WARRIOR WRESTLERS COMPETE AT REDWOOD FALLS QUAD

The Fulda Murray County Central Warrior wrestling team has begun the long home stretch of their season after a long holiday vacation by travelling to Redwood Falls for a quadrangular. Their opponents were tough starting with the Minneota Vikings, followed by Minnewaska, and finishing up with Redwood Valley.

Minneota has always been a formidable opponent and didn’t disappoint as they pinned their way through the first two weights of the Warriors, but at 120 they would hit a hurdle as Teague Meyer walked onto the mat wearing a red collar on his ankle and began picking away at Minneota’s RJ Sorenson.

Meyer, after sizing up his opponents took to a textbook single leg take down and hung on as he reached for another leg and caught Sorenson in a spladle for a 2 point nearfall as the whistle blew. The second period with Meyer starting in the top position broke Sorenson down catching an arm and forced his back to the mat for another 3 point nearfall. With both wrestlers starting in the top position in the third period Meyer gave up two points in a takedown after a long scramble, but finished the match with a 7-2 victory.

Torrin Clark at 126# went the distance with Mason Javers holding his own and keeping the score close only losing by a 5-0 decision.

Lucas Kuball at 132 performed steady taking it slow and scoring his point ensuring the win for his team scoring a single leg take down for two in the first period and riding his way into the second period where he would score a two point nearfall. Kuball couldn’t stay on top giving up a reversal to Ezequiel Monzon. Kuball maintained his composure and wouldn’t expose his back for nearfall points.

The third period started with Kuball in the down position looking to add to his lead and he did with a solid go behind move scoring two on a reversal but eventually gave up the top position as Monzon scored a reversal of his own, but Kuball held strong for the decision win of 6-4 and 3 team points.

Denver Ash had his work cut out for him going up against Payton Gillund going down 6-0 in the first period. The second period starting in the neutral position Gillund scored another takedown, but this time Ash responded with an escape. Gillund got in on a leg again, but this time Ash responded with a deep whizzer forcing Gillund head first to the mat and to his back awarding Ash with a takedown riding out the remainder of the period. The Technical Gillund In the third period manhandled Ash again scoring a total of 7 points and winning by tech fall.

Aiden Lorenzen followed Ash and with some excellent wrestling and good positioning only gave up a takedown in the first period. The 2nd period was much the same giving up an escape for the referees position but quickly bringing Brock Fier back to the mat with a solid Hi Crotch. Lorenzen lost his grip giving up a reversal to finish out the period 5-2. Fier chose the neutral position and Lorenzen had a lot of gas left in the tank putting on a takedown show trying to get the lead and had it until Fier capitalized on a small mistake scoring a reversal winning by 1 point in a 10-11 high scoring match.

152 is a tough weight in high school wrestling and Quintin Lewis is always up for a challenge. Denton Fier of the Vikings took Quintin the distance with 4 takedowns to 3 escapes by Quintin. With an additional takedown, nearfall and escape Denton Fier won the match 11-3.

After Luke Iverson fell to senior Zack Fier in the first period Carson Klein drew Alex DeFessel. Klein saved himself with a couple of good whizzers and kept the 1st period scoreless. The Second period DeFessel scored an escape and a takedown starting from the bottom position, and Klein scored an escape of his own going into the third period 3-1. Klein wrestled tough in the third period holding DeFessel to a reversal finishing out the match 5-1.

Colby Kesteloot at 220 against senior Joe Verschelde spent the 1st period in a handfight vying for position. In the second period Kesteloot came to life rolling out of bottom for an escape then going toe to toe with Verschelde getting double underhooks and with the hug of a bear put Verschelde on his back and held on for the pin.

With Rylan Klein losing by fall halfway through the 1st period the Warriors would lose the dual 18-53.

Next up was Minnewaska and the FMCC Warriors did not disappoint. Kaston Clarke at 106 had a tough match against Miles Wildman losing by pin fall with 13 seconds left in the 2nd period. Brayden Gilb at 113 showed some good wrestling against 7th grader Jude Bailey with a nice single leg takedown and in the scramble gave up a 1 point penalty for a clasp around the belly but still finished out the period on top. Starting in neutral the second period was all Gilb with a quick takedown and a pin evening the team score 6-6.

