Fabian Staudenmann and Fabio Hiltbrunner are the winners of the 125th anniversary of the Swiss Wrestling Federation in Appenzell.
The top favorite and the surprise man ensured a Bernese co-festival victory.
While Staudenmann secured the title with a victory in the final round against Armon Orlik from Graubünden, 19-year-old Hiltbrunner caused a sensation with a flat throw in the sixth round against wrestling king Joel Wicki. After five rounds, Hiltbrunner had the same number of points as Staudenmann and Orlik, but was not considered for the final round by the judges.
This is Staudenmann's second co-victory at a Swiss wrestling festival. In 2019, he won the Kilchberg Schwinget together with Samuel Giger and Damian Ott from north-eastern Switzerland. For Hiltbrunner, who does not yet have a wreath victory in his palmarès, it is the greatest success of his still young career.
While Staudenmann celebrated a string of victories after being defeated by Werner Schlegel in the opening round, Hiltbrunner had to concede defeat to Unspunnen winner Samuel Giger in the third round. Otherwise, he remained flawless and celebrated five victories with the maximum score.
Wrestling king Wicki, top favorite Giger and co-favorite Werner Schlegel had already dropped out of the decision for the festival victory before the fifth round. Adrian Walther, who was also among the favorites, missed out on a possible place in the final round by losing to Giger in the fifth round.
SDA