Gold Medal Wrestling: Kemp is state runner-up, 11 compete at state

The DeForest Gold Medal Wrestling Club had 11 wrestlers participate in the WWF Kids State Wrestling Championships this past weekend at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Wrestlers qualify for the state tournament by finishing in the top three of their age groups and weight classes at regional tournaments.

Gold Medal’s Qualifiers were as follows:

Nolin Weis, 2015-16, 66#

Nolan Snortum, 2015-16, 72#

Greyson Statz, 2013-14, 66#

Weston Frye, 2013-14 75#

Ashton Kelley, 2013-14, 100#

Will Giombi, 2011-12, 76#

Wyatt Kazda, 2011-12, 76#

Ivan Doherty, 2011-12, 94#

Carson Grapa, 2011-12, 110#

Robert Motiff, 2011-12, 140#

Nolan Kemp, 2009-10, 160#

While most of Gold Medal’s wrestlers were eliminated early on in the tournament, Ashton Kelley and Carson Grapa each pulled out a couple of wins in their attempts to reach the podium.

Eighth grader Nolan Kemp returned for his sixth state appearance. His first-place finish at the Evansville qualifier tournament earned him a first round bye, and he followed that with two pins and then a win by decision over a three-time state champion as he marched his way to the finals. In the championship match, Kemp fell to Sawyer Dannenberg, of Sarbacker Wrestling Academy, but his successful tournament run earned him the title of state runner-up.