Royal first day of competition for Werner Schlegel

Competed four times, won four times. After the first day of the season's highlight in the canton of Glarus, only two wrestlers can claim this: Werner Schlegel and Fritz Ramseier. While the former was one of the favorites before the festival, the latter's top ranking is a big surprise.

"I took my chance"

Schlegel, the top Toggenburg wrestler, literally plowed his way through his opponents. In the first round, he crushed the giant from Zug, Pirmin Reichmuth, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. Lukas Bissig and Matthias Herger were also no match for the 22-year-old. Schlegel pulled off a masterstroke in the 4th fight when he countered an attack by Fabian Staudenmann shortly before the end of the round and got the result.

He said he felt "pure joy" when the result was confirmed by the judges. It was a tactical gait in which it was not him but his opponent who was under pressure. "I could have coped better than Staudenmann if he had been defeated. He attacked at the end, I saw my chance and took it."

Schlegel has a great opportunity on Sunday to end his federation's 18-year drought and become the first king from north-eastern Switzerland since Jörg Abderhalden in 2007. His lead over surprise man Fritz Ramseier is a quarter of a point. Domenic Schneider and Curdin Orlik in joint 3rd place are already one point behind, while King Joel Wicki and Armon Orlik are already 1.5 points behind after their 4th round defeat.

"Tomorrow it's the Bernese's turn"

Fritz Ramseier's performance on Saturday was reminiscent of that of Adrian Odermatt three years ago. In Pratteln, the sub-association wrestler from north-western Switzerland surprisingly led with four victories after the first day. Ramseier, who has also not yet won a federal wreath, also has four victories after the first day of competition.

It is no coincidence that the 31-year-old from Emmental is at the top of the rankings. Ramseier put three confederates in the sawdust after Johann Borcard, who was crowned a member of the sub-association. First he defeated the Lucerne heavyweight Sven Schurtenberger, then the St. Gallen co-favorite Damian Ott, before also winning against Joel Strebel from northwestern Switzerland, who was leading after two rounds.

"I'm satisfied, it went well," said Ramseier rather coolly. Was he the surprise man? "I don't know, I'm not sure." He doesn't feel any pressure, and this is something you can take away from him, due to his good personal starting position and in view of the fact that some of his colleagues in the association are otherwise severely tied back. "I want to help the team as much as I can. Tomorrow it's the Bernese team's turn."