January 23rd Kerkhoven, MN

Thursday afternoon the 11-2 Knight wrestlers headed south to Kerkhoven. That morning the ‘Guillotine’ website released new rankings and WCA/A/B-E was rewarded for their seasons efforts moving from #13 to #9. The evenings competition began with a dual against the 1-15 Mainstreeters from Sauk Centre/Melrose.  A depleted AA unit from SC/M took to the mat and the Knights capitalized turning in a gaudy score of 70-3, giving up just a single decision. Coach Gruchow followed the dual with “I thought the Knights did a good job of staying motivated and focused. Many times that has been tough for us when taking so many forfeits. It was a good match for us to get ready for KMS.”

#9 WCA/A/B-E 70, Sauk Centre/Melrose (SCM) 3
106: Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
113: Mitchell Christen (SCM) over Solomon Wales per decision 6-2.
120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) won per fall 1:37.
126: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Josh Brinkman per decision 5-2.
132: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
138: Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
145: Kaleb Getz (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
152: #8 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) over Jacob Canfield per fall 1:16.
160: Bret Duncan (WCAABE) over Eden Rangel per major decision 10-1.
170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Karter Wensmann per decision 4-3.
182: Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
195: Deklin Goeden (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
220: #10 Devin Stone (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
285: Austin Mattson (WCAABE) won per forfeit.

Next up were the hometown Fighting Saints. KMS provides very solid wrestling every season. This year entering the dual the team came with a 7-9 record but be aware...the Fighting Saints are very tough, especially in the lower weights. KMS jumped out to an early 16-0 lead after the first three matches. The Knights answered with a pair of falls of their own closing the gap to 16-12. KMS scored six team points with a pin at 138 but after that WCA/A/B-E dropped the hammer winning seven consecutive matches and posting 37 points. KMS won the final bout. The point tally in the end was 49-28. Coach Gruchow followed the match with “We weathered the storm through the solid part of their lineup. We kept the points with reason and we were able to get the job done with our  middle and upper weights. We secured the big wins which definitely helped. This was a good win for us and a confidence boost...one we will need going into our matches tomorrow.”

#9 WCA/A/B-E) 49, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (KMS) 28
106: #3 Chase Magaard (KMS) over Hunter Gruchow per major decision 19-7.
113: #4 Coy Gunderson (KMS) over Adam Lohse per fall 2:48.
120: Ely Johnson (KMS) over Solomon Wales per fall 1:23.
126: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Jett Olson per fall 4:36.
132: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) over (KMS) per fall 2:17.
138: #1 Will Magaard (KMS) over Tristin Gutierrez (WCAABE) per fall 0:17.
145: Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over (KMS) per fall 0:28.
152: Kaleb Getz (WCAABE) over Collin Johnson per fall 1:11.
160: #8 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) over Masyn Olson per major decision 14-1.
170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Rick Jones per fall 3:50.
182: Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Brandon Kallstrom per fall 4:23.
195: Deklin Goeden (WCAABE) over Marc Collins per fall 3:09.
220: #10 Devin Stone (WCAABE) over Brody Forsell per decision 6-2.
285: Jason Jones (KMS) over Justin Blascyk per fall 2:52.

January 24, Browerville, MN
Friday the team competed in the Browerville Duals. The Knights took on three highly competitive units. First up were the #13 ranked Minneota Vikings. Minneota had a record of 11-5 entering the dual. A chess match of two evenly paired teams ensued as the squads squared off. The lead changed several times, overtime matches occurred and upsets took place. This was a quality match between two teams that provided a lot of entertainment. The Knights ground out the victory with a 38-31 margin.

#9 WCA/A/B-E 38, #13 Minneota (MINN) 31
106: Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Troy Vankeulen per overtime decision 6-4.
113: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Troy Vankeulen per major decision 10-0.
120: #4 Eric Carrasco (MINN) over Adam Lohse per fall 1:28.
126: Zack Fier (MINN) over Ashton Danner per major decision 13-3.
132: Kade Lozinski (MINN) over Dierk Goeden per fall 4:45.
138: Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over #6 Jonah Gruenes per overtime decision 9-7.
145: #9 Blake Reiss (MINN) over Kaleb Getz per fall 0:44.
152: #8 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
160: Bret Duncan (WCAABE) over Branden Johnson per fall 0:51.
170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Conner Sik per fall 0:25.
182: Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Hudson Scholten per major decision 11-3.
195: Deklin Goeden (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
220: Jackson Esping (MINN) over #10 Devin Stone per decision 7-3.
285: Jayden Gamrak (MINN) over Austin Mattson per fall 0:50.

