WARRIORS ON A WAR PATH

The Fulda/Murray County Central Warriors are on a War Path defeating 3 of their last 4 opponents as a team. Traveling to Minneota on January 7th to battle the Redwood Valley Cardinals where the Warriors went into Criteria after tying the dual, winning by one point 3231. They then faced the Mighty Minneota Vikings, where the Warriors suffered a loss 50-16.

On January 9th, the Warriors celebrated parents night as well as senior night, winning both duals in the triangular. First, against the Quad County Kilowatts, the Warriors cleaned up, winning 65-5 as a team, followed by the a nail biter against St. James/Madelia, the Warriors winning 39-29.

Against the Redwood Valley Cardinals, the Warriors stayed open at 107 and started Dane Hansen at 114 who pinned Brayden Sweetman in the second period, tying the score. Kaston Clarke followed suit with a quick 38 second pin against Dominick Adams.(12-6) Hunter Reese went the distance at 127 with Dominic Okins, winning by major decision 13-5.(16-6) At 133, Teague Meyer also went the distance, settling with a decision against Isaiah Nelson 9-2.(19-6) After a loss by technical fall in the 139 bout and another loss by pin fall in the 145 bout, the Cardinals closed the gap, still behind by two, 1917. The 152 bout brought Quintin Lewis who, after going the distance with Tucker Amberg, won with a close 8-7 decision. (22-17) Two major decisions and 8 total points after losses by Jaxon Wendorff and Isaiah Wolske. The Cardinals gained the lead.(22-25) Carson Klein was clutch at 189, scoring 6 team points with a pinfall in the second period against Max Bentson.(28-25) The 215 bout brought Colby Kesteloot and Jax Hennen. Colby Kesteloot scored 8 points, Hennens 2, giving the Warriors 3 team points.(31-25) At 285, Gabe Wolske was asked to anchor and Griffin Evans caught him early scoring 6, tying the score 31-31. After deliberation by the referees, it was decided that the Warriors would win by criteria 32-31.

Kaston Clarke with a decision, Kaden Landsman with a decision, Isaiah Wolske with a pin, Carson Klein with a Major decision summed up the 16 team points for the Warriors against the Minneota Vikings.

On Thursday, January 9th, the Warriors first Dual was against the Quad County Kilowatts and Dane Hansen led off at 107 for the Warriors against Easton Johnson. He started quickly with a single leg, putting Johnson on his back, secured a bar arm and turned Johnson for the pin in 28 seconds.

Kaston Clarke was up next against Mario Gradillas at 114. Clarke, early in the match, got in on his single leg, but Gradillas defended with a whizzer. Clarke couldn’t find a way to score on Gradillas in the 1st period. The second period Clarke started down with a score of 0-0 Clarke, looking for an escape, found it, turning in after standing up. Clarke then was able to finish his shots Gradillas had defended in the first period, scoring 6 points on good single leg with solid dumps. In the third period, Clarke scored again on a good outside single, scoring 10 points against Gradillas’

two points, giving the Warriors 4 points on a major decision.

At 121 pounds, Ivan Olsem stepped to the mat against Waylon Carroll, both 7th graders and first year varsity. Ivan got in early on Carrol with a crossface getting behind, scoring the three. After riding out the first period, Olsem continued his dominating performance. Carroll, choosing to start neutral, Olsem again scored on single, switching to a double got a deep half in with a wrist, got a little high, but settled back, chest to chest to get the pin fall and the 6 team points.

After a forfeit to Adam Iverson at 127 lbs. Hunter Reese took on James Hardin at 133 and lost by technical fall. At 139, Brayden Gilb received a forfeit, then Truman Olsem took on Dane Hildahl and started the scoring with a single leg and dumped Hildahl, but got hung up in Hildahl’s arms. Eventually,

he got the head lock then turned to a reverse half and pinned Hildahl, making the team score 34-5.

152 was a forfeit to Kaden Landsman, then at 160 Noah Mathiowetz drew Sam Miller. After some hand fighting, Noah got in on a single leg, switched to a single scoring the takedown. Securing a bar and wrist Matihowetz got the pinfall.

