Marcel Bieri celebrates a home victory at the Central Swiss Wrestling Festival in Menzingen. The man from Zug defeats king Joel Wicki in the final round. Mario Schneider triumphs at the Appenzell Cantonal Wrestling Festival.
Marcel Bieri, winner of the Northwestern Switzerland festival three weeks ago, forced the top favorite Joel Wicki into the sawdust after 15 seconds in the final fight in front of more than 9,000 spectators and secured the fourth wreath victory of his career at the festival not far from his home in Edlibach.
"It's a bit of a missed victory after I was given another chance in the final round. But Marcel (Bieri - ed.) swung very well right to the end and put in a great performance," acknowledged Wicki, for whom the day had started suboptimally with a defeat to Adrian Walther in the first round.
After losing the final round, Wicki had to settle for 4th place. The 2nd place was shared by Noe van Messel from Zug and Walther, the guest from the Bernese region.
The Appenzell Cantonal Wrestling Festival in Hundwil was the prey of Mario Schneider. The mountain wrestler from Thurgau, who celebrated his first wreath victory a year ago on the Schwägalp, defeated Martin Hersche in the final round after 6:59 minutes with a short and a follow-through.
Hersche ultimately finished in 3rd place as the best Appenzeller. Second place went to Armon Orlik from Graubünden, who was a quarter of a point short of qualifying for the final round.
