Knight Wrestlers Begin Dual Season 6-0 Place 2nd at GCT
The ‘21-’22 high school wrestling season is under way. The West Central Area/Ashby/Brandon-Evansville (WCAABE) Knights and their coaching staff led by head coach Brandon Gruchow jumped into action this past week in a heavy way as they wrestled three different days, which consisted of six duals and the Grant County Tournament.
The Knights opened the current season ranked #9 in class A wrestling. The team backed this up with convincing wins in all six of their duals. They beat their opponents by a collective score of 424 to 42, this equivalates to 91% of all possible points earned by the Knights. While saying this, there is a grain of salt that must be noted. All six teams faced are in a rebuilding phase of their programs. The Knights received plenty of forfeits and no doubt benefited by a softer week of duals. But the schedule is what it is and what can be taken from the past week of duals is the fact that there are new grapplers taking the varsity mat for the Knights also. It was not just seasoned starters collecting victories but the new entries to the roster pulled their weight and when given the chance to wrestle proved competent as competitors. To be sure, the roster will shift around and new looks will be tested and tried but it must be very reassuring to the coaching staff to know that the capability already shown exists on the team.
Saturday found the team at home hosting the Grant County Tournament. The talent level at the venue was remarkable. Many weights were littered with top ten rankings from single and double A levels. This type of competition can tell many traits about those involved. The levels of skill, stamina, strength, and mental fortitude are all put to the test. When looking at the weeks schedule a thought kept creeping in,….after a very long football season, with a good share of the wrestlers also being football players, how close are these guys to wrestling shape yet? The tournament yielded some of those answers. This is not to say the Knights did not wrestle well or were not showing all the right stuff. This is a very good team, they positioned themselves early on to have a chance at claiming first place over the #2 ranked Jaguars from Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. As it would be though, the gas tanks were challenged and BBE found a way to pull out the final rounds head to head wins. In doing so they scored just enough to pluck away the first place honors from the Knights. Looking at the lineups for both of these teams leaves any wrestling enthusiast drooling in anticipation for the head to head match ups later in the season when they meet for a dual.
About Saturday Coach Gruchow stated,”What a fun day of wrestling! The ending didn't go as planned but there were a lot of good things happening. Things that we are working on in practice are transpiring onto the mat and that's what we liked to see. However, we didn't stick to our motto and didn't earn enough pins to win. To beat teams like BBE we just can't give up the pins and instead we need to collect every one we can.”
Milestones by the Knights were aplenty this week. Adam Lohse and Ashton Danner each earned their 50th career win during the Benson dual. Solomon Wales gathered his 50th career victory Saturday during the GCT and Colton Lindquist earned his 50th career pin fall. Reubens Swanson earned the most wins for the week going undefeated, posting a 9-0 record. Owen Gruchow posted the week's fastest fall at ten seconds during the Wadena dual.
The now #8 ranked Knights will resume action twice this week. First they will travel Tuesday to Long Prairie for a triangular with the Staples-Motley Cardinals and the formidable #9 ranked Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville Wolves. Saturday the team will head northwest to Devils Lake, ND for a team dual tournament with the likes of Devils Lake, Fargo Davies, West Fargo, Turtle Mountain Community, St. Mary’s, and Watford City.
Reubens Swanson vs Rose (MAHACA) championship match at GCT. PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Sam Olson vs. Carlson (PR). PHOTO by TAMMIE OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Tuesday, December 7th Osakis, MN
Rankings released November 25th via the ‘Guillotine’.
