2022 Pulaski Invite

[Pulaski Coach]

Complied by our good friend, Armdrag.  Thanks for creating this write-up.

Pulaski Invite
If the old saying is true, Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder, then there are a lot of wrestling fans really excited about this year's Pulaski Invite!!! "The Invite" as it has become known over the years, is back after a missed year last season. The Invite, regarded as the toughest, all Wisconsin school, tournament in the State has long been the late season measuring stick for high school wrestlers ready to make a long, deep post season run. They say if you can win at Pulaski you can win at the State tournament, as brackets will be loaded with several State ranked wrestlers from all three divisions. It's not uncommon to see State ranked individuals squaring off as early as the quarter final round. The Invite will quickly point out the flaws of even the highest-ranking wrestlers, as well as affirm what is right with their preparation and plan. Giving them two weeks to keep accentuating the positives and quickly make fixes to the short comings that may keep them from their Kohl Center goals.
This years Invite will boast 8 State ranked teams out of a 16-team field! Two teams enter this year's Invite with a #1 ranking, Coleman in DIII and Kaukauna in DI. The Cougars will bring 11 state ranked individuals into The Invite, the most of any team, making them one of the favorites in the team race. Kaukauna will counter with 6 ranked individuals, including State ranked #1 and Nationally ranked #17 Greyson Clark at 138. Luxemburg-Casco, the next highest ranked team, DII #2, will certainly have something to say about who brings home the team title, as they bring 10 ranked wrestlers to the field. This is second most and the only team to bring in two #1 ranked wrestlers. Easton Worachek at 126 and 138 pounder Max Ronsman.
The battle for the 14 individual Invite titles will be fierce! With 67 state ranked individuals, including 4 #1 ranked wrestlers, the afore mentioned Clark, Worachek, and Ronsman will be joined by Clayton Whiting, the #1 ranked DII 182 pounder from Oconto Falls. Whitting, like Greyson Clark, is also Nationally ranked, he is our country's #2 ranked 182 pounder.  Also, 4 #2 State ranked individuals will be taking the mat at the Invite: Wyatt Magolski, of New London DII 106 pounds, Joey Showalter, DI of Elkhorn, along with two 145 pounders DI's Jacob Ward of Bay Port, and DII's Nathan VandeHey of Freedom. Three Fargo freestyle All-Americans will also be on display Saturday in the Pulaski fieldhouse. As you might expect based on their National rankings Clayton Whitting and Greyson Clark were both Fargo AA's last summer placing 5th and 8th respectively. Hortonville's line-up features the third All-American in 113 pounder Wyatt Skebba. Skebba was also the USAW Preseason National Champ.


Participating Teams         Team Rank         # of ranked individuals      
        Antigo                           1
   Bay Port         DI HM               5
   Coleman          DIII #1               11
   Denmark         DII HM               5
   Elkhorn                           1
   Freedom         DII #9               5
   Hortonville                                 5
   Kaukauna         DI #1               6
   Luxemburg-Casco   DII #2                    10
   New London                        3
   Oconto Falls      DII #8               5
   Peshtigo                                2
   Port Washington                             3
   Pulaski         DI #11               3
   Seymour                                1
   West DePere                        1


106 (7 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #6   Tristin Ellerman      Hortonville
DI #8   Owen Wathke      Bay Port
DI HM   Ashton Kapla      Pulaski                  7th @ 113
DII #2    Wyatt Magolski      New London
DII #6   Peter Tomazevic           Freedom
DII #9   Jake Jandrin      Luxemburg-Casco
DIII #9   Conner Markiewicz   Coleman

This weight class appears to be wide open. Based on rankings #2 Magolski of New London seems to be the logical favorite. However, Hortonville's #6 Tristin Ellerman has a split with Magolski in head-to-head matches, winning the most recent match up in the On the Water semi-final. Wathke, Tomazevic, Jandrin, and Markiewicz are all very capable of running the table and winning this weight class as well. Don't sleep on hometown favorite Honorable Mention, Ashton Kapala, he is the only entrant at this weight who has placed at a Pulaski Invite. The coaching staff at Pulaski always has their guys primed and ready to go for this tournament, along with the hometown crowd he certainly will play a part in how this weight plays out. One thing is for sure at 106 pounds the margin for error is very small for whomever comes out on top.


