Fick Sets the UPA American Record With 375 lbs.

By: Kevin Fick

Sunday, Jan. 13

Hunter Fick, a sophomore of the Ashby High School competed in the United Powerlifting Associations (UPA)  “Winter Heat” in Burnsville, MN.  This was a full power competition, meaning the back squat, bench press, and dead lift or a choice of any of the three could be attempted.  Hunter chose to lift in the bench press portion of the meet.  The competition was held at the Southside Bully Gym.  There were 19 lifters competing.

Rules of the meet are as follows:  Each lifter must be a registered member of the UPA.  Lifters shall wear a singlet and if lifting in the RAW (ungeared) division may use wrist wraps only for support.  Three judges officiate each attempt.  Three incremental attempts are performed pending each lift is successful.  The bar shall be lowered to the chest, remain motionless, and a press command is given.  After the press, a rack command is presented and the lift is considered complete.  This was a substance free event and drug tests were performed.  Head official was Greg Damminga, director of the meet was Scott Nutter.

Hunters first attempt was 145 kg (319 lbs), the lift was successful.  The second attempt was 155 kg (341 lbs), the lift was successful.  The final attempt was 170 kg (375 lbs), the lift was successful.  The final lift secured the new American Bench Press Record for 16-17 yr olds in the 182-198 lb class.  The young Ashby football player and WCAAE wrestler obliterated the old mark by 127 lbs!  Hunter placed first in all teens competing and had the 4^th overall best bench in open class.  About the lift Hunter states…”I enjoy doing something a little out of the ordinary, I enjoy competing with these extraordinary people.  Some of these guys press over 500 lbs.  For me, when I hear you can’t, that means to me if I try harder I can.  When I heard my AC-DC music start backstage I just felt good.  It was a good lift but I’m shooting for much more.”  Hunter’s lift off partner was father/strength coach, Kevin Fick.  A surprise in the crowd was great-uncle and hunting companion Norman Fisher.

After setting two National and American records; and three State records in three months Hunter will take a short break from the power-lifting scene to focus on and complete wrestling season.  It takes an incredible amount of energy to try to keep up with both at the same time.  The wrestling wears the mass off, the lifter tries hard to put the mass back on.  That doesn’t mean lack of gym time, just a different style of training.  Hunter will compete next in May at the Twin Ports Open in Duluth.  This will be a USAPL sanctioned event.

Wrestler of the Week!

Wrestler of the Week is Kyle Mickelson. About Mickelsen, Gruchow adds…”After two hard fought duals it was difficult to pick a wrestler of the week, all the boys wrestled very well. However, Kyle Mickelsen sticks out this week. Last week  Kyle was wrestling small at 152, this week he got back down to 138 helped his team earn 2 big victories. It’s great when you have a wrestler who notices where he can help the team out and gets there on his own. Kyle got his weight down the right way and wrestled an extremely tough match against his Browerville opponent. Kyle secured a pin late in the third period helping his team gain another 6 points for the scoreboard. Kyle started wrestling late in his elementary career but is catching on fast. His willingness to learn new technique and his positive work ethic is helping him catch up. Keep up the great work Kyle!!”

Local Area Youth Wrestlers Compete in WCAAE Tournament

By: Brandon Gruchow

Saturday, Jan. 19^th…Barrett, MN

It's always a great day when you have 61 wrestlers from your club wrestling in a tournament, having fun, learning, competing, and hanging out with other great wrestlers. We have 92 youth registered in our club and today we had 61 out there giving it there best. Even though they haven’t realized it yet, it’s likely they will look back one day and realize these were some of the best days of the lives. Such tight bonds are formed in this sport and it all starts down at the elementary level. Our wrestlers not only become friends with wrestlers from our club but they also get to know other wrestlers from other teams just because they end up meeting every weekend at the local tournaments. Of course, we like to see them win but we love watching them grow as wrestlers and people. We stress the importance of sportsmanship, having fun, working hard to get better, and helping out your teammates. The little Knights didn’t let us down today…. they wrestled hard and tied for 1^st place in the team portion of the tournament. Keep up the good work little Knights the future is looking bright!

We had 196 wrestlers show up for our youth tournament.

WCAAE accounted for 61 of those 196.