After Kaden Landsmen drew a forfeit, Teague Meyer struggled to find his groove against Chase Smith and fell with 7 seconds left in the second period tying the score 12-12. The lead in the dual would be dealt to Lucas Kuball as he pinned Garrett Jungciaus 57 second into the first period.

Denver Ash at 138 fought out of a predicament in the 1st period earning a reversal and 2 points and fought out of a similar predicament in the second period with a reversal showing some good wrestling and great effort. Ash would earn 2 escapes and a penalty in the third period to lose only be decision maintaining the lead 18-16.

Aiden Lorenzen was caught in a takedown in the 1st period against Mason Schiffler but quickly rolled out and came out on top in the scramble for a reversal. From there it was all Lorenzen as he put on a blue ribbon Hi-C show racking up 12 points to Schifflers 4 to earn a major decision strengthening the lead 22-16.

After Noah Mathiowetz fought hard through three periods to only give up a technical fall holding the lead for the Warriors 22-21. Quintin Lewis ran legs turning junior Nathan Dell three times before the fall putting the warriors ahead 28-21.

At 170 Luke Iverson wrestled tough on the bottom holding his opponent to two points in the 1st period. In the 2nd period Iverson would earn an escape after a reversal and twothree point nearfalls. In the third period Iverson was taken down for two out of the neutral position, put up a heck of a fight, and held his ground until there was 25 seconds left on the clock before he took the fall.

They should be commended for their willingness to try, but the younger upper weights couldn’t stand up against Minnewaska’s senior horses as senior Xander Johnson and Chase Boelke earned falls against Carson Klein and Weston Kruger.

In true fashion Colby Kesteloot went to war with Noah Jensen at 220 and took a beating in the 1st period after being taken down, but didn’t allow any more points. The second period was where Kesteloot would shine starting in the bottom position he earned an escape, scored a takedown and took the lead 3-2 going into the third period.

The third period was a little tougher as Kesteloot earned a bloody nose that gave Jensen a break, who would take the lead back with a takedown and win the match with a 4-3 decision. The Warriors performed well with a final score of 3442 after a forfeit to Rylan Klein Redwood Valley was the last dual of the evening and the Warriors would exploit their weaknesses with a full team as Kaston Clarke and Brayden Glib each earned a forfeit. Teague Meyer, a true technician at 120 lb’s took 10th grader Tucker Amberg down in the first period with an outside single and went to work on turns. First an armbar and Amberg would expose allowing 3 nearfall points then a cradle before the whistle awarded Meyer with another two points. Much the same in the second period as Meyer, out of the neutral position scored another takedown out of a scramble and with a double double Meyer put Amberg on his back for another 3 point nearfall. A scoreless third period awarded Meyer and the Warriors with 1 bonus point in a major decision making the score 16-0.

After Torrin Clarke took a fall from senior Austin Ourada, Lucas Kuball took to the mat. After an illegal slam Kuball lost heart and fell to Lucas Fuhr allowing another 6 points to Redwood.

Both Denver Ash and Noah Mathiowetz only lost by decision only losing by 1 point in tough matches putting the Warriors in good position only down by two as Aiden Lorenzen took the stage scoring two takedowns on go behinds scoring 4 points allowing two escapes and a takedown to Zac Guggisberg. The second period Aiden hit a switch for a two point reversal and held an arm going behind Guggisberg getting a double chicken wing started the turn. As Lorenzen started to lose the hold he went to a reverse half and waited for the pin scoring 6 for the Warriors putting them in the lead 22-18.

At the 1601b bout, Quintin Lewis scored two points on a reversal in the second period and with a scoreless third held Jordan Matson to a 3 point decision keeping the lead 2221. Next up, Luke Iverson, after a quick takedown got Viktor Ortega’s wrist, tucked it under his chest simultaneously running his arm under Ortegas and putting his palm on his head got the knuckleroll half and drove Ortega to his back scoring the fall for the Warriors in 46 seconds.

Carson Klein held Axel Uhlenkamp scoreless in the first period and earned an escape from bottom in the second. The third period Uhlenkamp had a plan and caught Klein off guard earning an escape, a takedown and a nearfall eventually earning a decision closing the gap for redwood 28-24.

I commend Weston Kruger as he fearlessly went toe to toe with senior Evan Reinke, but was just no match as Reinke, pinning him, gave Redwood Falls their second lead of the night 28-30.

