SPASH’s Bailey and Groshek advance to State Semifinals
Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) senior Chance Bailey and sophomore Justin Groshek advanced to the State Semifinals in the first day of the WIAA Divsion 1 Wrestling Individual State Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison Thursday, Feb. 22.
Second-ranked Groshek (42-1) won 13-6 over 10th-ranked freshman Alec Hunter of Oshkosh West (31-7) in the first round Thursday afternoon, then won 7-4 over fifth-ranked senior Beau LaDu of Lake Geneva Badger (44-4) in the State Quarterfinals Thursday night.
Sixth-ranked Bailey (24-2) won 8-6 over ninth-ranked freshman Connor Thorpe of Brookfield East (41-4) in the first round Thursday afternoon, then beat 11th-ranked sophomore Ben Stevenson of Burlington (41-9) by technical fall 17-1 in 5:28 in the State Quarterfinals Thursday night.
Groshek will face seventh-ranked freshman Cade Willis of Union Grove (43-5) in the State Semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23.
The winner will take on either third-ranked freshman Hayden Halter of Burlington (46-2) or sixth-ranked freshman Sam Lorenz of Waunakee (46-4) in the State Championship Match at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.
Bailey will square off with fourth-ranked senior Mason McMillen of Reedsburg Area (46-3) in the State Semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday.
The winner will face either seventh-ranked sophomore Braeden Whitehead of Stoughton (26-1) or eighth-ranked senior Cooper Hunt of Mequon Homestead (43-4) in the State Championship Match at 5 p.m. Saturday.