By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — Marshfield came into its Wisconsin Valley Conference wrestling match with Wisconsin Rapids undermanned and did not stand much of a chance against the undefeated Raiders.

Wisconsin Rapids won all but two matches to improve to 4-0 in Valley dual meets with a 61-6 victory over the Tigers on Thursday night at Marshfield High School. The Tigers are now 1-2.

Marshfield’s Anthony Kanable moved to 3-0 in the conference with a 4-0 victory over Max Benitz at 132 pounds in the first match.

Kanable had a three-point nearfall in the second period and held control in the third to ride out the win.

“He’s really stepped up,” Marshfield coach Jackson Hein said. “Believe it or not, in middle school he had a losing record all the way up. He’s the type that you ask him to do something and he doesn’t think twice. You ask him to jump, and he says, ‘How high?’ It’s one of those things that anything I have challenged him to do, he has come through.

“I’m training him to win a state title, and he knows that. He always builds off his experiences, and he’s improving dramatically throughout the year.”

Marshfield was without some of its top wrestlers. Devon Klement, Josh Lang, Ryan Wilsmann and Mitch Hertel were all out of the lineup.

The Tigers had to forfeit four matches—the 106-pound match was a double forfeit—putting them at a big disadvantage before the dual even started.

“Typically, you don’t forfeit four matches,” Hein said. “The biggest thing we’re dealing with is adversity. That’s what high school athletics is about: teaching kids how to deal with adversity, teaching them how to come through and keep fighting. Sometimes that’s all you have left. You keep going at it and face the grind.”

Marshfield’s other victory came at 113 pounds where Noah Gerdes beat Bryson Einerson 5-4.

Gerdes took a 5-2 lead with a takedown early in the third period. Einerson had a reversal and nearly earned nearfall points, but the Gerdes was able to hold him off to grab the victory.

“He found a way to win in a close match, which is big,” Hein said. “When you get to the higher level of wrestling, sectionals right before state, you are going to get that match where it is really close, and you have to find a way to win. I want to see him open up a little more. He opened up and scored right away. If he keeps building from there, he’s going to be a really good wrestler, and I’m excited about his future.”

Marshfield will compete at the New Richmond Invitational on Saturday.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Wisconsin Rapids 61, Marshfield 6

132: Anthony Kanable (M) def. Max Benitz 4-0.
138: Becah Diebel (WR) def. Anthony Christmas 3-1.
145: Dylan Hall (WR) pinned Noah Schulz in 0:41.
152: Peyton Einerson (WR) won major dec. over Jeremy Brost 9-0.
160: Brock Benitz (WR) won by forfeit.
170: Jake Timm (WR) pinned Isaac Cline in 1:38.
182: Jared Mata (WR) pinned Kyle Krizan in 3:31.
195: Nate Fuller (WR) won by forfeit.
220: Cody Abel (WR) pinned Brandon Cramer in 3:48.
285: Beau Thompson (WR) pinned Nic Humphrey in 1:42.
106: Double forfeit.
113: Noah Gerdes (M) def. Bryson Einerson 5-4.
120: Matrix Jisko (WR) pinned Travis Altman in 5:06.
126: Patrick Spray (WR) won by forfeit.