Pewaukee, Mukwonago have duo of elite wrestlers as postseason nears

The wrestling postseason has begun, with conference tournaments Feb. 5-6 and regionals the following weekend. As we gear up for what could be a golden postseason for area wrestlers, here are the names to follow. Top-two finishers from each sectional advance to the state tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Aaron Schulist, Mukwonago, 120.As a freshman last year, Schulist was a surprise state finalist, falling by a 5-2 count in the final to Brandon Klein of Stouhgton. He's a known commodity this year but still ranked third behind Drew Scharenbrock of Sun Prairie and Matt Berlin of Oak Creek. Neither is in Mukwonago's sectional, and Pewaukee's Eric Halverson (ranked 10th) is the only other mentioned wrestler in the rankings at the sectional. Schulist beat Scharenbrock at state last year in the opening round.

Nathan Smith, Mukwonago, 138. The reigning state champion is No. 1 at 138, but the question is his health, with an injury keeping him out of the latter portion of the season. He could potentially rematch with the one wrestler to beat him earlier this year, Burlington's Josh Bird, at the sectional. Unless someone stages a surprise, they are the easy two favorites to reach state from the sectional.

Ryan Merkel, Sussex Hamilton, 138.The undefeated wrestler will look to continue Hamilton's 27-year streak of sending a wrestler to state, but it won't be easy. Cedarburg's Colton Ryan is ranked higher (sixth), while Merkel is 12th, and Wauwatosa's Zach Miller and Milwaukee Riverside's Kahlyn Chatman are both in the field with honorable-mention. It could be an interesting class at the Whitefish Bay sectional.

Aidan Yde, Arrowhead, 145. Oliver Arena of West Allis Hale is in the same sectional, and he's an honorable-mention choice, but the sixth-ranked Yde should advance to state where he took third at 126 last year.

Michael Burgireno, Kettle Moraine, 170.The Lasers junior is only ranked honorable mention but has an opportunity at the sectional, with Jake Belongia of New Berlin Eisenhower (ranked 11th) as the only state-ranked wrestler in the field. That opportunity gets even bigger if he drops to 160, as anticipated, where only Tanner Cadman of Waterford (honorable mention) is in the sectional among those showing up on the rankings.

Josh Nowak, Kettle Moraine, 182.Pewaukee's Brandon Berg and Jon Ryback of Mukwonago make this flight interesting, but if Nowak drops to 170, he'll have the aforementioned opportunity.

Brandon Berg, Pewaukee, 182. The upper weights have been sensational the past couple years for Pewaukee, and Berg has certainly played his part. Ranked No. 8 in Division 1, he's the top-ranked 182-pounder in the field.

Jacob Raschka, Pewaukee, 195. The junior is a state-championship favorite, one of four elite grapplers from the area in the upper weight classes. Muskego's Grant Balconi (ranked seventh) may provide some resistance in the sectional, and Waterford's Jack Trautman is honorable mention.

Brett Samson, Oconomowoc, 220. The returning state finalist is ranked No. 2 in the state and has just one loss, to Raschka, and many fans will be hoping for a matchup with Menomonie's Mason Stokke in the final. Fifth-ranked Jordan Barr of Elkhorn will be at the Verona sectional, but that's all among ranked wrestlers.

Blaze Beltran, Pewaukee, 285. The junior has emerged as the state's No. 1 heavyweight, though Muskego's Jorin McGuire (ranked eighth) will at least provide a push in the sectional, with no other ranked wrestlers on hand. The undefeated Beltran and Raschka will try to become the third and fourth state champions in program history.

Others:Dominic Dentino, Arrowhead (106); Nick Starich, Pewaukee (113); Nick Armstrong, Mukwonago (126); Brandon Laughlin, Oconomowoc (160); Jon Ryback, Mukwonago (182); Jake Macaluso, Hamilton (285)

Team competition:Fifth-ranked Stoughton will be favored to emerge as the regional champion to the team sectional at Sun Prairie, where Oconomowoc will be one of the suitors for that spot. Milton is the top team on the other side of the sectional.

Fourth-ranked Mukwonago (Muskego regional) and 10th-ranked Pewaukee (Brookfield Central regional) could meet at Burlington in the team sectional. Though traditional power Burlington might give Mukwonago a push, it would be a shock if this didn't come to pass.

Menomonee Falls, Arrowhead, Cedarburg, Hamilton and Arrowhead will all be competing in the same regional for a team-sectional spot that seems up for grabs at Menomonee Falls. Falls is probably the favorite.

Pictured: Pewaukee junior Blaze Beltran (left) escapes from Mukwonago’s Erik Hendriksen at 285-pounds during the dual meet at Pewaukee on Jan. 13. Beltran won the match and his the No. 1 heavyweight in the state, and the two teams could easily meet again at the team sectional. Photo by Scott Ash.