We had 10 tournament champions.

We tied with Elite (a selected team based out of DGF) for 1st place with 90 team points. Border West took 3rd.

WCAAE Grapplers Triumphant in Triangular!!

By: Kevin Fick

“Nothing seems to contribute so much to the ultimate success of a man as a few real failures, nor anything to be so fatal to a budding career as an easy initial success.”    Johnny ‘Blood’ McNally

Thursday, Jan. 17^th

The WCAAE Knight wrestlers hosted a triangular against the Browerville Tigers and the Breckenridge-Campbell-Tintah Cowboys.  After a long road stint that found the Knights gaining success weekly, Coach Gruchow lead his team into the friendly confines of the Barrett school in front of a good home crowd.  The hometown team did not disappoint going 2-0 for the evening.  If any readers believe that in a wrestling match two teams send their representatives aimlessly to the mat to roll around on the floor or that it is solely a gladiatorial and brutish sport (although in Hunter’s case that may sometimes be true), then it is apparent that the individual has not spent much time at a high school wrestling meet.  It is true that these contests require large amounts of speed, agility, grace, and strength but just like any other sport there is also a large amount of strategy.  Part of this is researching and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent.  Coaches Gruchow and Onstad put on a great display of insight through shifting wrestlers around in weight classes trying to “match up” bouts and gain team victories.  This includes a large buy-in from the wrestlers as all members have to agree to team concepts and large individual sacrifices are sometimes made. 

About the recent turn of events the oldest member of the Knights team Junior Braedon Long states…”I believe that the Knights wrestling team has overcome that big hurdle we were stuck on.  We’ve stepped it up as a team and as individuals.  We have young teammates that are all stepping forward to be leaders.”

WCAAE 45,  Browerville 28

106-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated by Noah Becker per decision 2-5, 113-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Dalton Butler per decision 4-2, 120-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 126-Alex Olson (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 132-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated by Adam Sutlief per major decision 1-9, 138-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) defeated Jackson Wollenburg per fall 5:32, 145-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Ezquiel Nava per fall :41, 152-Zack Salo (WCAAE) defeated by Jordan Statema per decision 3-5 in OT, 160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated  Harry Henley per fall 1:25, 170-Blake Amundson (WCAAE) defeated by Austin Butler per fall 1:26, 182-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 195-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) defeated by Damian Lange per fall 1:41, 220-T.J. Waskosy (WCAAE)defeated by Jake Gaida per fall 5:26, 285-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) won per forfeit

WCAAE 42, B/C-F 37

106-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated Mason Meyer per fall 1:31, 113-Levi Larkin (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 120-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated by Conrad Kondos per fall 2:12, 126-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 132- Alex Olson (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 138-Kyle Mickelsen (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 145-Aaron Plasky (WCAAE) defeated by Josh Stuehrenberg per fall 1:00, 152-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated by Josh Petersen per decision 3-5, 160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated by Trenton Hought per major decision 1-9, 170-Blake Amundson (WCAAE) defeated by Michael Whitney per fall 1:35, 182-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated by Derek Nordick per fall 1:16, 195-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) defeated Tyler Vold per fall 3:25, 220-T.J. Waskosky (WCAAE) defeated by Cody Clift per fall 1:40, 285-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) won per forfeit
A milestone was recorded tonight as a WCAAE grappler recorded his 50^th victory.  50 wins is a goal for many varsity wrestlers but what makes this special is that Jake Larkin accomplished it as a freshman. “It feels good to reach this first milestone…” states Larkin…”I have put so many years into this program and I’m just glad things are starting to pay off.”

The Knights are gearing up for a long week seeing action Tues. the 22^nd  in Park Rapids, the dual starts at 6 pm.  Thur. the 24^th will find the Knights in their final home match defending their turf on ‘Parents Night’ against rival Osakis, start time is slated for 6 pm.  Friday the 25^th the team travels to Browerville for an evening tournament.  Start time is 4 pm, coverage of the night can be found on KKOK 95.7 FM.

Let the Picture Speak For Itself!!!

Congrats Jake!  Keep up the good work!

