The Mound Westonka wrestling squad earned the number four seed in the Section 2AA team tournament and was a host site for the preliminary rounds Feb. 15. 

In the first round, the fifth-seeded Maple River/USC Longhorns defeated the 12th-seeded Rockford Rockets, 53-15. That set up a rematch with the Longhorns, a team that the White Hawks defeated earlier in the season in a back-and-forth dual by a score of 35-27.

This time would prove to be the same, as the squads would split the first eight weights, with eighth grader Brady Kirkpatrick, freshman Levi Hays, junior Cole Munsterteiger and senior Jack Nelson earning victories for the White Hawks. After a pin by sophomore Cooper Rowe and a decision by junior Eric von Holtz, junior John Seemann put the dual out of reach with a pin at 215 pounds. Sophomore heavyweight Phillip Pisarchuk added a victory of his own for a convincing 37-24 victory. 

“The kids wrestled great and it was a fun night," said head coach Todd Munsterteiger. "Von Holtz’s win was huge and we were in the driver’s seat after that."

The victory sent the White Hawks to the final four at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School on Feb. 17.  The White Hawks met the top-seeded Scott West Panthers in the semifinals and were defeated 53-15.

“We battled hard but just didn’t match up with them very well," said assistant coach Eric Rodelius. "Our program took a big step and we hope to be battling it out in the finals next season."

Next up for the White Hawks will be individual sections at Orono High School on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24. Start times are 5 p.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.