Up next were the #1 ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville Wolves. The Wolves are a single A powerhouse that are as dominant at their level as anyone has been in years. LPGE/B entered the match with an impressive record of 23-3. Their average point margin is 52.7 to 16.6. The three losses they do have are to #1 AAA Shakopee, #8 AAA Wayzata and #11Vacaville, CA. The Wolves have eight wrestlers ranked in the top ten, with an average of 5.5 as the placement. This is a very good, scratch that, great team! The Knights too are a good squad but the Wolves overpowered them early and often. The dual was never in question as it was already a score of 39-0 following 145 lbs. Although WCA/A/B-E did score a few times the dual ended in a 52-21 landslide. Coach Gruchow commented after the match,”What a squad the LPGE-B wolves are able to put out on the mat. They did a great job at staying in good position and wearing our wrestlers down. I wish we would have not have gave up so many pins against them, and our upper weights did great, there is no doubt about it.....they are tough! Our guys took the loss in a good way. They learned and moved passed it and did not get to hung up on it. They were excited to get after the next team.”

#1 LPGE/Browerville (LPGEB) 52, #9 WCA/A/B-E 21
106: #6 Braden Thom (LPGEB) over Hunter Gruchow per fall 5:10.
113: #8 Cael Lorentz (LPGEB) over Solomon Wales per fall 1:11.
120: #7 Justin Crandall (LPGEB) over Adam Lohse per fall 1:04.|
126: #2 Carter Meiners (LPGEB) over Ashton Danner per fall 1:27.
132: #1 Landon Gode (LPGEB) over Dierk Goeden per fall 0:47.
138: #2 Mason Gode (LPGEB) over Anthony Sykora per fall 4:42.
145: Nye Becker (LPGEB) over Kaleb Getz per decision 8-7.
152: #8 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) over Ted Stacey per decision 6-4.
160: Riley Thom (LPGEB) over Bret Duncan per major decision 14-2.
170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
182: Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Bergen Pesta per fall 3:32.
195: Deklin Goeden (WCAABE) over Bryce Barthel per fall 3:14.
220: #9 Levi Line (LPGEB) over #10 Devin Stone per decision 6-2.
285: Trey Lancaster (LPGEB) over Justin Blascyk per fall 2:32.
 

The final dual of the evening pitted the Knights against the #2 ranked AAA St. Michael-Albertville #2 team. SMA came out of the gates swinging, gathering a very fast 16-0 lead. WCA/A/B-E returned with a scoring flurry winning 10 of the last 11 contests ending the match 57-20. After the match SMA coach Dan Lafebvre commented about the Knights, ”You guys have a great looking team and your guys are very physical.”

#9 WCA/A/B-E) 57, St. Michael-Albertville (SMA) 20
106: Caleb Thoennes (SMA) over Hunter Gruchow per technical fall 19-4.
113: Mason Mills (SMA) over Solomon Wales per decision 9-2.
120: Eli Davis (SMA) over Adam Lohse per fall 0:45.
126: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Roman Dehmer per fall 5:00.
132: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) over Tyler Zenga (SMA) (Fall 2:39.
138: Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over OP Johnson per fall 1:59.
145: Kaleb Getz (WCAABE) over Ken Stahl per fall 0:41.
152: #8 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) over Jake Springer per fall 5:23.
160: Sean Kennedy (SMA) over Bret Duncan per fall 3:42.
170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Luke Williamson per fall 1:25.
182: Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Fletcher Nesbit per injury default.
195: Deklin Goeden (WCAABE) over Boden Sperr per decision 4-0.
220: #10 Devin Stone (WCAABE) over Owen Barthel per fall 2:39.
285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Alex Markgraf per fall 0:38.

Milestones were in abundance for the Knights during the past week, they go as follows: Jordan Lohse earned his 125th career victory vs. SC/M, Anthony Sykora and Kaleb Getz both gathered their 50th career pins and Nathaniel Kisgen earned his 75th career victory vs. KMS. Getz secured his 100th career win vs. SM/A. 5-0 wrestlers for the week included Jordan Lohse, Nathaniel Kisgen, Colton Lindquist and Deklin Goeden.

The wrestlers will have a busy week ahead of them. Tuesday, January 28th the team hosts #12 Frazee in Barrett. Thursday the team travels to Belgrade for a quad with the #20 Royalton-Upsala Royals, the #2 Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons and the #3 hometown BBE Jaguars. Saturday the Knights travel to Long Prairie for the Prairie/Park Region Conference Tournament.