Competition began on Tuesday the 19th as the team hosted the #16 ranked United Central Warriors (Menahga-Sebeka) and the Staples-Motley Cardinals. The Knights came out hot as they racked up three wins in a row against both opponents. This combination is key to a successful season...jumping out to fast leads. Making it even more impressive is fact that the first two wrestlers, Carter Lohse and Mason Richter are virtually first year staterss for the varsity team. There is no rocket science involved in figuring out that scoring first and often equates into more frequent team wins. Both duals were very similar in that the early wins came in a streak, a few matches were lost in the middle weights and the Knights came roaring back in the bigger weights to secure victories. The team out-legged the Warriors by a score of 48-18 and set back Staples-Motley by way of 63-15.

About the evening Coach Brandon Gruchow said,”It was an all around great night for us. I feel like last Friday gave us some confidence to step it up another notch. In general out guys looked great. We seemed to control the pace of the matches and pushed the points.”

Thursday, the 21st the team traveled to Barnesville to face the hometown Trojans and the Frazee Hornets. Although both duals provided W’s in the win column, neither of the matches screamed out dominance. Sometimes in sports, or most everything else, it doesn’t always go your way. But when surrounded by positives and the proper preparation, it can be just enough to get the job done. 

The Barnesville match was never in doubt as the Trojans simply did not have enough wrestlers to fill their weights. They did however have quality if not quantity as the Trojans won four of the seven bouts wrestled. The Knights were able to win three of the matches and by filling out the weight classes and gaining six points per forfeit garnered a team win with a score of 60-21. 

Next up was Frazee. The Hornets support a long time, high quality team that is a measuring stick for opponents. It is a team that rarely rebuilds, the Hornets just reload, they boast great technique and a mental fortitude. On a side note, it was good to see Frazee Coach Clay Nagel and his cowboy boots once again pacing the side of the mat. He brings “IT” to Hornet wrestling.

WCA/A/B-E began the dual quickly, with Carter Lohse again starting out the Knights with points and Richter gathering a forfeit at 113. Frazee took note and decided to go on a five win, 22 point gallivant that following 145 lbs had the Knights in a hole 22-9. Anthony Sykora and Jordan Lohse gave the nights bonus points as they posted a major and a pin fall closing the gap to 22-19. Frazee took 170 lbs by a decision and stretched their lead again by three, 25-19. Nathaniel Kisgen stepped the mat for the Knights at 182 and following a first period fall knotted up the score at 25 points apiece. For all in attendance, the gymnasium was beginning to get rather loud at this point.

#14 WCA/A/B-E 48, #16 UNCW 18
106: Carter Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Fordyce Johnson per fall 4:39.
113: Mason Richter (WCA/A/B-E over Zack Davidson per fall 0:11.
120: Adam Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Zach Hendrickson per decision 6-0.
126: Solomon Wales (WCA/A/B-E) over Hunter Skaroper decision 10-3.
132: #4 Ethan Hendrickson (UNCW) over Grant Lindquist per fall 0:49
138: Dylan Rasmussen (UNCW) over Ashton Danner per decision 8-3.
145: Hank Tellers (UNCW) over Dierk Goeden per decision 8-6.
152: #10 Anthony Sykora (WCA/A/B-E) over #6 Eion Ness per decision 7-1.
160: #2 Jordan Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over #10 Dakota Meech per decision 10-3.
170: Kade Olson (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
182: #3 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCA/A/B-E) over Logan Torma per fall 0:44.
195: Beau Robinson (WCA/A/B-E) over Cooper Hasbargen per fall 4:51.
220: Colton Lindquist (WCA/A/B-E) over Mason Kipka per fall
0:23.
285: Marcus Peterson (UNCW) over Austin Mattson per fall 4:25.

#14 WCA/A/B-E 63, Staples-Motley (STMO) 15
106: Carter Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Chase Mikel per fall 4:09.
113: Mason Richter (WCA/A/B-E) over Aidan Winter per fall 0:20.
120: Adam Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Owen Winter per fall 0:10.
126: Colby Tappe (STMO) over Solomon Wales per fall 1:29.
132: Jason Trantina (STMO) over Grant Lindquist per decision 6-3.
138: Ashton Danner (WCA/A/B-E) over Dalton Wells per fall 2:18.
145: Conner Dobson (STMO) over Dierk Goeden per fall 1:57.
152: #10 Anthony Sykora (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
160: Kade Olson (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
170: #2 Jordan Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Logen Weite per decision 4-2.
182: #3 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCA/A/B-E) over Sam Jennissen per fall 1:29.
195: Beau Robinson (WCA/A/B-E) over Hunter Martin per fall 2:49.
220: Colton Lindquist (WCA/A/-B-E) over Alex Giza per fall 0:33.
285: Austin Mattson (WCA/A/B-E) over Cole Winkels per fall 3:05.

