Photo by Paul Trende
Four of the five “Journal 11” wrestling programs took on FCLMC’s annual Holiday Tournament. Perennial power #9 in A Chatfield (251.5) easily took first but GMLOS (146), the host Wolves (130), and LARP (120) took second, fourth, and fifth respectively (of 10 teams). Only third place Ellsworth, Wis., (139.5), infringed on a “Journal 11” sweep at the top. The Gophers had five individual champions: Kail Schott, Javier Berg, Gage Bartels, Carson Rowland, and Miles Mulhern. Schott, ranked #6 at 182, wasn’t tested in authoring four pins on his way to the 195-pound title. He only once was forced out of the first period, and that, for 20 seconds. Berg, #3 at 113, bested the other three guys at his weight with two pins and a 10-3 decision (over LARP’s Owen Lange). Schott won 170 and Berg 106 last year. Bartels, #3 at 120, worked for his 132-pound title, notching a pin, but two one-point decision wins, 3-2 over LFCMC’s #7 at 106 Kane Larson in the semis, and 2-1 over Ellsworth’s William Penn in the finals. Rowland notched two pins and a 19-3 tech fall to take 152-pounds. Miles Mulhern ran off three first period pins to take 220-pounds. They joined Schott in not getting tested. Gophers Wes Goetzinger (106), Kaisen Johnson (120), Ayden Miner (145), Jack Dornack (160), and Nathan Allen (182) each took second. Miner went 3-1 (win fall, win fall, win 8-7 decision, lose fall). His only defeat came to the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, Logan Henningson (12-0) in the finals. Goetzinger (win fall, win 10-9 decision, lose 5-0 decision) and Johnson (win fall, win 10-6 decision, lose fall) each went 2-1, losing in the finals. Dornack won by fall to make the finals then fell by 2-1 decision to LARP’s Camdyn Anderson. Allen was one of three wrestlers at 182. He won by fall and lost by 7-4 decision to FCLMC’s Cole Sass. Hunter Polikowsky (120 > lose 12-1 major, win 14-2 major, win 11-4 decision, win 14-1 major), Alden Pearson (138 > win fall, lose fall, win fall, win 10-0 major), and Bill
Photo by Paul Trende
Kester (160 > win fall, lose 10-1 major, win fall, win fall) each went 3-1 to take third. Each lost to the champion at their weight. Ryan House (126 > lose fall, win fall, lose fall, win fall) went 2-2 to take third. Second place GMLOS had just one champion, Cohen Wiste. The senior, ranked #6, pinned both of his foes to take 138-pounds. Wiste (11-0) won the same weight last year in Harmony. Aiden Quintana (126) and Colten Gardner (285) took second. Quintana went 3-1 (win fall, win fall, win 11-1 major, lose fall). Gardner went 2-1 (win fall, win fall, lose fall to FCLMC Cooper Ferrie in the finals). Braxten Wiste (152) went 3-1 to take third, winning always by fall, losing to Chatfield’s champ Rowland. John Swanek (220) went 2-1 (lose fall, win 14-2 major, win fall) to take third. His sole loss was to Gopher champion Mulhern. FCLMC’s exploits were headlined by Cooper Ferrie (11-1), who triple pinned his way to the 285-pound title. Cole Sass notched a 7-4 decision over Chatfield’s Allen and a pin to win 182 (which had just three entrants). Oliver Hoeltzle (195), Connor Wingert (138), and Carter Hovland (152) took second. Hoeltlze went 3-1 (won three falls, lost to Chatfield’s Schott by pin). Wingert (win fall, win 5-0 decision, lose fall to GMLOS’ Wiste) and Hovland (win fall, win fall, lose fall to Chatfield’s Rowland) each went 2-1. Kane Larson (#7 at 106) took third going 3-1 (win 14-7 decision, lose 3-2 decision to Chatfield’s Bartels, win pin, win pin). LARP’s champions were Christian Zibrowski and Camdyn Anderson. Zibrowski won two falls before beating Chatfield’s Goetzinger by 5-0 decision to take 106-pounds. Anderson won 160 via a 10-1 major decision and 2-1 decision over Chatfield’s Dornack. Owen Lange took second at 113, going 2-1 (win 11-6 decision, win fall, lose 10-3 decision to Chatfield’s Berg). Titan Tekautz (145) went 3-1 (win fall, lose 8-7 decision to Chatfield’s Miner, win 8-7 decision, win pin) to take third. Zach Plank (170) went 2-1 to take third (lose pin, win injury, win pin). Teams from Winona/Winona-Cotter, Triton, Rochester-John Marshall, W-K, and La Crescent/Hokah also competed.