113 (5 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #4    Wyatt Skebba      Hortonville      2nd @ 106      5th @ 106
DI #12   Ethan Eggert      Pulaski
DII #9    Isaac Jerabek      Luxemburg-Casco
DII #10   Cole Bozile      Oconto Falls
DIII #6   Raymond LeMieux   Coleman      6th @ 113      4th @ 106

Not quite as wide open as the 106-pound weight class, two wrestlers jump out at you as the main favorites to win this weight class. Two former Invite place winners, Fargo All-American and State runner-up Wyatt Skebba and 6th place State medalist, Coleman's Raymond LeMieux on paper seem to have an edge over the rest of the field. However, a deeper dive into this weight class tells us not to count out Isaac Jerabek who already has a 5-3 win over LeMieux. If experience tells us one thing, NEVER count out the local boys at the Invite!! Ethan Eggert may have the lowest ranking of all the ranked wrestlers at this weight, but there is something about the Red Raider wrestlers when you get them in front of the hometown crowd, they seem to shine a bit brighter. Don't sleep on the Pulaski product, he may shake up this bracket


120 (6 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #2   Lucas Peters      Kaukauna
DI #11   Griffin Jens      Hortonville
DII #5   Graeson Pankratz   Oconto Falls   6th @ 113      8th @ 106
DII #9   Blakelee Bastien           Luxemburg-Casco
DII #12   Brett Soquet      Denmark
DIII #7   John Nowak      Coleman               8th @ 113

Much like 106, it is difficult to pick a clear-cut favorite here at 120. Many would argue Lucas Peters based on his #2 ranking and all his success the past season and a half. Some would make a case for Pankratz of Oconto Falls. He is the next highest in the rankings but also has previously placed at the Invite and took 6th at last years State tournament. John Nowak of Coleman brings in the #7 ranking and placed previously as well, so some may be leaning toward him. However, he has head-to-head losses to Pankratz (10-0), Bastien (10-2) and Soquet (4-2). Whoever comes out on top here will certainly have earned it!




126 (8 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #4   Bryan Winans      Kaukauna               4th @ 113
DI #11   Kaiden Schumacher   Port Washington            7th @ 126
DI #9   Owen Noel              Bay Port
DI HM       Nolan Skebba      Hortonville
DII #1   Easton Worachek   Luxemburg-Casco   1st @ 106      3rd @ 106
DII HM   Alec Bergelin      Denmark               6th @106
DII HM   Reese Yunke      Peshtigo
DIII #5   Brady Gross      Coleman

It would be very hard to argue against Easton Worachek of Luxemburg-Casco to win this weight class. Not only is he the highest ranked wrestler in the weight class (DII #1) but also a returning 3rd place finisher at the Invite, and a returning State champ! He has a 15-0 victory over DI #11 Noel, and a pin over DIII #5 Brady Gross, as well as a pin of Kaiden Schumacher in 2:48, all three are considered contenders at this weight.  Bryan Winans of Kaukauna (DI #4) will provide a stiff test as he is the next highest returning place winner. Worachek and Winans may be headed to a finals showdown, but the other placement matches should be very entertaining as it appears the talent level is pretty evenly distributed here after the top two.

132 (5 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #2   Joey Showalter      Elkhorn      2nd @ 113      2nd @ 106
DI #6   Connor Smith      Kaukauna
DI #11    Henry Niebauer      Hortonville
DII #6    Caleb Delebreau     Luxemburg-Casco
DIII #8   Chance Gruber      Coleman                        5th @ 120

Joey Showalter based off his DI #2 ranking, 2nd place State finish in 2021, and his runner up finish here at the invite in 2020 is the highest credentialed wrestler at 132. However, there is a lot of talent among the other 4 guys ranked guys at this weight. The battle for the top spot on the podium will be fun to watch. Delebreau is the next highest ranked wrestler (DII #6), and he owns a victory, 3-0, over the only other returning Invite place winner at this weight, Chance Gruber (DIII #8). Conner Smith can certainly be in the hunt as well with his tough schedule, and #7 DI ranking he will be ready to contend. He holds a 4-0 win over Henry Niebauer (DI #10). Though Niebauer has the lowest ranking here and a head-to-head loss to Smith, don't count him out of the mix. He out placed Gruber at On The Water, placing 4th, while Gruber did not place. Again, this will be another balanced weight class with a lot of entertaining matches.

