FLORENCE, Wis. — The COVID-19 pandemic has brought several changes to Wisconsin high school wrestling. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has restricted wrestling teams to one dual meet every six to seven days. There will be no tournaments or multi-team meets this season.

The Florence-Niagara Northwoods Storm wrestling team has entered into a COVID-19 co-op with the Crivitz wrestling team.

As of now, the postseason tournament is scheduled for Jan 30. Because of the one dual meet per week rule, the WIAA has granted a one-year COVID-19 co-op for dual meets only.

“With us only having a couple healthy wrestlers and only able to wrestle in dual format events, this seemed to be a good opportunity for all,” said Florence athletic director Kris Johnson.

Ed Kelley returns as the Storm’s head coach.

If the WIAA postseason is still on by the end of the season, the schools will go back to their pre COVID-19 co-op division for postseason competition.

Returning to this year’s Storm roster are sophomore Caitlyn Kelley, a sectional qualifier last season, and sophomore Andar Olson. Joining them are sophomore Leonard Hannah and freshman Isaiah Fennessy.

Along with qualifying for sectionals, Kelley won the WWCA girls state championship in her weight class.

At Wabeno on Dec .11, the Crivitz-Florence-Niagara co-op went up against the Wabeno-Laona-Three Lakes co-op. Because of illness and injuries, Crivitz-Florence-Niagara could only fill six weight classes.

Florence-Niagara coach Ed Kelley stated that Wabeno-Laona-Three Lakes has a solid team and are well coached.

“They have several state caliber wrestlers, including last year’s Northern Lakes Conference MVP and fourth place state finisher Ryan Roy,” he added.

Crivitz-Florence-Niagara fell to Wabeno-Laona-Three Lakes 60-6. After the conclusion of the meet, for just this year, the WIAA has allowed varsity wrestlers to wrestle extra exhibition matches. Almost every wrestler had at least two matches.

“It was nice to see them get some mat time,” Kelley said. “Andar has shown a lot of improvement from last year and Isaiah did extremely well for his first time wrestling.

“Isaiah had just gotten medically cleared to wrestle before we left for Wabeno and had a light practice all week.”

Caitlyn Kelley did not wrestle, as she is still rehabbing from an injury she sustained at preseason nationals in Iowa at the end of October.

Florence-Niagara also had two middle school wrestlers who saw exhibition action. Eighth grader Breyson Kelley won by major decision and seventh grader Cole Chitko won two matches by pin.