Caliber of competition at a venue such as this is only a portion of the battle, the wrestlers must overcome two days of physical and emotional situations.  They must make weight both days and deal with equally rabid and sometimes emotional parents and coaches.  That is not a stab at Coach Gruchow and his staff.  The Knights have a high level of coaches that are excellent with these young men, but do not fool yourself in thinking that all the time the grapplers and staff put in does not equal expectations among themselves.  The reality of competing is that goals are set at all levels, some are met and some are not.  Glory in success by way of medals and awards are great, and well deserved, but there is much more to this sport than simply having your hand raised.  More than not it is a journey to get to that point.

 

The Knights as a team placed 10th.  Individually 152 lb. Jordan Lohse placed 3rd, 170 lb. Nathaniel Kisgen placed third and 220 lb. Devin Stone placed 5th.  Devin also reached a milestone gathering his 50th career victory.  Stone is a senior at WCA, he is a co-captain of the team and is currently ranked 9th in class A wrestling at 285 lbs.

 

The Coaches each added the following about the Big Bear experience:

 

Coach Weeding-”The boys went to battle against some tough competition. They all wrestled hard, a few were able to come out on top and make the podium. It was a great learning experience for all our wrestlers. Some are walking away from the weekend with a few bumps and bruises, but all are leaving hungry to get back on the mat and compete after break. 

 

Coach Wales-”We had a good mix of veterans and first timers competing in northern Minnesota's toughest tournament.  While not all of our wrestlers finished where they had hoped, we did see some incredible wrestling,  heart, effort as well as teammates supporting one another.  All that was reflected by our 10th place team finish.”

Coach Ray-”The Knights battled all weekend long.  The boys faced some really good competition. Young wrestlers gained a lot of good experience and should look to improve next year.”

Coach Gruchow-”I really enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to wrestle in the Big Bear Tournament.  It's such a great tournament.  It's also a checking point for our guys as we start to hit that mid season.  I hoped for a top ten finish and that's exactly where we finished after two physically, mentally, and emotionally draining days on the mat.  We left some team points out there but hopefully that fuels the fire for our guys through the mid point of our season and help motivate us to continue to improve through the post season.  I really appreciate these young men and their hard work and willing to try so hard for their team.  They made it another enjoyable and exciting Big Bear Tournament!”

The top ten placing teams in the tournament with their rankings and class designation are as follows:

1. #1 (A) Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville   216 points

2. #3 (A) Minnewaska Area  163.5

3. #8 (AA) Detroit Lakes   154.5

4. #5 (A) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa  154

5. (AAA) Big Lake  152

6. #13 (AA) Hutchinson  141

7. #11 (AA) Thief River Falls  134

8. #8 (A) Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie  125

9. #16 (AA) Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus  113

10. #15 (A) WCA/A/B-E  109

The wrestlers will enjoy a much deserved vacation over the holidays and reconvene January 3rd hosting the New York Mills Eagles in Ashby (first wrestling dual in Ashby in how many decades?).  The action is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm, the Knights hope to see your there!

 

 106 Adam Lohse 2-2, scored 6.0 team points.

Gavin Albers (LPGE/B) won per major decision 16-2, Defeated Quincy Morey (Barnesville) per fall 3:48, Defeated Kenny Erickson (Aitkin) per fall 1:54, Gavin Albers (LPGE/B) won per fall  0:30.

113 Hunter Gruchow 0-2, scored 0.0 team points.

Deagen Captain (BH/V/PP) won per major decision 17-9, Jayce Ross (Deer River) won per tech fall 4:47 24-7.

120 Solomon Wales 3-2, scored 8.0 team points.

Defeated Preston Thronson (Hibbing) per fall 1:26, #9 Trevor Radunz (Pierz) won per fall 2:20, Defeated Spencer Erickson (United North Central ) per decision 2-0, Defeated Shayne Swedberg (Blackduck-Cass Lake Bena) per fall 1:47, Caleb Ruhl (Pequot Lks-Pine River-B) won per fall 1:13.

126 Zachary Fagre 0-2, scored 0.0 team points.

Bradly Swiers (Detroit Lakes) won per fall 0:48, Brock Folkema (Mora) won per fall 0:26.