138 (6 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #1   Greyson Clark      Kaukauna      1st @ 126      1st @ 106
DI HM    Brady Krueger      Port Washington
DII #1   Max Ronsman      Luxemburg-Casco 2nd @ 126
DII #8    Ryan Tomazevic      Seymour               3rd @126
DII HM   Luke Trepanier      Oconto Falls            8th @ 126
DIII #8   Micah Kuchta      Coleman

Anytime you get two State ranked #1 wrestlers together in the same weight class you can expect fireworks. That's what makes the Invite such a special tournament, as year in and year out you can expect that to be the case in at least one weight class. The road to the top of the podium you would have to think goes through Greyson Clark. Not only his he ranked #1 in Wisconsin, but #17 Nationally, is a Fargo AA, returning 2X State champ, and an Invite champ. Max Ronsman of Lux-Casco DII #1 and returning State runner up however will be ready for the challenge and certainly will not back down from the fight. This potential finals match up could be electric.

145 (5 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #2   Jacob Ward      Bay Port      6th @ 145
DI HM   Alek Ukkola      West DePere               5th @ 132
DII #2    Nathan VandeHey   Freedom      3rd @ 132              2nd @ 113
DII HM   Tristan Thiry      Luxemburg-Casco
DIII #3 Karson Casper      Coleman      2nd @ 145      1st @ 138

WOW! I am not sure which weight class is more wide open 145 or 106? This bracket could shake out so many ways. This is easily the most highly decorated weight class at this year tournament. Five ranked wrestlers, two #2's, a #3, a #5, and 2 HM!! Of these ranked wrestlers 3 are returning State place winners and 3 are returning Invite medalists. In searching for head-to-head match ups between what many people would think as the top three at this weight class Ward, Vandehey, and Casper I found none. The position on the podium for the wrestlers above might weigh heavily on the seeding of the bracket. One thing is for sure it's going to be a heck of a weight class to watch on Saturday! I am excited to see these guys get after it.

152 (2 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DII #5   Hunter Joniaux      Luxemburg-Casco         4th @ 120
DIII #5   William Bieber      Coleman               2nd @ 126

One thing I can say about 152, with only 2 currently ranked wrestlers here, there is room for some relative unknowns to step up and make a name for themselves. Hunter Joniaux and William Bieber bring in identical rankings, #5 in DII and DIII respectively. Both are returning Invite medalists, Joniaux 4th place and Bieber 2nd place. This will be a fun weight class to watch and see who steps up not only to the top spot on the medal stand, but also who fills in the other steps.


160 (4 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #8   Juddah Hammen   Kaukauna
DII # 7   Ryan Rothieaux      Luxemburg-Casco            5th @ 138
DII HM   Thomas Ullmer      Denmark
DIII #9   Owen Kinziger      Coleman

One returning Invite place winner here in Ryan Rothieaux of Luxemburg-Casco. Will this be enough to give the #7 ranked DII wrestler an edge over the other 3 ranked wrestlers?  Juddah Hammen has emerged as a big talent for the Ghosts and brings in the #8 ranking in DI. Kinziger of Coleman and Ullmer of Denmark will certainly be landmines in the bracket that anyone with plans of winning it all will have to navigate.

170 (3 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DII #6    Elijah Shefchik      Denmark
DII #7   Trace Schoenebeck   Luxemburg-Casco
DIII #3   Cole Klimek      Coleman               7th @ 170

Cole Klimek jumps off the page as a favorite at 170. He is the highest ranked wrestler in the weight class as well as the only one with an Invite medal to his credit. Shefchik and Schoenebeck are certainly formidable contenders as well being State ranked in DII. As with 152, with only 3 ranked wrestlers this weight class will likely see a few up and comes step up, make a name for themselves, and find their way to the Invite podium.

