Wrestler of the Week

This week I would like to point out Jake Nohre as out Wrestler of the week!  Jake wrestled through a pool of great wrestlers.  He wrestled extremely well!  He was able to adapt and change as the two day tournament went on.  He turned a lot of heads from everyone in the building when he nearly defeated the #3 and #4 ranked wrestlers at 106 pound class losing to one in the final seconds of the match and the other in overtime.  Jake did beat a wrestler who is currently ranked #9 in the state, Brady Tweeton of Barnesville.  If you remember or have been following us this season you know that Tweeton beat Jake a couple weeks ago after catching Jake in bad position and pinning him while Jake had been controlling and winning the whole match before the pin.  There is a quote that says, "Great accomplishments require great sacrifices."  Jake sacrificed time last spring and summer to wrestle.  While hard at work his friends enjoyed fishing the spring crappie bite/late spring walleye bite.  Jake is a huge outdoorsman and I know he would have loved being out there catching fish with his buddies but he sacrificed!   He gave up hundreds of hours traveling, practicing, and wrestling in tournaments to make himself better this season.  That’s what it takes to be great, that what it takes to improve, that what it takes to place in the top four in a tournament like this.  Congrats Jake…keep up the great work bud!”

“Battle at the Big Bear” By: Kevin Fick

Friday & Saturday, December 20^th & 21^st

The week of the 20^th found the West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville wrestlers smack dab in the middle of northern Minnesota in one of the largest tournaments the state has to offer.  Cass Lake-Bena high school hosted 33 teams that competed for bragging rights.  The talent at such a venue is tremendous as a pool of triple, double and single A schools squared off for two days on eight mats.  The schools range a broad area that covered metro schools such as Robbinsdale Cooper north to Roseau and most in between.

Having become a ‘mat rat’, one who spends a large amount of time around the wrestler’s and their domain, it has become very clear that there are two kinds of grapplers.  The first is a dual or triangular wrestler.  This is a fast paced athlete who is able to find life in the quick activity of a match.  This grappler has his entire team and coaching staff near him at all times, he is able to warm up and compete in a relatively short amount of time. There may be just one or two matches a night.  The second is a tournament wrestler; he is different from a dual wrestler in that he is patient.  He can warm up and relax himself while waiting for his match which sometimes takes hours.  This athlete can put life on hold and focus on the long-term task at hand.  The tournament wrestler does not have the support of his team as they may be off in their own matches and the coaches are split up between mats and sometimes different gyms. This athlete may have many matches in a couple days, sometimes up to six or seven.  With the state tournament being the goal of most competitors the ability to compete well at a tournament is where the end focus is held.  The WCAAE Knights are still a relatively young team.  There was a vast improvement as a group at this year’s ‘Big Bear’, in fact from dead last a year ago to the middle of the pack.  There was also great improvement in single athletes as WCAAE placed four athletes in the medal rounds compared to none a year ago.  There were a handful of athletes that ended just one round short of the medal rounds.  Hard work and growth are the motto of this team.  Some of the losses left a bitter taste in mouths even from those that medaled.  This should be an interesting season by the end.  If the hard work produces the growth intended our dual wrestlers will be successful tournament wrestlers by the time conference and sections roll around. 

About the week Coach Gruchow states…”We were able to focus in on the Big Bear Wrestling Tournament this week.  We didn’t have to focus on any duals, tri or weigh-ins other than Friday and Saturday.  We had four solid practices to prepare both physically and mentally for the 2 day tournament.  This tournament is no ordinary tournament, 33 teams show up at this event.  It’s a brutal 2 days of fierce battling, an emotional series of ups and downs, and a whole lot of ecstasy of winning and agony of defeat.  But it is expected when 33 teams get together and it is what we go there for.  It’s a great experience for our guys!

We set our goals to place in the top 10 at the tournament.  We knew we had to place at least 6 guys to get to 10th place.  We landed at 17th after the two day tournament was over and 4 individuals placed in the top 8.  We fell short of our expectations but that’s okay.  The individuals on this team are smart enough to figure out where we went wrong; they know what matches we should have won.  Some have already identified the things that went wrong in their matches.  Most importantly, these young men are willing to work to improve and learn from their mistakes.  