#9 WCAABE 59, Osakis (O) 9
106: Reggie George (O) over Owen Gruchow per decision 10-5. 113: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Simon Jacobson per decision 7-0. 120: Sam Olson (WCAABE) over Christian Nathe per decision 4-3. 126: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over #7 Jacob Taplin per decision 7-5. 132: #10 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Lukas Duchene per fall 0:34. 138: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Hunter Sell per fall 0:48. 145: #5 Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Gavin Cimbura per major decision 18-5. 152: Kale Drevlow (O) over Dierk Goeden per fall 3:42. 160: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Carsten Jacobson per major decision 16-2. 170: #2 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over Tyson Hagedon per injury default. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 195: Will Rustan (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
#9 WCAABE 53, Benson (BEN) 21
106: Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Max Nygaard per fall 1:59. 113: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Ed Wah per decision 11-9. 120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Mu tah Wah per fall 0:43. 126: Blake Nagler (BEN) over Sam Olson per fall 1:07. 132: #10 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 138: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 145: #5 Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Alex Whitcup per technical fall 23-5. 152: Nick Bolduc (BEN) over Dierk Goeden per decision 14-8. 160: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Preston Mcgee per decision 7-3. 170: #7 Nathan Bolduc (BEN) over Jeremy Blascyk per fall 0:56. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Teegan Hogrefe per fall 0:35. 195: #1 Thomas Dineen (BEN) over Will Rustan per fall 3:13. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Johnny Kobberman per fall 1:20. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
#9 WCAABE 75, Fergus Falls (FF) 6
106: Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Jacob Fronning per fall 0:51. 113: Caleb Fronning (FF) over Carter Lohse per fall 2:56. 120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Blake Roberts per fall 2:28. 126: Sam Olson (WCAABE) over Carson Grenier per decision 5-4. 132: #10 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Rayshaun Joseph per fall 0:21. 138: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Carston Fronning per fall 1:55. 145: Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Lance Graff per fall 1:18. 152: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 160: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Sam Sorum per fall 3:07. 170: Jeremy Blascyk (WCAABE) over William Baez per fall 3:12. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Delvin Roberts per fall 1:24. 195: Will Rustan won per forfeit. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Sebastian Holding Eagle per fall 1:35. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Isaac Brunn per fall 1:05.
Thursday December 9th Wadena, MN
New rankings released on Dec. 9th via the ‘Guillotine’.
#8 WCAABE 78, Wadena-Deer Creek (WDC) 0
106: Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Hudson Schultz per fall 0:10. 113: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over James Seelhammer per decision 6-4. 120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Mason Brauch per fall 1:12. 126: Sam Olson (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 132: Logon Long (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 138: #9 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 145: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Eli Benning won per fall 3:29. 152: #8 Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Grant Seelhammer per fall 1:58. 160: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) over Brandon Wheeler per fall 3:08. 170: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) over Seth Stroeing per fall 3:15. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Koby Endres per decision 7-4. 195: Will Rustan (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Matthew Wegscheid per fall 0:45.
#8 WCAABE 84, Pelican Rapids (PR) 0
106: Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Danny Salazar per fall 1:56. 113: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Jackson Peasley per fall 0:17. 120: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Jed Carlson per fall 0:23. 126: Sam Olson (WCAABE) over Phillip Dykhoff per fall 5:58. 132: Logon Long (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 138: #9 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Reece Henkes per fall 0:34. 145: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Oakley Carlson per fall 3:28. 152: #8 Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Jack Kapenga per fall 3:24. 160: Dierk Goeden (WCAABE) over Mark Kapenga per fall 3:32. 170: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 195: Will Rustan (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) won per forfeit.
#8 WCAABE 75, Ottertail Central (OTC) 6
106: Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Mason Christianson per fall 0:52. 113: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Tayden Soma per fall 0:28. 120: Sam Olson (WCAABE) over Julian Umlauf per fall 2:44. 126: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Collin Tiereny per fall 0:55. 132: #9 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Anthony Rousu per fall 0:31. 138: Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over #9 Brien Poser per decision 8-4. 145: Jacob Schaffran (WCAABE) over Connor Nelson per fall 2:57. 152: #8 Reubens Swanson (WCAABE) over Tommy Ehlert per fall 1:53. 160: #10 Jaxon Rich (OTC) over Dierk Goeden per fall 1:53. 170: Ashton Danner (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 182: Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Brock Hasling per fall 0:55. 195: Will Rustan (WCAABE) won per forfeit. 220: #4 Colton Lindquist (WCAABE) over Kale Rich per fall 1:26. 285: Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Xavier Reineke per fall 1:14.
