#11 WCA/A/B-E Wrestlers Defeat #1 Wolves 28-27
A week ago the WCA/A/B-E wrestlers had a big week. They took care of business with Canby and Border West on the road then returned home and knocked off the #4 ranked Minnewaska Area Lakers and dispatched the MAHACA Tigers. By any measure that is an outstanding week of wrestling and nearly impossible to upstage with an encore...that is unless you know head coach of the Knights Brandon Gruchow, his staff and the actual team itself. Acceptance of past accolades is exactly that, they are in the past and today is what is most important.
Enter week six of the season. The time frame began with a new release from the ‘Guillotine’, the editors put together all that is important to the sport of wrestling in MN and the new rankings were released. The #17 ranked Knights found themselves vaulted to the #11 position. Junior 220 lb wrestler Colton Lindquist was added to the list of top ten performers in the state as he earned himself a #7 ranking individually.
On Tuesday the 23rd, WCA/A/B-E hosted the Osakis Silverstreaks and the Fergus Falls Otters. Both teams have had difficulty filling rosters this year and Tuesday was no different. The Knights took advantage of the situation and blew past both teams by large margins, wiping out Osakis 56-15 and Fergus Falls 66-16.
Thursday the team was supposed to travel to Pelican Rapids for a triangular with the Pelican Rapids Vikings and the #1 ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville Wolves. Due to our recent friend Covid-19, the tri was canceled in Pelican and a dual was scheduled to happen the same day involving the Wolves and the Knights with the new location in Elbow Lake. The environment at the dual was also changed as only the teams, their staff, the officials of the school, and a handful of media were allowed in the gym, there would be no fans. Typically the fans add to the drama of sporting events but on Thursday the undefeated two time defending state champion Wolves appeared primed and confident while the underdog Knights looked hungry. There was about to be a battle and everyone in the room was aware, the tension could have been cut with a knife.
The dual began with the Wolves trotting out a pair of highly ranked wrestlers in the first two weights. The tandem put up nine points via a major decision and a technical fall. Adam Lohse of the Knights responded with a second period fall at 120 lb which was followed by Solomon Wales who earned a decision and gave the Knights the lead 10-9.
Justin Blascyk returns to his team with a win. PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Nathaniel Kisgen in action for the Knights. PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Kade Olson prepares to score. PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Solomon Wales pulls in a shot on his opponent. PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
#11 WCA/A/B-E) 28, #1 LPGE/B Wolves (LBW) 27
106: #4 Connor Flan (LBW) over Carter Lohse per major decision 9-1.
113: #5 Gavin Albers (LBW) over Mason Richter per technical fall 19-4.
120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Mason Bruder per fall 3:13.
126: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Tyler Nelson per major decision
10-0.
132: Rudy Determan (LBW) over Grant Lindquist per fall 1:39.
138: #10 Cael Lorentz (LBW) over Ashton Danner per decision 8-2.
145: #4 Carter Meiners (LBW) over Reubens Swanson per decision 7-4.
152: #2 Landon Gode (LBW) over #3 Jordan Lohse per decision 3-2.
160: #1 Mason Gode (LBW) over #7 Anthony Sykora per decision 7-1.
170: Kade Olson (WCAABE) over Tate Twardowski per decision 10-4.
182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Shawn Houdek per decision 5-0.
195: #2 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Alex Line per fall 1:40.
220: #7 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Bergen Pesta per decision 5-2.
285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Trey Lancaster per decision 4-1.
Action continued at 132 lbs in which the Wolves posted a pin. That was followed by a decision and then another. The Wolves were not done scoring yet as they gathered decisions at 152 and 160 lbs. At this point the dual was getting concerning as LPGE/B was up 27-10. They had won seven matches out of the nine wrestled, but….the Knights had also done a superb job getting through the murderers row portion of the Wolves lineup and in doing so had not surrendered much in the way of bonus points. There were five matches left and if each WCA/A/B-E wrestler did his job, there was still opportunity.
