, with Glinski bringing home a 4th place medal. Glinski also just recently recorded his 150th career victory! The Spartans Caleb Delebreau, placed 3rd here last year, as well as 6th at the Kohl Center. The only head to head matchup was a hard fought 5-3 victory by Skebba over Glinski. All four of these competitors are very evenly matched, along with the rest of the field here this weight is pretty wide open to fill the top 8 steps on the podium.

[Armdrag]

144                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI WL) Grant Harris (12) Hortonville         4th(145)
(DII #5) Isaac Jerabek (12) Lux-Casco      2nd(120)      Qualifier(120)
(DII WL) Murphy Beyer (9) Freedom   
(DII WL) Wyatt Bunnell (11) Seymour   
(DIII #5) Brady Gross (12) Coleman         8th(138)      4th(138)
(DIII #8) Ty Dennee (11) Crandon

The Cougar's Brady Gross is possibly the favorite here, based on his highest State finish from 2023. He also has a pin over Harris to his credit. Jerabek, the runner up here last year and a returning state qualifier, along with DIII #8 ranked Dennee will certainly push him. Dennee also has a 9-7 S.V. win over Harris. Beyer is having an outstanding season for a freshman at a middle weight class. Don't write off Harris based on his two losses to wrestlers in this bracket. He was 4th here a season ago, so has proven he can do some damage at the Invite.

150                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #2) Henry Niebauer (12) Hortonville      4th(138)      Qualifier(138)
(DI #7) Brady Krueger   (12) Port Washington   
(DI #8) Kolin Degroot (10) Kaukauna
(DI WL) Cole Bartlein (9) Bay Port
(DII #2) Max Ronsman (12) Lux-Casco               2nd(145)
(DII WL) Reese Yunke (12) Peshtigo         6th(138)
(DII WL) Jayson Arrowhead (11) Antigo      7th(145)
(DIII #5) Cameron Kimmell (12) Coleman      5th(145)

Eight, yes eight ranked wrestlers here at 150. With this many ranked wrestlers it is not surprising that there are a handful of head to head matchups to try and sort out. Obviously seeding, and who shows up ready to string multiple good matches together over the course of the day will be a huge factory in who the last two standing on Saturday night will be. Looking at rankings obviously the two #2 ranked wrestlers stand out as your early favorites. Niebauer is the highest returning place winner, a state qualifier, and has head to head wins over Krueger 10-3, and Degroot 4-0. Ronsman did not place here last year, I do not believe he was an entrant?? He is however a State runner up from 2023. He boasts a 5-0 win over Krueger, as well as a 9-1 win over Bartlein. The next highest ranked wrestler is Coleman's #5 Cameron Kimmell, however he has a 12-7 loss from Bartlein. Kaukauna's Kolin Degroot, maybe the wrestlers to keep an eye on here. His only head to head matchup is with Neibauer, a very close 4-0 decision. Going to be a lot of fun at 150.

157                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #2) Peyton Lee (11) Kaukauna         3rd(152)
(DII WL) Steven Kielpikowski (10) Denmark      5th(138)      Qualifier(138)
(DII WL) Ethan Brissette (12) Peshtigo      3rd(145)


The potential for a crazy wide open bracket could very well be this one. Payton Lee has to be considered the favorite here based on his #2 DI ranking and 3rd place finish in 2023. The other 2 ranked wrestlers all come in with a DII Watch List ranking.  Kielpikowski, of Denmark and Brissette of Peshtigo, will provide a tough challenge. Kielpikowski placed 5th at the Invite in 2023, and was a state qualifier. While Brissette, placed 3rd here a year ago. The top spot may well belong to one of these 3 individuals, but the rest of the podium rungs are wide open to anyone in this bracket. Should be a fun one to watch shake out!

165                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #1) Liam Crook (10) Kaukauna         1st(160)      5th(160)
(DII #7) Nolan Kielcheski (11) Antigo         8th(160)
(DII WL) Carson Peterson (11) Denmark      
(DII WL) Lincoln Nemec (10) Peshtigo      7th(152)
(DIII #3) Micah Kuchta (11) Coleman         3rd(160)      3rd(160)
(DIII WL) Cruz Palubicki (10) Crandon

Early odds on favorite here is Kaukauna's Liam Crook. A champ at the Invite in 2023 and a 5th place State finisher. He has been out for a bit but if he is back to full strength he is a handful.
Kuchta of Coleman placed 3rd at both the 2023 Pulaski Invite and State tournament. He is currently the second highest ranked wrestler at this weight and owns a 7-1 win over Peterson. Look for him to push Crook for the 2024 Invite championship. Antigo's Kielcheski could certainly give the Red Robins a champ here. He brings in a DII #7 ranking and has wins over Palubicki, of Crandon, and Nemec, of Peshtigo, both by pin.

175                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #7) Brady Spranger (10) Kaukauna
(DI #8) Ayden Needham (12) Hortonville       5th(160)
(DI WL) Nicholas Schomaker (12) Bay Port      7th(138)
(DII #4) Patrick Moore (12) Freedom         4th(182)      Qualifier(182)
(DII #7) Sam Schultz (12) Lux-Casco         6th(170)   
(DIII WL) Isaiah Nowak (11) Coleman      6th(182)

This is going to be a very exciting, close weight class. Moore of Freedom brings in the highest ranking, highest 2023 Invite placement, and is the lone returning State qualifier. He also has  a 16-5 head to head win over the Schultz (DII #7) of Luxemburg-Casco and a 4-0 win over Nowak of Coleman. Kaukauna's Brady Sprangers is certainly in the hunt too. He has a very slim 5-4 s.v. win over Needham from Hortonville. Needham will be right there at the end as well, he brings a 8-4 decision with him over Schomaker. I also would not write off Schomaker. The Bay Port wrestler has a head to head 4-3 win over Nowak, and a split with Schultz, an 8-4 win and a 7-5 loss. This may be a weight class that if you wrestle it 10 times you would get 10 different results. Whoever comes in with the best preparation and mindset will walk out with the gold.