After a forfeit to Jaxon Wendorff at 172, Isaiah Wolske drew Anthony Guzman. Wolske took him down, put Guzman in the hammer lock and pinned him in 25 seconds.

Next up was Carson Klein at 215 taking on Jacob Savig, the Kilowatts most experienced wrestler. Klein was the first to score, taking Savig down with a single. Then after some blood, Klein scored again on a single. Savig was able to escape from both of the takedowns making the score after the 1st period 6-2. Klein chose down to start the 2nd period, turned and caught a leg and took Savig down for a reversal. Savig scored two points on penalties and earned an escape after some blood time. 8-5 going into the 3rd period, Savig started down and earned a reversal. Klein escaped, earning one point and eventually scored on another takedown, making the final score 12-7 earning 3 decision points for the Warriors. Colby Kesteloot went the distance at 285 with Breck Martin scoring 13 points with 4 takedowns and an escape for the major decision win making the final score 65-5.

Next up was St. James/ Madelia and Dane Hansen led off at 107 against Joel Sanchez- Delgado. Delgado got in on a leg early, taking Hansen down.Hanson got to his base, turned on Delgado got a leg and the head for a nearside cradle pin. (6-6) After a loss at 114, Kaston Clarke took on Brody Romsdahl in the 121 bout. Romsdahl attempted a throw and Clarke defended, taking Romsdahl to the mat scoring a takedown.

Romsdahl worked his way free only to find Clarke charging at him again for a solid double leg. Romsdahl again worked his way free at the edge of the mat and starting up again Romsdahl tried for a throw and again Clarke defended, putting Romsdahl to his back for the takedown. Starting neutral in the 2nd period, Clark shot out through the back door and worked Romsdahl on his back, eventually securing a pin fall for the 6.(12-6) The Warriors took a loss by pinfall in the 127 bout, followed by Teague Meyer at 133 against Judson Brekke. Meyer off the whistle, scored on an ankle pick, kept working, putting Brekke to his back and with a reverse half nelson, he worked his legs free for a tighter hold, pushed Brekke elbow to his ear and scored the pin making the score 18-12 Warriors.

At 139, Brayden Gilb went the distance, losing to Noel Davila by technical fall.(18-17) 145 Kaden Landsman took Carlos Flores-Lemus the distance, losing only by decision, keeping the score close, but allowing St. James the lead 1820.

In the 152 bout, Noah Mathiowetz lost by pin fall to Talyn Tande in the second period, widening the gap. 18-26 St. James.

The 160 bout, the Warriors went back to work, scoring team points with Quintin Lewis pinning Dylan Reid in the second period.(24-26) Jaxon Wendorff, at 172, worked very hard, keeping the match close and had a solid lead throughout the second period, but fell short as the final whistle blew, losing by decision 11-15.(24-29) 189 found Isaiah Wolske against Peyton Wolner scoring a takedown in the 1st period. The second period Wolner started down and earned his escape and the wrestlers hand fought for the remainder of the period. The third period had Wolske scoring on a penalty point. Then he earned an escape and finished the match 5-1, scoring three team points with a decision making the score 27-29.

The Warriors needed heroes in the heavyweights to win the dual and first was Carson Klein at 215. He charged in on a takedown, putting Kolten Tandy to his back and with a reverse headlock, scored the pin.

Colby Kesteloot had Jeremiah Garza who took Kesteloot down and held him in a head lock which Kesteloot fought off and earned his escape. The second period, Garza chose top referees position and Kesteloot worked to his feet. Garza got in another throw, scoring three, this time Kesteloot reversed and you could feel the tension start to build. Going into the third period, Garza had a 13-8 point lead. Kesteloot, needing to score, chose down and earned a point on three cautions by Garza. Then Kesteloot got out from bottom, scoring his escape point. Finally, in a valiant and heroic double leg blast, Kesteloot lifted Garza and his 270 lb body, off the mat and brought him down with a half in and started working for the pin. Kesteloot wasn’t letting go, giving it his all and eventually Garza succumbed to Kesteloot’s efforts and relinquished the pin fall, giving Colby and the Warrior team the victory with a final score of 39-29.

Teague Meyer