Royal Crow Wrestler of the Week

Wrestler of the Week is soph. Royal Crow.  Coach Gruchow states…”Royal’s outstanding work ethic is taking him the distance.  This week, at the Ortonville tri Royal posted two more wins to his season record which is now 15-4.  Royal is at the school shortly after 6 am every morning getting in an early workout.  His dedication day in and day out is paying off.  He has changed a lot from last year…he is bigger, faster, and stronger.  We have even noticed a big change in Royal from the beginning of the season.  The extra work put in on Royal’s behalf is making it that much more difficult to beat him in a match.  Congrats Royal…keep up the good work!”

WCAAE Grapplers Trounce The Trojans!

By: Kevin Fick

Tuesday, Jan. 8^th

The WCAAE Knights traveled to Ortonville and competed in a triangular with the Minnewaska Lakers and hometown Trojans.  It was noted last week that with the success at the Benson tournament that winning can be infectious.  It was just that.  The team first wrestled hard against a very good Lakers squad ending up in a tie but losing due to criteria points 37-36.  The Knights digested that feeling and a focused and poised squad went medieval on the Trojans beating the black and orange 54-21. 

WCAAE 36-vs-Minnewaska 37

106-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 113-Jake Nohre (WCAAE) defeated by Joseph Weaver per fall 3:46, 120-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated by Spencer Winter per decision 5-7, 126-Alex Olson (WCAAE) won per forfeit, 132- Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Caleb Blaisdell per fall 3:51, 138- Kode Seifort (WCAAE) defeated by Julius Rohrbach per decision 2-5, 145-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Gary Steffenson per decision 7-2, 152-Kyle Mickelson (WCAAE) defeated Jacob Lutterman per fall 3:34, 160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated by Ryan Stotter per fall 1:35, 170-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated by Brook Wollschlager per fall :59, 182-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) defeated by Taylor Lundebreck per fall :41, 195-T.J. Waskosky (WCAAE) defeated by Brad Jacobs per fall :45, 220-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated JR. Formo per decision in 2-OT 8-5, 285-Jordan Bruns (WCAAE) won per forfeit.

WCAAE 54-Ortonville 21

106-Jake Nohre (WCAAE) defeated Ben Eustice per fall 2:58, 113-Tyler Onstad (WCAAE) defeated Tristan Eastman per fall 2:40, 120-Wyatt Odegaard (WCAAE) defeated Jordan Kurrasch per fall 2:28, 126-Jake Larkin (WCAAE) defeated Nick Steltz per fall :46, 132-Alex Olson (WCAAE) defeated by Landon Stallman per tech fall 1-16, 138-Kody Seifort (WCAAE) defeated by Colby Gimmestad per major dec. 2-11, 145-Royal Crow (WCAAE) defeated Joe Eustice per fall 1:23, 152-Kyle Mickelson (WCAAE) defeated Travis Westlund per fall 4:43, 160-Braedon Long (WCAAE) defeated Robert Wood per fall 1:26, 170-Sid Kamrath (WCAAE) defeated by Isaac Cloos per fall 3:35, 182-Trent Telkamp (WCAAE) defeated by Shelby Paulsen per fall :48, 195-Hunter Fick (WCAAE) defeated Dylan Arndt per injury default, 220-T.J. Waskosky (WCAAE) defeated by Kyle Rockensock per fall :08, 285-Jordan Bruns (WCAAE) defeated Hayden Knip per fall 2:48.

The JV Knights went 8-0 winning every match by pin fall.  Outstanding job!

Wrestler of the Week is soph. Royal Crow.  Coach Gruchow states…”Royal’s outstanding work ethic is taking him the distance.  This week, at the Ortonville tri Royal posted two more wins to his season record which is now 15-4.  Royal is at the school shortly after 6 am every morning getting in an early workout.  His dedication day in and day out is paying off.  He has changed a lot from last year…he is bigger, faster, and stronger.  We have even noticed a big change in Royal from the beginning of the season.  The extra work put in on Royal’s behalf is making it that much more difficult to beat him in a match.  Congrats Royal…keep up the good work!”

 
The Knights grapplers are in action again on Thursday, Jan. 17^th when they host a home triangular against Browerville and Breckenridge/Campbell-Tintah.  Wrestling begins at 5 pm.