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It probably seems like Erickson should already have graduated or should be getting ready to graduate from Blair-Taylor High School in June. He’s been good for that long.
Erickson (39-3) is just a junior, but he’s been waiting for what resembles an eternity to wrestle for a WIAA Division 3 state championship.
He’ll finally get that chance tonight after beating Shell Lake’s John Curtis (44-8) 3-0 in a 285-pound semifinal match Friday night at the Kohl Center.
“I’ve wanted this since my freshman year,” said Erickson, who won his 100th and 101st career matches on Friday and wrestles Kewaunee senior James Malechek (45-1) in the championship bout.
Erickson’s victory over Curtis was his second in two weeks, and he claimed it by not allowing Curtis to throw him.
“He’s a head-thrower,” said Erickson, who beat Curtis 4-0 in last week’s sectional. “You can’t give him that.”
POPPIE EMERGES IN ALL-LOCAL SEMIFINAL: Onalaska Luther senior John Poppie walked off the mat with a cut over his right eye. Whitehall senior Wes Dubiel limped away with an injured right foot.
But it was Poppie who left with a spot in tonight’s Division 3 215-pound title match in his ownership. Poppie took Dubiel down with 8 seconds left in the third period to score a 6-4 victory and win the season series between the two.
Poppie (28-3), who beat Dubiel 5-1 earlier in the season, avenged a 9-7 loss to Dubiel later in the season.
GUZA FALLS SHORT: Independence/Gilmanton junior Marty Guza was in control of just about all of his Division 3 171-pound semifinal match against Manawa’s Brad Johnson (48-1).
But Johnson managed to reverse Guza (38-6) with 3 seconds left for a 3-2 victory. Guza is still alive for third place.
