2/2/23 Grove City, MN
The first dual was with the #8 ranked Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars. For the Knights, BBE poses a tough match-up. Where the Knights have the most proven scoring power, BBE has a little more. The dual went almost to script with higher ranked wrestlers beating lesser ranked or those with lower records. BBE took down the Knights with relative ease 44-22.

The second dual was with the ACGC Falcons. The Falcons are no longer a ranked club but they have enough firepower to do damage to anyone who takes them lightly. The Knights seemed irritated after the loss to BBE and took it to the Falcons handing them a lopsided 54-21 defeat.

The third dual was a tough 35-34 loss to Royalton-Upsala, with some critical scoring decisions working against the Knights.

Coach Brandon Gruchow, the ultimate optimist, looked at Thursday night as such, “Lessons learned during big quads like tonight are so valuable. With the post season right around the corner we are trying to work out as many kinks as possible. All the teams here tonight were solid and helped us realize what we need to get better. We are thankful for the opportunity to grind with such top notch teams and wrestlers!”

#16 WCAABE 54 Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (ACGC) 21
106: #9 Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Gradyn Grahn per fall 2:24.
113: Evan Dingwall (WCAABE) over Logan Holien per decision 12-7.
120: Braxton Kragenbring (ACGC) over Tucker McGee per fall 3:17.
126: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Luke Garvick per fall 1:36.
132: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Levi Nelson per fall 4:44.
138: Edwyn Gonzalez (ACGC) over #10 Solomon Wales per decision 7-4.
145:#5 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Brody Straumann per fall 3:41.
152: #9 Jevon Williams (ACGC) over Kolby Peters per fall 3:48.
160: Ezekiel Sieckert (WCAABE) over Ethan Whitcomb per fall 5:45.
170: Isaiah Renne (ACGC) over Jeremy Blascyk per fall 0:58.
182: #1 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over Wyatt Garvick per fall 1:19.
195: #10 Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Vince Lee per fall 1:11.
220: #10 Will Rustan (WCAABE) over Terrell Renne per decision 3-1.
285: #7 Justin Blascyk (WCAABE) over Juan Cardenas per fall 1:51.

2/4/23 Kimball, MN
Saturday the team went south again to Kimball for the West Central Conference Tournament. This is the first year for the Knights in the new conference as they had been long time members of the Park Region Conference. When looking at the brackets, this conference is loaded with good and great talent. To even reach the podium is an accomplishment.

The Knights wrestled well that day. Both Owen Gruchow and Beau Robinson upset highly ranked opponents and the squad did what they could to keep up with a powerful United team from DBLPM. At one point the Knights had closed the lead to claim the team conference championship to 13 points but could not advance from that spot. This year, the Knights will have to settle for being runners-up in the new conference. Leading the Knights were a trio of champions Hunter Gruchow, Solomon Wales and Anthony Sykora. There was a trio of 2nd place finishers with Owen Gruchow, Beau Robinson and Justin Blascyk. The three 4th place Knights included Evan Dingwall, Adam Lohse and Will Rustan. Ezekial Sieckert took the lone 5th place medal and Jeremy Blascyk made the podium in 6th place.

About Saturday, Coach Gruchow commented, “It's been awhile since we competed in an individual tournament but our approach remained the same...be confident, be aggressive, work hard for the bonus points, and be stingy on giving up the bonus points. For the most part, I'd say we did a great job and improved in all areas mentioned above. The puzzle is coming together nicely and at the right time!”

#8 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) 44 #16 WCAABE 22
106: Aiden Mueller (BBE) over Evan Dingwall per decision 11-3.
113: #9 Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Noah Welte per major decision 12-4.
120: Louie Tensen (BBE) over Tucker McGee per fall 1:00.
126: Carter Lohse (WCAABE) over Elliot Spanier per fall 1:20.
132: #3 Ryan Jensen (BBE) over Adam Lohse per technical fall 18-3.
138: #9 Wyatt Engen (BBE) over #10 Solomon Wales per decision 1-0.
145: #4 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over Brett DeRoo per major decision 12-3.
152: Tanner Viessman (BBE) over Kolby Peters per fall 2:53.
160: Hunter Laage (BBE) over Ezekiel Sieckert per technical fall 19-3.
170: #2 Maximus Hanson (BBE) over Jeremy Blascyk per fall 1:15.
182: #1 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over #10 Carson Gilbert per major decision 14-3.
195: #10 Beau Robinson (WCAABE) over Talen Kampsen per major decision 10-0.
220: #5 Ethan Spanier (BBE) over #10 Will Rustan per fall 1:50.
285: Harley Weber (BBE) over #7 Justin Blascyk per ultimate tie breaker decision 3-2.

#4 Royalton-Upsala (ROUP) 35 #16 WCAABE 34
106: #9 Owen Gruchow (WCAABE) over Marcus Hayes per fall 0:32.
113: Evan Dingwall (WCAABE) over Adonijah Ripple per fall 1:25.
120: Tucker Simmons (ROUP) over Tucker McGee per fall 1:40.
126: Lane Olson (ROUP) over Carter Lohse per major decision 10-2.
132: Adam Lohse (WCAABE) over Johnathon Bzdok per fall 4:33.
138: #10 Solomon Wales (WCAABE) over Logan Nundahl per fall 0:41.
145: #5 Hunter Gruchow (WCAABE) over #9 Will Gorecki per major decision 9-1.
152: Sawyer Simmons (ROUP) over Kolby Peters per fall 1:32.
160: Nicholas Leibold (ROUP) over Ezekiel Sieckert per major decision 12-4.
170: Jake Leners (ROUP) over Jeremy Blascyk per decision 4-1.
182: #1 Anthony Sykora (WCAABE) over Rex Revior per fall 0:37.
195: Kaden Holm (ROUP) over #10 Beau Robinson per decision 4-3.
220: #6 Bryce Holm (ROUP) over #10 Will Rustan per decision 7-1.
285: #9 Brandon Mugg (ROUP) over #7 Justin Blascyk per fall 1:56.

Will Rustan claims the single milestone this week as on Saturday he captured his 50th career victory.

‘Fastest Fall of the Week’ goes to Owen Gruchow with his :32 second pin over his R/U opponent.

‘Wrestler of the Week’ goes to Jr. Captain of the Knights, Solomon Wales. Sully was one of the early scorers that helped the Knights take a big lead vs. the Royals on Thursday and he claimed his first conference championship in Kimball. Congratulations Solomon.

 The Knights will enter their final week of the regular season as on Saturday they travel to Morris for the annual Dr. Busian Invite. At the tournament the teams will consist of Fosston/Bagley, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, MAHACA, Pelican Rapids, Pipestone Area, Quad County, Wabasso and WCAABE.