132 Ashton Danner 1-2, scored 4.0 team points.

Defeated Clint Andresen (DL) per fall 5:10, #3 Dane Niemi (New York Mills) won per fall 0:35, Dylan Rasmussen (UNC) won per fall 0:41.

138 Kaleb Getz 2-2, scored 7.0 team points.

Defeated Dan Decent (AITK) per fall 1:47, Peyton Krumrei (Albany) won in SV - 1 per decision 9-7, Defeated Jacob Guck (NYM) per fall 1:56, Maximus Hanson (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) won per decision 1-0.

145 #9 Anthony Sykora 3-2, scored 9.0 team points.

Defeated Chris Zuniga (Irondale Spring Lake Pk St Anthony) per fall 0:49, #9 Trenten Juelson (BDCLB) won per decision 9-4, Defeated Parker Voss (Mora) per fall 2:03, Defeated Owen Hendrickson (HIBB) per major decision 15-3, Connor Tulenchik (PLPRB) won in SV - 1 per decision 6-4.

152 #7 Jordan Lohse  5-1, 3rd Place and scored 20.0 team points.

Defeated Jackson Rich (Otter Tail Central) per fall 3:41, Defeated Paul DeHate (Red Lake County Central) per fall 3:05, Defeated Tyler Spolarich (AITK) per decision 4-3, #3 Trey Fairbanks (DR) won per decision 8-7, Defeated #3 Mason Blair (Minnewaska Area) per decision 5-3, 3rd Place Match – Defeated Tyler Spolarich (AITK) per decision 10-5.

160 Kade Olson 2-2, scored 7.0 team points.

Defeated Gus Thompson (DR) per fall 1:57, Damon Ferguson (RLCC) won per fall 1:47, Defeated Alex Hanrahan (Big Lake) per fall 4:44, Brandon Zuniga (Thief River Falls) won fall 1:55.

170 Bret Duncan 1-2, wrestled unattached.

Mason Schroeder (BH/V/PP) won per fall 1:30, Defeated Mason Zajac (Pierz) per major decision 14-4, Cade Sogge (Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton) won per decision 3-2.

170 Nathaniel Kisgen 5-1,3rd Place and scored 21.0 team points.

Defeated Brady Andersen (Hutchinson) per fall 1:20, Defeated Noah Schleske (OTC) per decision 10-3, Defeated Ryan VanLuik (MWSKA) per major decision 11-3, #10 Kolbe Booker (All Saints Home School) won fall 2:51, Defeated #7 Hunter Dean (BH/V/PP) per decision 8-4, 3rd Place Match – Defeated #4 Caleb Vacura (Badger-GB-MR) per fall 4:58.

182 Colton Lindquist 1-2, scored 2.0 team points.

Defeated Cooper Wold (BBE) per decision 6-1, #9 Cody Wheeler (Wadena-Deer Creek) won per fall 1:59, #7 Caleb Pesta (LPGE/B) won per major decision 11-2.

195 Deklin Goeden  2-2, scored 10.0 team points.

Defeated Nathan Severtson (Fergus Falls) per fall 1:21, Elliot Mann (NYM) won per fall 5:11, Defeated Ficher Smith (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley-Nevis) per fall 4:27, Defeated Colter Humphrey (BDCLB) per fall 2:48, Andrew Annette (DL) won per decision 6-4.

220 #9 Devin Stone 5th Place and scored 15.0 team points.

Defeated Axle Dahl (Roseau) per fall 1:06, Defeated Jaden Finck (BH/V/PP) per decision 10-5, #1 Dominik Vacura (B/GB/MR) won per fall 2:25, Defeated Tristan McCoy (Fosston-Bagley) per fall 2:50, Defeated Mark Jenniges (BBE) per decision 5-3, #5 Cody Kurth (HUTCH) won per fall 1:35, 5th Place Match – Defeated Levi Line (LPGE/B) per SV-1 decision 6-4.

 

Justin Blascyk 0-2, scored 0 team points.

Christopher Tureson (HIBB) won per decision 5-2, Jude Olson (Fertile-Beltrami) won per fall 3:34.