182 (4 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #4   Trent Gibbons      Pulaski                  8th @ 160
DI #6    Drew Wendzicki           Kaukauna
DII #1   Clayton Whiting      Oconto Falls      1st @ 182      1st @ 170
DII HM   Josh Lahay      Freedom

If there is a clear-cut favorite at any weight, Clayton Whiting, may be the clearest of them all. Whiting's resume is nothing short of incredible. He is a returning 3x State champ and Invite champ. He carry's not only the DII State #1 ranking, but is also the country's #2 ranked 182 pounder, is also a returning Fargo All-American placing 5th this summer in freestyle. If that were not enough, he won two college opens this fall beating the University of Iowa starter at one of them, Abe Assad, currently ranked # 17 at 184 pounds in the NCAA DI. Trent Gibbons of Pulaski, who already has a Pulaski medal to his credit, will be ready to wrestle and will have the crowd behind him in his home gym as he tries to make his way to the top step of the medal stand. However, he will need to overcome an earlier head-to-head loss to Whiting to do so. Kaukauna's Drew Wendzicki, and Freedom's Josh Lahay will also provide a test for Whiting.


195 (2 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DII #7   Patrick Moore      Freedom
DII #9   Eagan Babiash      Denmark

195 is totally up for grabs and will be the coming out party for many wrestlers, a real chance for them to etch their names into the record book of the Pulaski Invite history. The two ranked wrestlers Moore and Babiash, both from DII, and are within 2 spots of each other in the rankings should produce a very close match should these two meet. This should be a very exciting weight class to see what upstarts step up and push their way to an Invite podium finish.


220 (3 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #5   Jacob Peacy      Port Washington            4th @ 195
DII #3   De Evian Ross      New London            5th @ 195
DII #8   Connor Thomas      Peshtigo

New London's De Evian Ross (DII #3) brings in the highest ranking and a 5th place finish from the last Invite tournament. He is followed closely by Jacob Peacy (DI #5) of Port Washington. Peacy also has a medal from the last Invite, placing one spot ahead of Ross, 4th at the same weight class. Will we see a showdown with these two for the title this year? Or will Connor Thomas, the only other ranked wrestler here step up and play spoiler??

285 (6 ranked wrestlers)            2021 State Place   2020 Invite Place
DI #7   Vaughn Campbell   Bay Port
DII #8    Brady Vandeweerd   Antigo
DII HM   Hunter Vander Heiden Freedom
DII HM   Keaten Pues      New London            7th @ 220
DII HM    Mitch Kallies      Oconto Falls
DIII #3   Brody Zahn      Coleman               6th @ 220

Six ranked wrestlers at 285 will make this a must-see weight class! So, stay in your seats for the big men, you will probably only need the edge of it though, as these bigs will produce some exciting matches. Based on rankings and past invite placements Brody Zahn would appear to have the inside track to the championship.  But not so fast, he has a very close 4-3 loss to #7 ranked Campbell of Bay Port. Any of the other five wrestlers certainly have the ability to play spoiler here. All are ranked fairly close to each other which tells me we will have some real battles as we watch this weight class play itself out.

*Rankings Based on www.wiwrestling.com, January 26th edition and Flowrestling rankings.
**Participants and weight classes subject to change.
***This document is for entertainment and informational purposes and is not an indication or prediction of the tournament outcome by the author.


      

[Armdrag]

sorry the formatting gets messed up when copied in

[NoFooForU]

Some tournaments have the flash, some have the history.  Very few have both.  The Pulaski Invite is one of the few!  Always look forward to this event.

[thequad]

Can anyone tell me if there is anyway we can get live coverage of any type from this tournament?

[Redeemer]

Can anyone tell me if there is anyway we can get live coverage of any type from this tournament?

Quad,

typically on trackwrestling there is a Dashboard where you can watch match scores live. Are you able to access this feature?

[madeyson]

Looks like the finals will be live streamed at this link.

https://youtu.be/4Ict2hN5X04