We were dead last with this same bunch of athletes last year at this tournament.  We are going to use this as a learning tool…just like we have with every other match and tournament so far this year and last.  Our guys wrestled well and I am proud of their efforts, we still have a lot of room for improvement and improve is what we intend to do!  There is no easy way…we just have to keep doing the work!”

The top ten teams from the tournament include the following….1. Hutchinson 199 pts, 2. Willmar 170.5 pts, 3. Black Duck/Cass Lake-Bena 132.5 pts, 4. Bemidji 124.5 pts, 5. Barnesville 119 pts, 6. Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus 117 pts, 7. Detroit Lakes 113.5 pts, 8. Badger/ Greenbush/Middle River 109.5 pts, 9. Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale 105 pts, 10. Fergus Falls 104 pts.  17. West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville 73 pts.

All wrestlers competing finished as follows….

106 lb.  4^th place Jake Nohre defeated Riley Eidesmoe (Roseau) per dec. 5-0, defeated by Andrew Nissen (Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena) per dec. 3-4, defeated Heath Foster (Big Lake) per fall :44, defeated Austin Bitker (Dilworth/Glyndon/Felton) per major dec. 16-3, defeated Isaac Isane (Badger/Greenbush/Middle River) per dec. 3-2, defeated Brock Luthens (Hutchinson) per major dec. 9-0, defeated Brady Tweeton (Barnesville) per dec. 4-3, defeated by Anthony Kern (Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale) per dec. 4-6 in OT

113 lb. Levi Larkin defeated Kevin Blazek (Crosby/Ironton) per fall 5:02, defeated by Aj. Bethea (Hibbing) per major dec. 2-15, defeated Mike Bisek (Mahnomen/Waubun) per dec. 10-4, defeated Nash Sovde (BGM) per dec. 7-2, defeated by Lucas Reiplinger (BCB) per dec. 8-11

120 lb. Keaton Long defeated Patrick Libel (BL) per dec. 9-8, defeated by Ian Frenzel (BCB) per major dec. 4-13, defeated Zach Champagne (CI) per fall 1:02, defeated by Jared Sunram (Park Rapids) per dec. 6-10

126 lb. Tyler Onstad defeated by Derek Helgoe (BL) per dec. 0-7, defeated by Marcus Jasken (Detroit Lakes) per dec. 5-9

132 lb. Wyatt Odegaard defeated by Ben Schindler (Fergus Falls) per fall 1:48, defeated by Trent Rosing (United Clay/Becker) per fall 3:48

138 lb. 6^th place Jake Larkin defeated Ethan Croatt (Aitkin) per dec. 4-1, defeated by Tristan Rubner (Pequot Lakes/Pine River/Backus) per dec. 1-6, defeated Hunter Gullikson (BGM) per dec. 8-3,defeated Luke Payne (DL) per fall 3:39, defeated by Tryston Kostelecky (Hutch) per dec. 0-7, defeated by Tristan Rubner (PPB) per dec. 1-9

145 lb. Kyle Mickelsen defeated Kyle Gagner (Red Lake County) per fall 1:11, defeated by Cory Hasbrouck (BGM) per dec. 6-8, defeated Kyle Caputo (Crookston) per dec. 1-0, defeated by Laine Jensen (PR) per dec.  6-10

152 lb. 5^th place Royal Crow defeated Jake Magnell (RLC) per dec. 3-1 OT, defeated Justin Dravis (PR) per dec. 4-1, defeated by Parker Jackson (DL) per dec. 3-9, defeated by Travis Deegan (Willmar) per dec. 4-7, defeated Justin Dravis (PR) 5-0

160 lb. Braedon Long defeated by Gannon Strain (Bemidji) per fall 3:51, defeated by Blake Skogstad (ROS) per fall 3:35

170 lb. Koel Seifort defeated by Cameron Lundeen (RLC) per fall 5:00, defeated by Dakota Gullickson (BGM) per fall 4:41

182 lb Sid Kamrath defeated by Charlie Nienaber (BHV) per fall 4:43, defeated by Chris Foster (PPB) per dec. 1-7

195 lb Hunter Fick defeated by John French (BHV) per dec. 6-7, defeated Kyle Lynn (AIT) per fall 1:09, defeated Colton Millner (ROS) per fall :52, defeated by Tanner Templin (BCB) per dec. 1-3 OT

