MADISON — There may have been a bit of pressure on Aquinas High School senior Roger Flege as he walked to the center of the mat at the Kohl Center on Friday night.
He had done the same thing in each of the past three years after winning Division 3 quarterfinal matches and left the mat dejected.
Flege made sure Weyauwega-Fremont junior Carter Birdyshaw triggered no additional disappointment and finally gave himself the chance to spend a day considering what it might take to win a WIAA state championship.
Flege (35-4) — seeded first in the 144-pound bracket and ranked second at his weight by Wisconsin Grappler — took Birdyshaw (42-6) down once in the second period and once in the third before pinning at 5 minutes, 13 seconds.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, especially with all the time I had to wait (between quarterfinal and semifinal bouts),” Flege said. “I was worrying about the match so much.
“I had to tell myself that it was just another match, and there was nothing more I could do. I’d put in all the work, and I just had to go out there and get it done.”
By doing that, top-seeded Flege will meet second-seeded Karssen Bussan (53-0), a sophomore from Pardeeville, in Saturday night’s championship match.
Bussan is ranked first and Flege second by Wisconsin Grappler. Birdyshaw is fifth.
Flege, who has one third-place medal and two fourth-place medals, said he controlled Birdyshaw by getting to his pace and patience. He stayed on the attack and worked his ties.
“I got the takedowns I needed to get, go to top with my armbar, and I’m dangerous there,” he said. “It’s what I’m known for.”
SHEARD STEAMROLLS WAY TO FINALS: Aquinas sophomore Martez Sheard has been waiting for this moment since losing a quarterfinal match at the Kohl Center a year ago.
Sheard had higher expectations than placing fifth at 113 pounds as a freshman, and those expectations did nothing but expand the moment he won that placement match.
Sheard (33-2) recorded his third pin of the tournament and minimized his mat time by finishing the match in 1:02 to secure his spot against third-seeded Liam Carey (45-6), a sophomore from Mineral Point, in the finals at 126.
Sheard’s three matches have all resulted in pins and required him to be on the mat for a combined 4:23. His latest victory — the quarterfinal pin of Wabeno/Laona/Three Lakes junior Reegan Roy (54-4) — gives him his first crack at a state championship.
“I had to push the pressure because he was the No 1 seed,” Sheard said of Roy. “I scouted him a little bit last night.
“I knew what he did best and knew how to defend it.”
Carey handed Sheard one of his losses this season, but Sheard believes he know what needs to be changed to reverse that outcome.
“I wasn’t as strong and fierce as I usually am,” Sheard said of the loss. “You could tell in the match. I’ve been working hard and will be ready.”
MARTIN TO RELAX WITH SOME SOUTH PARK: Aquinas senior Tyson Martin (44-1) wrestled another short match on Friday night, and it made him a state finalist for the third time.
But Martin, who has committed to wrestle at South Dakota State University, is still trying to win his first title after disappointments as a freshman and sophomore and an injury as a junior.
“I’m kind of excited for the finals match because I like difficult matches,” Martin said. “I will definitely have a difficult match there.”
Martin — seeded first and ranked first in the state by Wisconsin Grappler — draws second-seeded Grant Mathews (53-3) for the final after Mathews won his semifinal by technical fall.
He has said that he feels calm and in the right mindset to win this season after placing second, second and fourth during his first three tournaments.
Martin said the rest of his Friday night was going to include food and watching the television show South Park before maybe taking a swim. He certainly hasn’t been overworked in two matches that have lasted 50 seconds and 1:15.