At 220 and 285 the Warriors big boys who rarely disappoint came guns blazing as it took 1 minute and 44 seconds for Colby Kesteloot to get his double underhook engaged, stepping between Junior Andres Vetsouvahns legs they fell together to the mat, and with a bear hug Kesteloot held Vetsouvahns back flat scoring the fall.

With a score of 34-30 all Rylan Klein had to do was hold Griffin Evans to a decision, but he did way more than that. Scoring the Initial takedown, Klein started off strong, but lost his grip as Evans was able to reverse and score 4 points with a nearfall. Starting the second period behind 2-4 Klein needing points started on bottom and scored 2 on a reversal and after a nearfall the double unders of Klein would be all he needed to get the fall from Evans getting a match win and securing the dual win for the Warriors with a final score of 40-30.

On Friday January 6th 2023 the Warriors traveled to Worthington to take on the Fairmont Martin County West Red Bulls and the Worthington Trojans in a Triangular. The Red Bulls were the first team on the docket and the Warriors, although losing 12-62, performed quite well pushing 5 matches to decisions with Torrin Clarke and Rylan Klein coming away from the dual with pins scoring the 12 team points.

Against the Worthington Trojans was much different, as the Warriors top to bottom wrestled extraordinarily well, starting with Kaston Clarke at 106. As both wrestlers were keeping their distance to start out the first period waiting for the other to make the first move, eventually Saul Galvez got In on a shot and took Clarke to the mat scoring a takedown, but in the scramble Clark would reverse, evening the score. Clark kept the pressure on scoring on another takedown before the end of the period. To start the 2nd period Clarke was full steam ahead caught another single but this time got the half in on the way to the mat turning Galvez for a nearfall. As Clarke started running his legs Galvez got him high and came out the back ending on top for a reversal, still Clarke finished strong not giving up any more points to finish the 2nd period. The third period Clark rode tough starting in top position although he didn’t score, he didn’t give anything up either winning the match in a 8-5 decision and scoring a much needed 3 team points.

After Brayden Gilb lost by major decision going the distance with Alex Galvez, Teague Meyer went head to head with Dalton Larson. Going through the first period scoreless, these wrestlers were getting hungry, but it was Meyer who controlled the match scoring on an ankle pick after Larson earned an escape from bottom. The Third period, with wrestlers starting neutral, Meyer scored the takedown on a solid double leg, but couldn’t hold Larson giving up another escape. It wasn’t enough though as Meyer finished strong earning a 4-2 decision win.

After tough losses giving up a technical fall and a pin at 126 and 132, Caleb Rosenbrook scored a varsity win on a forfeit. After, Denver Ash, wrestling tough through three periods, giving up another tech fall, keeping Worthington at bay by one bonus point. Aiden Lorenzen went to work on Levi Hennings and controlled the match dumping a single leg at the end of the 1st period to start the scoring. Hennings escaped twice from bottom only to give up two more dumped singles to Lorenzen. Starting the 3rd period 6-2 and needing bonus points Lorenzen put on a takedown clinic working on a broken Hennings finishing the match 11-3 with a major decision.

Quintin Lewis wrestled tough all three periods to hold Chase Byrne to a 7-0 decision keeping the dual win in sight as Luke Iverson took a forfeit making the dual score a tie at 22-22.

Carson Klein, against Eh Day Htoo scored on a hard single leg in the first period and another takedown after a neutral start bringing Htoo to his demise. Klein with a hard crossface cradle locked it up, put his knee in the side and waited for the pin putting the Warriors up by 6 with 1 second left on the clock.

The Warriors, giving up a forfeit at 195 got everyone’s heart beating, tieing the score again. Colby Kesteloot took to the mat and with determination in his eyes took Win Lwe to the mat with his underhooks scoring a takedown. Starting in neutral position Lwe got to Kesteloot on a takedown and started running legs. Kesteloot had defense though and got Lwe out of position catching the head swimming out of the legs and drove forward putting Lwe’s back to the mat as Kesteloot held on rocking back and forth waiting for the pin call from the referee putting the warriors up by 6.

Heavyweight Rylan Klein scoring the first takedown against Kasey Gerhard in the first period scored again with the same move in the second period this time though, Klein slipped out of position and Gerhard took advantage of the opportunity scored on a reversal and pinned Klein tying the dual.

In the 5th Criteria for tie breakers the Warriors would score the winning point because they had the most falls and forfeits.