Most athletic seasons can get long for athletes, they can become taxing both mentally and physically. Wrestling is no different and perhaps one of the most unforgiving as there is such close physicality involved. There is a grind and reasons for competing or lack thereof are abound. Most teams at the Dr. Busian Tournament were missing one, two or several starters. WCAABE was no different as three weights were wrestled by a non starter and one was simply open. There are always concerns when starters are missing from a teams lineup, but the fact that this season the Knights have consistently competed at high levels is a testament to the levels of ability within. Coach Brandon Gruchow finds ways to get not just regulars ready but the reserves and backups to some reserves are not much of a tail-off and sometimes depending on match-ups even more preferable. One way or another all three reserves reached the podium. The collective effort of individuals provided the team a first place finish to the contest.  On a special note Nathaniel Kisgen did not just earn the championship, he pinned his way through all three opponents.  Nobody lasted into the 3rd period with Kisgen last Saturday.

Coach Gruchow responded to the day with,”It was a great day for the Knights and a great way to cap off the regular season. We came into the tournament a little bit banged up but it was fun to see our backup guys step in and still be able to help the team out to get the team championship.”

As the Coach stated, the post season is now upon us. The Knights will spend the coming week in dual competition in order to see who represents Section 6A at the state tournament in St. Paul. WCAABE wrestled their way to the 2nd seed in the section. The team will host the first round of dual action on Tuesday, February 11th in Barrett. They will face the winner of a pigtail match between the #7 Border West Buccaneers and the #10 Breckenridge Cowboys. Action will begin at 6 pm between Border West and Breckenridge. The Knights will commence wrestling at 7:30 pm. The winner of that dual travels to Underwood on Valentines Day (Friday) for quarterfinals and the final round.

Dr. Busian Memorial Results

1 #10 West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville 166
2 Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 163
3 AA MAHACA 145.5
4 Fosston-Bagley 141
5 AAA St. Francis 137
6 Pipestone Area 90.5
7 Pelican Rapids 89
8 Ortonville 46
9 Breckenridge 41
10 AA Luverne 40

106: Hunter Gruchow (25-17) placed 4th and scored 14 team points.

Defeated Brooklyn Conrad (ORT) 14-18 per fall 1:54, Defeated Aiden Wolfe (FB) 18-13 per major decision 13-1, Defeated by #8 Hudson Burnett (PIA) 31-0 per major decision over 19-7, 3rd Place Match – Defeated by#2 Chase Magaard (KMS) 39-4 per major decision 16-5.

113: Adam Lohse (21-17) placed 6th and scored 6 team points.

Defeated by JJ Martens (PIA) 22-13 per fall 0:41, Defeated Anthony Eustice (ORT) 9-21 per fall 0:57, 5th Place Match – Defeated by Dallas Walton (MAHACA) 22-19 per fall 1:40.

120: Solomon Wales (18-21) placed 5th and scored 10 team points.

Defeated by #6 Ethan Lebrija (MAHACA) 35-1 per fall 2:51, Defeated Oakley Carlson (PR) 13-15 per fall 3:47, 5th Place Match – Defeated Noah Mehlhaff (LUV) 16-20 per fall 1:38.

126: Ashton Danner (18-21) placed 2nd and scored 18.5 team points.

Defeated Deaven Boots (ORT) 23-6 per major decision 15-6, Defeated Ken Hollenbeck (SF) 18-16 per technical fall 18-3, 1st Place Match -Defeated by #8 Davin Rose (MAHACA) 28-5 per fall 1:01.

138: #9 Anthony Sykora (28-11) placed 2nd and scored 17.5 team points.

Defeated Tegan Larson (FB) 11-25 per technical fall 5:26 15-0, Defeated Sebastian Centeno (PR) 25-12 per decision 5-0, 1st Place Match -Defeated by #1 Will Magaard (KMS) 42-1 per fall 0:31.

145: Kade Olson (13-9) placed 4th and scored 7.0 team points.

Defeated by Grant Budden (PIA) 28-7 per fall 3:59, 3rd Place Match – Defeated by Aidan Ruddy (BRECK) 30-10 per decision 8-2.

152: #8 Jordan Lohse (35-3) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.

Defeated Eric Lange (PIA) 28-4 per decision 5-2, 1st Place Match – Defeated by #3 Carter Sorenson (FB) 41-1 per decision 6-2.

160: Bret Duncan (13-19) placed 4th and scored 9 team points.

Defeated Masyn Olson (KMS) 16-25 per overtime decision 4-2, Defeated by Max Dykhoff (PR) 23-12 per decision 12-5, 3rd Place Match – Defeated by Joe Waldock (SF) 5-5 per fall 4:48.

170: #5 Nathaniel Kisgen (37-3) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.

Defeated Sebastian Solis (KMS) 1-7 per fall 1:25, Defeated #9 Henry Burrack (FB) 32-12 per fall 3:58, 1st Place Match – Defeated Rick Jones (KMS) 29-10 per fall 0:44.

182: Colton Lindquist (23-17) placed 3rd and scored 14 team points.

Defeated Wyatt Differding (BRECK) 7-22 per fall 2:13 Defeated by Jacob Lomen (FB) 34-6 per decision 8-4, 3rd Place Match – Defeated Noah Kapenga (PR) 12-8per fall 1:44.

195: Deklin Goeden (26-13) placed 2nd and scored 16 team points.

Defeated Marc Collins (KMS) 19-18 per overtime decision 8-6, 1st Place Match – Defeated by Tate Skogquist (SF) 19-10 per decision 9-4.

220: Justin Blascyk (17-14) placed 5th and scored 8 team points.

Defeated by Jacob Willits (PR) 20-16 per fall 4:08, Defeated Tate Bodenburg (SF) 9-19 per fall 2:50, 5th Place Match – Defeated Tyler DeGroot (PIA) 10-13 per decision 1-0.

285: Colin Anderson (0-5) placed 4th and scored 7 team points.

Defeated by Axel Munter (FB) 32-9 per fall 1:15, Defeated by Nathan Ehrenberg (ORT) 18-10 per fall 3:08, Defeated by Jason Jones (KMS) 16-12 per fall 1:23.