[Armdrag]

190                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #5) Chase Woosencraft (12) Pulaski      4th(170)
(DI WL) Diego Armendariz (12) Port Washington   7th(182)      Qualifier(182)
(DII #3) Trace Schoenebeck (11) Lux-Casco      2nd (182)      2nd(182)
(DII WL) Nick Trepanier (10) Oconto Falls      
(DII WL) Cooper Cappaert (11) Freedom      
(DIII WL) West Bieber (11) Coleman   

This could shape up to be a two horse race between Lux-Casco's Schoenebeck and the hometown hero the Red Raiders own Chase Woosencraft. Schoenebeck was a runner up here last season and also a runner up at the Kohl Center. He has a pin and a 6-1 win over Armendariz of Port Washington, a pin of Cooper Cappaert, and a 6-0 decision over Trepanier. On paper he would appear to be the front runner. However, Woosencraft will have the Pulaski faithful on his side, and will be on his home mat. Having been in attendance at the Invite for many years, I have seen the hometown Red Raiders wrestling extremely well at their tournament.  He brings in a DI #5 ranking of his own, a 4th place finish here in 2023, and a pin and an 11-1 win over Armendariz, and two wins over Trepanier 8-4 and 7-0. The rest of this talented field will certainly keep this weight class interesting.      









215                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #2) Garrett Kawczynski (10) Port Washington   1st(220)      3rd(220)
(DII #3) Connor Thomas (12) Peshtigo               2nd(220)
(DII #6) Henry VanderHeiden (11) Freedom      3rd(220)      Qualifier(220)
(DII #7) Cael Leisgang (10) Seymour         5th(195)
(DII WL) Ezra Waege (12) Lux-Casco      2nd(195)
(DII WL) Preston Krueger (9) New London
(DIII WL) Devin Otto (10) Coleman         6th(220)      Qualifier(220)

Look at the talent at 215!! Seven ranked wrestlers, 5 with Pulaski Invitation medals, including a returning champ. Four state qualifiers, one being a State runner up and another finishing 3rd as a Freshman at 220!! This will be a very exciting weight class. Where to start breaking this down? The Port Washington Pirate, Garrett Kawczynski, is your returning champ, and highest ranked individual who also has a bronze medal from the State tournament. Holds head to head wins over Krueger by pin, and Waege by pin and 18-3. Connor Thomas will provide a very stout challenge. He comes in ranked one spot lower than Kawczynski albeit in the division two polls. Thomas has a State runner up finish from 2023 on his resume a 10-4 win over Krueger and a 2-1 win over Seymour's Leisgang. So those two individuals stand out as favorites to be on top of the podium. But I would not be surprised with all this talent here if someone steps up, flips the script and pulls an upset. Especially on my radar is Leisgang. His loss to Thomas was a very slim 2-1 decision, those are the types of matches that can very easily go the other way. 

285                     2023 Invite      2023 State
(DI #6) Nehemiah Lendobeja (10) Kaukauna
(DI #8) Alex Warden (11) Bay Port         
(DI WL) Nathan Langdon (11) ELkhorn      5th(285)
(DII #2) Hunter VanderHeiden (11) Freedom      1st(285)      4th(285)
(DII WL) Braxton Bryant (11) New London      
(DIII #2) Connor Lawrence (12) Crandon
(DIII #3) Kain Otto (11) Coleman         4th(285)      Qualifier(285)

Not to be out done by 215, the big boys at 285 also have 7 ranked individuals! I know I allude to this every year, but being an ex big guy myself, they hold a special place in my heart. Don't leave your seats to get your world famous polish sausage when these men are on the mat! They are big, strong, athletic and man can the guys in this group above wrestle. Hard to pick a favorite here. VanderHeiden was the champ last year, placed 4th at State and is ranked #2 in division two. He has a pin over Lawrence (DIII #2) and a pin over Otto (DIII #3). However, Lendobeja of Kaukauna will certainly have something to say about this. As he is ranked #6 in division one and holds a slim 4-3 decision victory over VanderHeiden. Warden of Bay Port and Langdon of Elkhorn will also be tough outs as they hold some head to head victories over others in this bracket.
   
*Rankings courtesy of wisconsingrappler.com. The DI and DII ranking are taken from the January 23, edition of the rankings, while the DIII ranking are the January 11th edition.

* Line ups are subject to change without notice!

** The above is meant solely for entertainment purposes! It does not represent or express the thoughts or feelings of the author!!!!!!
         
   

[Armdrag]

well that's messy...........but better than nothing I guess..........enjoy.......hopefully peaks some interest and gets people to come out and see some great wrestling

[rankwizard]

Thanks ArmDrag, I enjoyed reading your writing.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and seeing who comes ready to go, which kids might be sitting out, and all the good matchups that can take place.

[Whizzersoldman]

  What a great tournament! The ones standing on the top of the podium at Pulaski will also be standing on the podium at Madison. The history of this tournament shows that.  Also the Polish sausages are the best.

[bud]

Rankwizard, can you take the time to post the Pulaski champs vs the Highlander champs so fans can debate which 1 day tournament was tougher this year?

[rankwizard]

Rankwizard, can you take the time to post the Pulaski champs vs the Highlander champs so fans can debate which 1 day tournament was tougher this year?

Hey, possibly later today I can post each finalist nd his accolades. Highlander might have the stronger group this year because of the certain talent from that one family