220 lb. 8^th place Buzz Miller defeated Sergey Lemeshevsky (Robbinsdale Cooper) per dec. 8-3, defeated by Dillon Card (BHV) per fall 1:21, defeated Adam Lorenson (BGM) per fall 1:43, defeated by Wyatt Yoemans (BEM) per dec. 0-5, defeated by Luke Juve (Fosston/Bagley) per fall 1:25

285 lb. TJ Waskosky defeated by Owen Philbrink (HIB) per fall 5:07, defeated by Great Ogboru (RLC) per fall 5:47

Coach Gruchow on ‘Wrestler of the Week’….”This week I would like to point out Jake Nohre as out Wrestler of the week!  Jake wrestled through a pool of great wrestlers.  He wrestled extremely well!  He was able to adapt and change as the two day tournament went on.  He turned a lot of heads from everyone in the building when he nearly defeated the #3 and #4 ranked wrestlers at 106 pound class losing to one in the final seconds of the match and the other in overtime.  Jake did beat a wrestler who is currently ranked #9 in the state, Brady Tweeton of Barnesville.  If you remember or have been following us this season you know that Tweeton beat Jake a couple weeks ago after catching Jake in bad position and pinning him while Jake had been controlling and winning the whole match before the pin.  There is a quote that says, "Great accomplishments require great sacrifices."  Jake sacrificed time last spring and summer to wrestle.  While hard at work his friends enjoyed fishing the spring crappie bite/late spring walleye bite.  Jake is a huge outdoorsman and I know he would have loved being out there catching fish with his buddies but he sacrificed!   He gave up hundreds of hours traveling, practicing, and wrestling in tournaments to make himself better this season.  That’s what it takes to be great, that what it takes to improve, that what it takes to place in the top four in a tournament like this.  Congrats Jake…keep up the great work bud!”

The wrestlers open up competition following the Christmas break with conference and section rival New York Mills.  The Knights will host the Eagles on Thursday, January 2^nd. Wrestling will begin at 6 pm.  The WCAAE grapplers will travel to Benson Saturday, January 4^th for a 10 school tournament.  Action begins at 9 am.  Best of luck Knights!

WCAAE Wrestling Schedule for the Big Bear 2013

We will be staying at the Super 8 in Bemidji.  Breakfast is provided at the Hotel.  The Boosters will be buying supper at Subway on Thursday and Friday night.  The boosters will provide sandwiches, fruit, water, and granola bars for the wrestler and statisticians during the tournament.

Thursday

3:35 Leave WCA for Ashby

4:00  Pick Up Wrestlers in Ashby

5:45  Practice in Park Rapids

7:30 Pick up Subway in Park Rapids

8:00 Head to Bemidji Super 8

10:30 Bed Checks and Lights Out

Friday

7:00     Wake Up call

7:30     Leave for Cass Lake

8:00     Get in a short workout

9:00     Big Bear-Weigh Ins – MS Gym

           10:00     Coaches Meeting

           11:00     33 Team “Battle at Big Bear”

Saturday                                Battle at Big Bear-Day 2”             

7:00     Wake Up call

7:30     Leave for Cass Lake

8:00     Get in a short workout

9:00        Big Bear-Weigh Ins – MS Gym

            10:00     Coaches Meeting         

11:00     33 Team “Battle at Big Bear”

            3:00        PARADE of CHAMPIONS

Wrestler of the Week #2

This week I would like to Appoint Anthony "Buzz" Miller as this week’s Wrestler of the Week’.  Buzz had a great week on the mat.  He won both his matches in our Triangular on Tuesday, plus he took first place in today's tournament.  Buzz was injured two years ago, which prevented him from wrestling last season.  It was hard for him to watch and be around the sport because he wanted to participate so badly.  This year he can compete and competing is exactly what he is doing.  Buzz has had a winner attitude from the get go and excited to be back on the mat.  He does not back down to tough competition and has asked more than once to wrestle the opposing teams best guys.  Keep up the great work Buzz it has been a pleasure coaching you so far this season.

