Madison Individuals Poised To Make State Tournament in 2003 at Sectionals today.

Saturday, February 22, 2003
State Journal staff

There has been one qualifier to the WIAA state individual wrestling tournament from a Madison high school in the last three years, but that drought is poised to end today at two individual sectional meets.

For the second year in a row, the four Madison high schools are split for postseason with Memorial and West going to Reedsburg while East and La Follette head to Badger High School in Lake Geneva.

Memorial has three qualifiers led by 125-pounder Tony Ayala (27-1) and 152-pounder Jimmy Mack (26-3), while West has one in 130-pounder Ekachai Steinhorst (16-8). East has five qualifiers led by 112-pounder Sergio Mireles (29-4), while La Follette has four headed by 189-pounder Tyler Knutson (29-2).

Madison East's Larry Moen was the last city wrestler to qualify in 2001. Madison Memorial's Ricky Moll was the city's last placewinner, taking fifth at 130 in 1999. Chad Powell of Madison La Follette was the last city wrestler to win a state title, taking the title at 112 in 1993.

The top two finishers at each weight at each of the eight Division 1 sectionals across the state qualify for next week's state meet at the Kohl Center in Madison. The top three finishers at each weight from each of the four Division 2 and 3 sectionals statewide advance to state.