SEYMOUR, Wis. (NBC 26) -- — Two Rivers senior wrestler Matt Bianchi set himself up for success before WIAA Division II Sectional at Seymour High School.
"We got an extra two pounds, so I was feeling great. I had breakfast this morning. I was like 'ok, this is my day.'"
His competition day breakfast of choice is rooted in routine: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
"I eat so many PB and Js," Bianchi said. "It's just my fuel. I feel great. That's my big thing is eating foods that you're used to and set you up for good matches."
Bianchi, ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin for his weight class and No. 6 in the county, first pinned Mosinee's Logan Johnson in the second period, then Marinette’s Josh Walker in the third period.
"My first few matches, I went out there and I stuck to my game plan, getting my shots and getting the turns I know I can get. Today was just pretty great. I felt good the whole time."
"Honestly, I'm just along for the ride at this point," Two Rivers head wrestling coach Scott Peltier said. "I show him what I know and help fix little things here and there ... I just keep him focused on what's coming up."
For the championship bout Bianchi faced sophomore Nick Alexander from Wrightstown, who he could very well see again in for the state finale. Bianchi blanked him 16-0.
In pursuit of history, Bianchi says he's motivated by his family to provide a return on their investment in him.
"It's a huge deal to kind of prove it to them a little bit too, like hey, the time you put in to me is paying off," Bianchi said.
If successful, Bianchi would become the 19th wrestler in Wisconsin history with four consecutive individual state titles.
"The legacy I'm trying to leave behind is hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard," Bianchi said. "Honestly, I didn't start off crazy good. I put in the work, I put my mind to it, and my coaches and family were always there to support me. If you put in that hard work, you can do amazing things."