WCAAE Wrestlers Have a Strong Week Two By: Kevin Fick

There is a slogan or phrase that floats around the wrestling mat and it goes like this…”In the circle time is short, chances are few, victory must be earned!”  No one knows who came up with it but as we open up chapter two of the 2013 season that phrase seems to sum up this team’s season thus far.  Coach Gruchow says it best…”Work hard, get better, never be satisfied!” 

The week opened up Tuesday the 10^th with a triangular at home against the Pelican Rapids Vikings and the Ottertail Central Bulldogs.  The Knights easily dispatched both teams with a score of 54-12 against the Vikings and 57-19 against the ‘Dawgs’.  Coach Brandon Gruchow had this to say about the night…”I was very impressed with how focused the boys were. They wanted two wins and that what they got. It's been fun working with this group of guys. All of them have great work ethics, care about their team, and take school seriously. The boys have a great thing going on right now. As a result of all the hard work being put out by this team they are improving weekly. We as coaches are trying to do our best to keep them moving forward. We have been drilling it into their heads to never be satisfied and to keep pushing themselves to their max. Although they wrestled great, they know they need to improve on their techniques, conditioning, strength, speed, and mental toughness if they want to reach their goals as a team. Tonight they all stepped it up another notch...hopefully we can do the same thing on Saturday at the Grant County Tournament in Barrett.

Saturday the 14^th the Knights hosted the Grant County Tournament.  Eleven teams competed and the level of talent was incredible.  There was a triple A, two double A and eight single A teams present.  Nearly every weight bracket was loaded with talent; the 195 bracket alone had four top ten athletes in the state.  The team finished with 9 of the 14 weight brackets medaling which placed the team in 3^rd.  Coaches choice for Outstanding Wrestler was 195 lb. Abrahm Aho of Fergus Falls.  KKOK awarded Jake Nohre as WCAAE’s Wrestler of the Meet.  Team scores are as follows: 1^st United with 245 points, 2^nd Alexandria 162, 3^rd West Central Area/Ashby/Evansville 152, 4^th New York Mills 137, 5^th Fergus Falls 123.5, 6^th Morris Area/Hancock 106, 7^th Border West 78, 8^th Mille Lacs 63.5, 9^th Ottertail Central 62.5, 10^th Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 57, 11^th Pelican Rapids 54.5.  Coach Gruchow adds…”It was an interesting day for the Knight wrestlers with a whole series of ups and downs.  We had some very satisfied and happy wrestlers by the end of the day; and others wrestlers who knew that they did not perform the way they should have.  However, I feel the team learned some very
important lessons, became more cohesive as a team, and are excited to get better next week!

 
Going into the tournament we knew we had a chance at placing in the top three.  We made it our goal to go for first.  By the end of the tournament we were a long ways from first but within ten points of second.  We ended up with third and although I am not satisfied with it,
I feel the boy's performance on the mat today was a step in the right direction.  One of the team's goals is to win an individual tournament.  Finishing third in our tournament will help give them the confidence they need to accomplish that goal in the seasons upcoming tournaments.
 
Again, I feel the hard work these boys are willing to put in and the positive attitudes they have had are a contributing factor in the improvements they are making on the mat this season.  We have one more tournament before we go on Christmas Break...The Big Bear Tournament in Cass Lake.  Last year we took last place out of 34 teams, I am excited to see how much we can improve on that placing.  Although the same kids we brought last year to the tournament will be wrestling in this year’s tournament ( we had no seniors last year), I feel like we will have a much better finish.  They are growing and improving daily.  They have matured, have drive and a desire to be better!”  Gruchow continues with…”This week I would like to Appoint Anthony "Buzz" Miller as this week’s ‘Wrestler of the Week’.  Buzz had a great week on the mat.  He won both his matches in our Triangular on Tuesday, plus he took first place in today's tournament.  Buzz was injured two years ago, which prevented him from wrestling last season.  It was hard for him to watch and be around the sport because he wanted to participate so badly.  This year he can compete and competing is exactly what he is doing.  Buzz has had a winner attitude from the get go and excited to be back on the mat.  He
does not back down to tough competition and has asked more than once to wrestle the opposing teams best guys.  Keep up the great work Buzz it has been a pleasure coaching you so far this season.”

The Knights will resume competition Friday, December 20^th in Cass Lake-Bena.  This is a 34 school, two day tournament called Big Bear.  Wrestling will begin at 9 am.  Good Luck Knights!