Saturday December 11th Barrett, MN
Grant County Invite Tournament Team Results
1. #2 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (A) 204, 2. #8 WCAABE (A) 196,
3. Dawson Boyd-Lac Qui Parle-Montevideo (AA) 183, 4. Morris Area-Hancock-Chokio Alberta (AA) 110, 5. Alexandria (AA) 89, 6. Canby (A) 76, 7. Fergus Falls (AA) 73, 8. Border West (A) 71,
9. Ottertail Central (A) 62, 10. Benson (A) 59.5, 11. Pelican Rapids (A) 32.5
106 lb. Owen Gruchow 2-2, placed 5th
Defeated Austin Giinthir (BBE) per fall 0:27. Defeated by Ben Gunlogson (DBLPM) per major decision 16-7. Defeated by Grayson Olson (DBLPM) per major decision 12-1. Defeated Max Nygaard (BEN) per fall 2:52.
113 lb. Carter Lohse 2-2, placed 4th
Defeated Louie Tensen (BBE) per fall 4:36. Defeated by Caleb Fronning (FF) per major decision 10-0. Defeated Tayden Soma (OTC) per fall 0:44. Defeated Mason Evjen (ALEX). Defeated by #4 Eli Greenman (CAN) per fall 4:00.
120 lb. Adam Lohse 2-2 placed 4th
Defeated Jed Carlson (PR) per fall 3:23. Defeated by #8 Daniel Gunlogson (DBLPM) per fall 3:00. Defeated Kassten Hartwell (FF) per fall 1:49. Defeated by Brett DeRoo (BBE) per decision 6-5.
126 lb. Sam Olson 1-2, placed 4th
Defeated by Brenden Bryce (ALEX) per decision 4-3.Defeated Carson Grenier (FF) per decision 3-1. Defeated by #6 Jude Olson (BW) per fall 0:19.
132 lb. #9 Hunter Gruchow 2-1, placed 2nd
Defeated Tyler Schickedanz (DBLPM) per fall 0:46. Defeated #3 Ryan Jensen (BBE) per decision 7-6. Defeated by #3 (@ 126 lb) Eli Larson (BW) per decision 6-5.
138 lb. Solomon Wales 1-2, placed 4th
Defeated by #9 Brien Poser (OTC) per decision 8-1. Defeated #8 Blaze Nelson (ALEX) per decision 5-3. Defeated by #9 Brien Poser (OTC) per decision 4-0.
145 lb. #8 Reubens Swanson 3-0, placed 1st
Defeated Alex Whitcup (BEN) per fall 3:07. Defeated Isaac Saffert (ALEX) per fall 0:41. Defeated Caden Rose (MAHACA) per major decision 13-4.
152 lb. Dierk Goeden 0-2, DNP
Defeated by Hunter Massner (MAHACA) per fall 2:30. Defeated by Logan Schleske (OTC) per fall 0:55.
160 lb. Ashton Danner 2-2, placed 5th
Defeated Preston McGee (BEN) per fall 4:43. Defeated by #10 Jaxon Rich (OTC) per fall 2:46. Defeated by Landon Seward (ALEX) per fall 4:40. Defeated Preston McGee (BEN) per major decision 15-3.
170 lb. #2 Anthony Sykora 1-1, placed 2nd
Defeated Mason Teaser (ALEX) per fall 1:36. Defeated by #10 Maximus Hanson (BBE) per decision 14-7.
182 lb. Beau Robinson 1-1 placed 2nd
Defeated Delvin Roberts (FF) per fall 3:03. Defeated by Avery Wittnebel (DBLPM) per decision 9-4.
195 lb. Will Rustan 2-2, placed 5th
Defeated by #1 Thomas Dineen (BEN) per fall 1:34. Defeated Gavryn Fernholz (ALEX) per fall 2:18. Defeated by Hunter Gibson (MAHACA) per fall 4:03. Defeated Andrew Hennessy (BW) per fall 3:45.
220 lb. #4 Colton Lindquist 2-1, 2nd
Defeated Johnny Kobberman (BEN) per fall 2:49. Defeated Sebastian Holding Eagle (FF) per fall 3:53. Defeated by Ethan Spanier (BBE) fall 1:59.
285 lb. Justin Blascyk 2-1, placed 2nd
Defeated Harley Weber (BBE) per fall 0:54. Defeated Bryce Feuerhake per fall 2:21. Defeated by Keaton Haas (DBLPM) per fall 0:35.
285 lb. Tyler Stone 1-2, DNP
Defeated Carter Malstrom (DBLPM) per fall 0:29. Defeated by Bryce Feuerhake (BBE) per fall 3:28. Defeated by Harley Weber (BBE) per overtime decision 7-5.i
