Crow and Fick Medal at Conference Meet By: Kevin Fick

WCAAE wrestlers continued their road stand with a dual meet in Long Prairie/Grey Eagle and the Park Region Conference meet in New York Mills.  The week proved tough team wise with a loss at LP/GE and a rough showing at the conference tournament but the young Knight grapplers never quit fighting.  With just one triangular and one tournament left the boys in red are gathering knowledge and mat time heading into section wrestling.  In the end there is one thing on a wrestlers mind…make it to state.  Each young man takes the mat weekly and stands like a gladiator against his foe with nothing in mind but gathering a win to secure a higher bid come section time.  The lighter weights fly with incredible speed and the heavier weights tie up with power like bulls.  Each wrestler is tuning up their style and skills, perhaps practicing or attempting a new move to add to the ‘tool chest’, …all of them gathering experience to make a final run at the end of the season.

Tuesday, Jan. 29^th  WCAAE 22, Long Prairie/Grey Eagle 41

106-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) defeated by Thomas Pesta per fall 1:57, 113-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated by Nichoas Middendorf per decision 2-5, 120-Keaton Long (WCAAE) defeated by David Ambriz per decision 6-15, 126-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated by Miguel Ambriz per fall 4:49, 132-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Creg Donabauer per decision 7-6, 138-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) defeated Remington Meagher per major decision 13-2, 145-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Mathew Jasken per fall 3:56, 152-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated Tim Jasken per decision 9-3, 160-Blake Amundson (WCAAE) defeated by Rene Eldidy per major decision 1-11, 170-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated Kyle Brown per decision 6-1, 182-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) defeated by Matt Shultz per fall :37, 195-T.J. Waskosy (WCAAE) defeated by Tony Loeher per fall :56, 220-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated Devin Roering per decision 3-2 in 3 ot, 285-Jordan Bruns (WCAAE) defeated by Kody Kunerth per fall :59, the Knights JV went 4-2.

 About the match Coach Guchow said…”Sid Kamrath wrestled well tonight. This was a big win for Sid, hopefully a season changing win!  He wrestled smart and hard.  He deserves the win.  Hunter Fick pulled out another nail biter tonight as well.  Hunter wrestled smart but a bit conservative, although we will take the triple overtime victory.”

Saturday, Feb. 2^nd  Park Region Conference Tournament in New York Mills

Teams in the PRC are as follows: Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale, Browerville, Long Prairie/Grey Eagle, United North Central, New York Mills, Osakis, Ottertail Central, Prairie Valley, Royalton/Upsula, West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville

Medalists and Finalists- 145-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Tyler Hegna (R/U) per injury default for 1^st  (M), 195-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated Tanner Bacon (UNC) per decision 4-2 for 3^rd  (M), 138-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) placed 4^th, 152-Braedon Long (WCAAE) placed 5^th , 120-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) placed 6^th , 160-Blake Amundson (WCAAE) placed 6^th, 182-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) placed 6^th

About the day Coach Gruchow says…”Royal Crow dominated his way to first place honors.  It’s nice to see a kid get to the top after working so hard and putting forth so much effort.  Hunter Fick continued to wrestle smart, he opened up in the placing round which was exciting to see.  Hunter hit some real nice shots at the right times and really looked good.”  About his win soph. Royal Crow adds…”I’ve been working hard and I’m glad that I won conference, but what I’m really looking forward to is growing and improving as a team so that we can reach state as a group.  I hope that happens before I graduate.”

1^st place for team was NYM, 2^nd UNC, 3^rd Osakis, WCAAE finished 7^th.  PRC “Coach of the Year” goes to Kris Koll from United North Central.  “ Wrestler of the Year” honors went to NYM’s Shane Novak.

Wrestlers of the Week from Coach Gruchow…”I am going to nominate two wrestlers of the week this week, both are 9th graders.

The first is Jake Larkin. Jake has been wrestling varsity since he was in 7th grade. He put out some really amazing results as a seventh grader, eighth grader, and now as a ninth grader. Jake has more than 50 varsity career wins. He has been around the sport since he was a little guy and has state NYWA accolades to show for it. He is a technically sound wrestler who puts in the extra work to get better. Jake and his little brother Levi even have their own wrestling room at home to stay crisp over the summer months and also to work out the kinks in technique during the season. Jake attended a few camps over the summer, including a trip out to Cornell to watch some of the best technicians in the country show their technique. Jake's performance this week shows what type of wrestler he is and what he is willing to do for the team. He is a great guy to have in the line-up!

The second nominee is Blake Amundson. Blake wrestled in elementary and due to some complications this is Blake's first year back in action. Man, are we glad to have him back! Blake works exceptionally hard in practice and out on the mat. You can tell he gets frustrated sometimes during his matches (maybe because he knows what to do but just from being out for awhile things don't click as he would like them to) but man he will fight tooth and nail as long as he is out on the mat. This past weekend at the conference tournament Blake was loosing after the first period.  Blake chose the up position and pinned his Osakis opponent shortly after the second period started. He didn't give up and kept on fighting.....this is the kind of guy we like to have on our team, they are the kind of people who help team develop dreams!

Congrats to both Wrestlers on being Wrestlers of the Week!!!

The wrestlers will find themselves in action two times this week.  A make-up triangular with Royalton/Upsula and Holdingford will take place Thursday, Feb. 7^th in Royalton with the start time slated for 5:30 pm.  They will continue with work on the road in Morris for a nine team tournament Saturday, Feb 9^th.  The bouts will begin at 10 am.