Pechacek has fun in winning first round match

• Matt Pechacek

Matt Pechacek still has the arm of Reedsville wrestler Andrew Kocourek.
• Alex Stuhl

Alex Stuhl has a grasp of DeSoto's Joe Obert in the sit

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PRESCOTT - Prescott's Matt Pechacek was all smiles after winning his prelim match in the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament Thursday at the Kohl Center.

Pechacek was grinning and generally having a good time in a 7-2 decision over Reedsville's Andrew Kocourek at 170 pounds. Pechacek led 4-2 in the third period and used an escape and takedown to seal the win.

"He has fun when he wrestles," PHS head coach Paul Johnson said. "That's how he approaches it. He's very loose and open and it works for him."

And why not? said Pechacek afterwards, happy to be at the state meet to begin with.

"You're not having fun at some level, if being here isn't fun, you shouldn't be wrestling," Pechacek said. "And if I get a few wins like tonight, then it's a bonus."

Prescott's other wrestler on the day, Alex Stuhl, couldn't make it through to the Division 3 quarterfinals at 120. DeSoto's Joe Obert scored a reversal in the second period to take a 4-2 lead and Stuhl couldn't score on him in the third period with both wrestlers at neutral.

Pechacek will be fellow Cardinal wrestler Josh Farr in today's quarterfinals starting at 11 a.m. Farr wrestles Deerfield's Fritz Vogel (Jr. 42-7) while Pechacek takes on Edgar's Luke Nowak (Jr. 36-3).

Tags: sports, prep, wrestling, prescott