#15 WCA/A/B-E 60, Barnesville (BARN) 21
106: Carter Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Asher O`Brien per fall 3:00.
113: Mason Richter (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
120: Adam Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
126: Ayden Hauck (BARN) over Solomon Wales per decision 7-5.
132: Hunter Blilie (BARN) over Grant Lindquist per fall 1:06.
138: Dawson Gregg (BARN) over Ashton Danner per fall 5:01.
145: Dierk Goeden (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
152: #9 Anthony Sykora (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
160: #2 Jordan Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
170: Kade Olson (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
182: #4 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
195: Brady Kroll (BARN) over Beau Robinson per fall 1:50.
220: Colton Lindquist (WCA/A/B-E) over Jordan Kroll per fall 2:17.
285: Austin Mattson (WCA/A/B-E) over Tim Wells per fall 1:07.

#15 WCA/A/B-E 37, Frazee (FRAZ) 31
106: Carter Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Cade Nagel per decision 5-2.
113: Mason Richter (WCA/A/B-E) won per forfeit.
120: Bailey Peichel (FRAZ) over Adam Lohse per major decision
11-1.
126: Christian Carlson (FRAZ) over Solomon Wales per decision 6-2.
132: Brady Crabtree (FRAZ) over Grant Lindquist per decision 6-2.
138: Jake Nagel (FRAZ) over Ashton Danner per fall 2:11.
145: Kaden Hiemenz (FRAZ) over Dierk Goeden per fall 0:37.
152: #9 Anthony Sykora (WCA/A/B-E) over Tyler Moe per major decision 18-6.
160: #2 Jordan Lohse (WCA/A/B-E) over Preston Mayfield per fall 0:42.
170: Brock Barlund (FRAZ) over Kade Olson per decision 5-2.
182: #4 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCA/A/B-E) over Howard Solem per fall 2:02.
195: Daniel Graham (FRAZ) over Beau Robinson per fall 5:40.
220: Colton Lindquist (WCA/A/B-E) over Byron Kropuenske per fall 4:34.
285: Austin Mattson (WCA/A/B-E) over Xander Kohler per fall 2:23.

The Hornets stole 195 lbs as their wrestler was in trouble nearing the half point of the final period and turned his wrestler for a pin. Again…the Hornets pushed the pace and moved ahead of the Knights with just two matches to go. Colton Lindquist wrestled 220 for the Knights, he put his man away early in the third period to….this sounds awfully recurring….tie up the score, this time at 31-31. When Barnesville hosts duals, they black out the gym, with just a spotlight over the two contestants. This brings the audience very close to the match as its basically the only thing one can see. Other senses begin to kick in and when the score is close raucous fans cheer especially loud. When Austin ‘Mad-dog” Mattson took the mat for the final match it was this type of loud. Hornet and Knight fans both were encouraging their heavyweights. Mattson took a period to soften his opponent and early in the second stanza, folded up his adversary for the victory. The Knights took down the Hornets 37-31.

Coach Gruchow commented on the night,”We were happy to come out of tonight's Tri with two wins. I don't necessarily think we wrestled our best and things definitely didn't go our way in the toss-up matches. However, we were able to sneak out a win against a very respectable team even when we weren't performing our best. The guys were pretty excited when Mattson sealed the win against Frazee by fall. It was an adjustment being on the road and with all the new protocols and in a different school, with a much different atmosphere than we have had when wrestling at home. I think it threw our guys off a bit. We did some really great things on the mat tonight, I just think we can tweak and adjust to improve. It will be great to get a couple more practices in so that we can work on some small details that will hopefully have a big impact because we have a big week ahead of us.”

The week provided a pair of major milestones for the Knights as two seniors attained lofty accolades.

Nathaniel Kisgen and Jordan Lohse secured their 100th and 150th career wins. Congratulations Nathaniel and Jordan.

‘Wrestler of the Week’ honors are shared by a pair of Knight mat men. Freshman 106 lber Carter Lohse started the Knights off with a triumph in all four of his debuts. Each of those victories gave the team a leg up to start each match. Senior heavyweight Austin Mattson showed his mettle as at a critical time, he seized the moment and put away his Frazee opponent by fall.

The Knights are back in action on two nights this week. Tuesday, the 26th they host the Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Fighting Saints and the New York Mills Eagles. Thursday the teams heads south east as they face a duo of high caliber teams in the #2 ranked Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons and they #3 ranked Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars. Wrestled begins at 5 pm both evenings.