Tuesday, December 10^th

WCAAE 54,  Pelican Rapids 12

106-Jake Nohre (WCAAE) defeated Jason Meyer per major dec. 18-3

113-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) defeated James Fury per fall :52

120-Keaton Long (WCAAE) defeated Daniel Franco per dec. 4-3

126-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated Brian Villagomez per fall 3:29

132-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated by Dakota Pixley per fall 3:52

138-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated by Robert Mazorlegos per dec. 6-8

145-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) defeated Casey Kulsrud per major dec. 14-0

152-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Guillermo Rosilies per major dec. 15-2

160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated Alex Diaz per dec. 4-0

170-Koel Seifort (WCAAE) defeated by Hobet Diaz per dec. 3-4

182-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated Nick Thompson per dec. 5-2

195-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) won per forfeit

220-T.J.Waskosky (WCAAE) won per forfeit

285-Buzz Miller (WCAAE) defeated Eli Hernandez per fall :29

WCAAE 57, Ottertail Central 19

106-Jake Nohre (WCAAE) won per forfeit

113-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Marc Hendricks per fall 3:34

120-Keaton Long (WCAAE) defeated Alex Erlandson  per fall 1:11

126-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated by Sam Naddy per major dec. 5-16

132-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated by Dylan Schwartz per fall :43

138-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Kory Juvrud per fall :30

145-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) defeated Aaron Kugler per fall 1:50

152-Royal Crow (WCAAE) won per forfeit

160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated Noah Minton per dec. 4-3

170-Koel Seifort (WCAAE) defeated Jacob Mattfeld per fall 2:59

182-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated by Gavin Brendafur per fall 2:54

195-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated Daniel Ukkelberg per fall 1:12

220-Buzz Miller (WCAAE) defeated Shane Woody per fall 4:07

285-T.J.Waskosky (WCAAE) defeated by Brandon Danielski per dec. 0-1

Saturday, December 14^th   Grant County Tournament  (placers)

1st Place

106-Jake Nohre (WCAAE) defeated Seth Lengbehn (FF) per fall 2:18, defeated Nick Hendrickx (NYM) per fall 3:10, defeated Peyton Morstad (United) per dec. 7-3, defeated Kaden Spindler (BW) per major dec. 11-3

152-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Jake Antrim (FF) per fall 1:52, defeated Alex Diaz per major dec. 12-3, defeated Mitch Kwilinski (United) per dec. 4-1, defeated Dylan Pullis (BW) per dec. 5-2

220-Buzz Miller (WCAAE) defeated Dakota Keller (Alex) per fall :53, defeated Cole Graybow (NYM) per major dec. 16-7, defeated Alec Gausman (MAHACA) per dec. 10-7

2^nd Place

113-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Matt Munsterman (MAHACA) per dec. 4-2, defeated Christian Kanten (United) per dec. 5-1, defeated by Jeremiah Harper (NYM) 8-1

138-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Robert Mazerlegos (PR) per dec. 8-6, defeated Jacob Olhausen (Alex) per dec. 4-2, defeated by Spencer Sullflow per dec. 3-1

3^rd Place

195-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated Carlos Canto (LPGE) per fall 3:49, defeated by Abrahm Aho (FF) per dec. 1-3, defeated Aaron Nelson (MAHACA) per fall :49, defeated David Nelson (United) per dec. 7-3

4^th Place

120-Keaton Long (WCAAE) defeated Noah Petty (ML) per fall 1:36, defeated by Miguel Ambriz per dec. 3-9, defeated Mitchell Ascheman (MAHACA) per dec. 11-9, defeated by Adam Johnson (Alex) per dec. 6-11

5^th Place

145-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) defeated by Greg Donabauer (LPGE) per dec. 2-7, defeated Jacob Shiltgen (Alex) per dec. 2-0, defeated by Logan Knosal (United) per major dec. 3-12, defeated Greg Donabauer per dec. 1-0

6^th Place

285-T.J.Wasksosky (WCAAE) defeated by Jacob Sperr (MAHACA) per dec. 1-2, defeated Jesse Roberts (NYM) per fall 1:53, defeated by Taylor Tenner (FF) per fall :46, defeated by Jacob Sperr (MAHACA) per dec. 0-2