Kade Olson came to the mat for the Knights at 170 lb, he posted a 10-4 decision. Beau Robinson stepped into the circle at 182 and came away with another decision closing the gap to 27-16. Nathaniel Kisgen put up a first period pin for the Knights which brought concrete evidence that this dual was far from over as he gained six team points. With just two matches left the Wolves lead was slipping and momentum was shifting. A raucous Knight bench was in full support of its team. Colton Lindquist ground out another decision for WCA/A/B-E at 220 lb and that set the stage for the final match. The score was still in favor of LPGE/B but the Knights had closed the gap to 27-25. The final match would decide the dual. Whoever got their hand raised would carry his team to victory. Justin Blascyk stepped out for the Knights at heavyweight. He was facing a much larger opponent whom had anchored a state champion team for his third season. Justin wrestled like he had been in this situation many times. He moved well and stayed in good position as to not let the larger opponent gain too much leverage due to size. As the match moved on, and into the third period Blascyk began to tire the Wolves big man. By the end he literally had his foe turning in circles. Justin finished the bout with his hand raised and a 4-1 decision in his favor. His and his entire teams efforts just knocked off the last unbeaten class A team in the state. In doing so they answered the question of, how do you give beating #4 last week an encore,….simple, you beat #1.
Two milestones were reached a week ago that were not posted in the column but are well deserving of announcement. Senior Knight wrestler Kade Olson recorded his 50th victory. Head Coach for the Knight Wrestling Program Brandon Gruchow posted his 200th career dual victory. Congratulations to both!
Wrestler of the Week
The Knights posted another perfect week going 3-0. In doing that a host of wrestlers performed well. Solomon Wales, Beau Robinson, Nathaniel Kisgen and Colton Lindquist were all undefeated. Beating the Wolves took a total team effort and there could be conversation about a host of Knights who were critical in the victory but there was one match that left no room for error. The pressure at the end of the dual was squarely on Justin Blascyk’s shoulders. Win and your team wins, go down in defeat and the pundits around the state can sit back and say, #1 should beat #11 anyways. Justin’s decision was obvious.
Having asked Blascyk about his thoughts prior, during and following his match it is clear as to where he is mentally at in his season,”Before the match I felt energized, ready to go, confident. During the match I was thinking about wrestling smart and I always felt like...I got this. The team is depending on me.” He finished with,”After the match I felt a high sense of pride as I did it! I did it for the team!” Justin’s final sentence sums up a mouthful about how this team has performed this season. They appear to do about anything for the group. It is a close unit of young men who are willing to give all for each other and when visiting with them, more often than not the word team holds far more power than I, me or myself.
The 20-3 WCA/A/B-E Knights will enter their final week of the regular season. The competition does not exactly ease off as the team will travel on Tuesday March 2nd, to Park Rapids for a triangular including the hometown 6-14 Park Rapids Panthers and the #9AA Thief River Falls Prowlers. The Prowlers bring a record of 18-9. Thursday the Knights return home for a pair of duals with inter conference and section opponents. The 10-12 Ottertail Central Bulldogs and finally the #5A ranked Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie Raiders. The Raiders have a 20-7 record. This dual is quite important as the victor will take the Park Region Conference Dual Team honors and the #1 seed for section 6A in the race for the state tournament.
#11 WCA/A/B-E 56, Osakis (OSAK) 15
106: #8 Jacob Taplin (OSAK) over Carter Lohse per decision 6-0.
113: Logan Grove (OSAK) over Sam Olson per fall 0:25.
120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
126: Christian Nathe (OSAK) over Logan Long per decision 9-6.
132: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Gaven Cimbura per fall 1:05.
138: Carsten Jacobson (OSAK) over Ashton Danner per decision 11-7.
145: Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Kale Drevlow per decision 10-3.
152: #7 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over Tyson Hagedon per technical
fall 15-0.
160: #3 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
170: Kade Olson (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
182: #2 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
195: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
220: #7 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
#11 WCA/A/B-E 66, Fergus Falls (FEFA) 16
106: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Blake Roberts per fall 2:06.
113: Kassten Hartwell (FEFA) over Sam Olson per fall 0:56.
120: Carsten Fronning (FEFA) over Adam Lohse per fall 1:10.
126: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
132: Grant Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
138: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
145: Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Jacob Widness per fall 1:46.
152: #7 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over Sam Sorum per fall 0:40.
160: #3 Jordan Lohse (WCAABE) over Jonah Sorum per fall 3:07.
170: #10 Kaden Hartwell (FEFA) over Kade Olson per major decision 8-0.
182: #2 Nathaniel Kisgen (WCAABE) over Delvin Roberts per fall 2:14.
195: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Joe Vaughn per fall 2:23.
220: #7 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Nathan Severtson per fall
1:14.
285: Austin Mattson (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
