Two Rivers' Justin Klinkner is 2024 Lakeshore Elite boys wrestler of the year
TWO RIVERS — Despite wrestling since he was four-years-old, Two Rivers Raiders senior Justin Klinkner never considered himself a wrestler.
The multi-sport standout put most of his time and energies into football and baseball, with wrestling being done only from November to February.
Yet, something changed this season and Klinkner won the WIAA Division 2 title at 175 pounds to continue Two Rivers legacy of creating state champions.
Klinkner, the 2023-24 Lakeshore Elite boys wrestler of the year, became the 20th champ in school history.
Lakeshore Elite is an all-area team comprised of schools from Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties.
“It’s awesome,” Klinkner said of winning state, including a 3-1 decision in the finals over Espyn Sweers of Mauston/Necedah. “Not something I thought I’d continue. It shows our coaches and my practice partners are strong.”
He even surprised his coach, Scott Peltier.
“He had a great season, one I wasn’t expecting from him looking at past seasons,” Peltier said. “He turned it on his senior season.”
A natural athlete, Peltier says Klinkner was merely going through the motions in the sport until he reached state as a sophomore.
“Wrestling was never his love, he wrestled because he did it,” Peltier said. “Getting to state clicked something in him.”
Klinkner credits the Matthias brothers, Chase and Max, who were his sparring partners in the wrestling room. Max finished third at state at 190 while Chase was second at 215.
“For me, Max and Chase to be wrestling each other everyday is awesome,” Klinkner said. “It’s easier in a match because you’re not wrestling the same quality you are in practice.”
Having three wrestlers within three weights all finishing in the top three at state is the definition of iron sharpening iron according to Peltier.
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“You couldn’t ask for a better group of three to practice with in the state of Wisconsin,” Peltier said. “And for Justin, both Chase and Max are bigger than him so if he can do things against them, it’ll be that much easier against someone his size.”
Besides his practice partners, Klinkner says his postseason rivalry with Kiel’s Ben Kienbaum was also key.
Kienbaum was ranked No. 5 in the state at 190 according to Wisconsin Grappler before dropping down 175 for regionals.
Klinkner had been ranked No. 1 at his weight entering the postseason but lost the regional title to Kienbaum.
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The pair would meet three straight weekends, including the state semifinals, with Klinkner winning at sectionals and state.
Losing to Kienbaum that first match was a blessing in disguise he says.
“It helped keep my head on straight, made me realize I’m not invincible and I could lose,” Klinkner said.
Despite never considering himself a wrestler, Klinkner gets to call himself a state champion.
“Kind of shocking,” Klinkner said. “Never really put it into reality until it happened.”
2023-24 Lakeshore Elite Wrestling Team
106: Carsen Voskuil, so., Cedar Grove-Belgium.
113: Logan Schad, fr, Kiel.
120: Maddux Wendling, sr., Valders.
126: Rigoberto Tellez, jr., Oostburg.
132: Jake Shaver, sr., Sheboygan Falls.
138: Owen Race, sr., Cedar Grove-Belgium.
144: Colin Meiselwitz, sr., Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah/Howards Grove.
150: Stone Pomeroy, sr., Random Lake.
157: Sawyer Dailey, so., Plymouth.
165: Eyan Dessellier, sr., Kiel.
175: Justin Klinkner, sr., Two Rivers (POY).
190: Silas Dailey, sr., Plymouth.
215: Chase Matthias, sr., Two Rivers.
285: Jovan Lopez, jr., Ozaukee.
Honorable mention
Cedar Grove-Belgium: Joe Schoeder, sr.; Owen Morgan, sr.; Kiel: Ben Kienbaum, jr.; Mishicot: Owen Schacht, fr.; Oostburg: Nash Banko, jr.; Rigoberto Tellez, jr.; Connor Mentink, jr.; Plymouth: Landen Ramsey, so.; Random Lake: Toren Vandenbush, sr.; Michael Upson, sr.; Sheboygan Falls: Aidan Miller, sr.; Two Rivers: Max Matthias, so.; Valders: Jack Wendling, jr.;
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Two Rivers' Justin Klinkner Lakeshore Elite boys wrestler of the year
