MN USA Freestyle and Greco State Championships

Jake Nohre placed in all 3 styles this year in the MN USA wrestling state tournaments.  In March Jake finished with 4th place honors, he added to his accomplishments this weekend by taking 4th in freestyle and 6th in greco.

Owen Gruchow was also a double placer taking 5th in freestyle and 4th in greco.  This was Owen's first year wrestling greco and freestyle.  Under the age classifications he was the only first year peewee in his bracket so things should only get better next year!

Hunter Gruchow, who was a double silver medalist last year as a second year peewee, managed only one 4th place medal as a first year bantam.  Hunter took 4th in freestyle and did not place in greco.

I felt the West Central freestyle/greco wrestling club was a great success.  We had 19 wrestlers registered in our club.  West Central wrestling club is now officially a sanctioned club for USA Wrestling.  We hope it continues to expand and grow.  Thanks to Shane Tappe who did a great job running these practices.  Thank You's also go out to Chad Lorenson and Jasper Oyster for coming when they could and making time to help these boys learn the Olympic styles of wrestling.

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Fick Sets New American Record

By: Kevin Fick

Saturday, May 11^th

Ashby’s strongman Hunter Fick traveled to Duluth, MN to compete in the 4^th annual Twin Ports Raw Open.  The meet was sanctioned by the USAPL and held at the St. Scholastica College in the Burns Wellness Center.  The event boasted 53 lifters that ranged in ages from 67 to 17.  This was a full power meet meaning the athletes could participate in the back squat, the dead lift and the bench press.  Fick chose to compete in the bench press only portion of the contest.  This was a RAW meet meaning there would be no equipment used except wrist wraps.  Each lifter has three opportunities in their chosen discipline to put up the weight they choose.  The rules for the bench press are as follows: The hands must be no wider than 81 cm, the feet, buttocks and head must remain in constant contact with the floor and bench without shifting, voice commands of start, press and rack are given throughout the lift and once the bar ascends the weight may not descend or list.  10% of the lifters were substance tested and any athlete setting a new state or American record automatically receives a test.  Head judge and meet director was Joe Warpeha.

Hunter opened his competition with a 352.5 lb. attempt.  The lift was successful but a motion of the head negated the effort.  The second attempt at the weight was successful and upon completion Fick was co-owner of the 16-17 year old, 181-198 lb. class American Bench Press Record.  Hunter’s third attempt was 380.5 lbs. The lift was good and Fick was the sole owner of the record by 28 lbs.  The previous title holder was Doc Derwin of Seattle, WA.  The record had stood for two years.  The effort secured a 1^st place finish for all teens at the event.  Hunter finished 3^rd in the overall with the top bench press of the day hitting 418.5 lbs.  About the day Fick states: “I was a little disappointed with the missed attempt as it made us revisit the weight again although I was happy to improve from the last meet.  The 400 lb. barrier is tough to crack in competition…next time!”  Hunter’s lift off partner was father Kevin Fick.

The Arrow football player and Knight wrestler holds three American and National titles in the USAPL, UPA and IBPA.  Hunter holds the state record in the 100% RAW sanction.  He broke his own existing USAPL state record by 45 lbs.  Aside from competing in track for the ABE team Hunter is currently training for the National Underclassmen Combine to be held May 25-26^th in Burnsville, MN.

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Triathlon

On May 4, 2013, WCAAE wrestling coach Chad Lorenson and team statistician Ethan Olson competed in the Alexandria Chain of Lakes Triathlon along with wrestling Mom Tammie Olson. The three completed as a team in the tri, and finished with a time of 1 hour and 14 minutes. Tammie Olson began with the 600 Meter swimming portion of the race. Coach Lorensen picked things up after the first transition with a 13 mile bike ride. Ethan Olson brought it home with a 2.8 mile run. The trio placed 6^th out of 19 teams.

Jake Long NCAA All-American Wrestler

It’s always a great time when you get the chance to visit with one of your former students/athletes, it’s exciting to see how their lives change as they broaden their horizons.  This past weekend I got a chance to catch up with one of our former West Central Area standout athletes and Hoffman native... Jake Long. Jake just finished up his junior year at Concordia College in Moorhead and continues working on his Business Management degree.  Throughout the past three years Jake has experienced many changes, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his ability to perform well on the wrestling mat.  In March Long took 5th in the NCAA Division III National Tournament.  Jake has always had the goal of becoming an All-American.  That goal finally became reality. 

I found this quote from the wrestling website for Concordia College referencing to the first day of the national tournament- “Long provided the biggest highlight of the opening day as he upset No.2-seeded Michael Polizzi from Stevens Institute of Technology in the consolation quarterfinals. He hung with Polizzi until the final half of the third period and then pulled away to earn an 8-5 decision. Long will now face No.4-seeded Emanual Ajagbe of Delaware Valley in the consolation semifinals.  Long, who was seeded eighth heading into the national meet, won his opening match over Jorge Lopez of Williams College by a pin fall at 2:07. He then lost to No. 1-ranked Kodie Silvestri 7-0 in the championship quarterfinals.” 

Jake was selected as the 2012-2013 Outstanding Wrestler for the Concordia college wrestling team and will also represent the team as a Captain for the 2013-2014 wrestling season. I asked Jake what his new goal will be now that he had made All-American and of course he replied with......“National Champion!”  I knew his answer before I even asked it.  I wouldn’t have expected anything less.  Like I said earlier it’s always great to hear from former student/athletes, especially when goals are being met and new goals are being set.  Jake has one year of eligibility left to achieve his wrestling goal of becoming a national champion as he will begin his senior year and will finish his Business Management degree.