Gators Narrowly Miss Prowler Invite Title
By: Ryan Bergeron
The short trip down Highway 32 proved to be a good one for the Gator wrestling team, participating in the annual Prowler Invite at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls on January 17. The Gators competed tough all day at the 17-team tournament, having 13 individual placers, three finalists, and one title winner. Unfortunately, the Gators came out on the wrong side of the slimmest margin as a team, taking second to Class AA powerhouse Totino Grace by just half a point.
“It was a good tournament. All levels saw some good competition,” said Coach Bergeron, “Overall, I thought we wrestled well.”
Senior Wyatt Becker (126) led the way, bringing home the only individual Gator title, his second on the season. Becker punctuated his title by defeating Park Rapids Area’s Jared Sunram 8-4 in the finals, controlling the match from start to finish. Becker might see Sunram, a fellow Section 8A wrestler, down the road, and will need to have this same effort to beat him again in a high stakes situation.
IsaakIsane (120) and Beau Blumer (195) also advanced to their title rounds.
After picking up a 4-2 semifinals victory over 2014 Class AA state placer BraydonOrtloff, Detroit Lakes, Isane advanced into a matchup against Bemidji’s Brian Maas, a multiple state Class AAA placer. Isane allowed Maas to control the action early, but he battled back in a big way, throwing Maas to his back late in the match. Unfortunately, Isane didn’t finish the pin and eventually lost by 26-15 score.
Blumer advanced to the finals quickly, pinning both his opponents to face the nation’s best rated 195-pounder and three-time state champion, Lance Benick, Totino Grace. Blumer would get pinned at the 1:22 mark of the first period, but still had much to be proud of on the day.
Three Gators finished third to help score some valuable team points, including Owen Novacek (106), Brandon Waage (152), and Devin Pries (195). Novacek and Waage each won twice following difficult semifinal losses to pick up their solid finishes. As a seven seed in the tournament, Pries lost his opening round match, but battled throughout the day, winning three straight matches before leaving the Ralph.
Seven other Gatorsplaced on the day, complementing the Gators’ balanced attack. Nash Sovde (132), Nick Kaml (138), and Adam Lorenson (220) each went 2-2 on the day to finish fourth. Following an open round loss, Devin Dostal (145) won three times en route to a fifth place finish. Bryce Bergeron (113), Cody Olson (160), and Doug Peterson (285) completed the Gator placing, all finishing sixth. Both Olson and Bergeron defaulted out in their final matches due to injury. DaronSikorski (170) wrestled hard for the Gators, but came up just short of placing.
The Gator JV also competed at the Ralph, putting outsolid performances. Placing first overall as team by over 70 points, the Gator JV won six individual titles, including Andy Dostal, Trevor Undeberg, Seth Dostal, Tyler Isane, and brothers Ethan and Ely Novacek. Falling just short of individual titles, Austin Maurstad, Collin Berard and Riley Sovde finished second. Dale Grindahl brought home the only third place and Brandon Pries the only fourth place finish. Rounding out the JV placing, Tyler Allen battled to fifth, and Isaac Dostal and Tanner Foss finished sixth.
Nine Gator wrestlers also participated in the junior high portion, each winning at least one match. Joe Dezelar, Avery Auguston, and TimPeppel went undefeated to place first. Zach Evans, Derrick Corneliusen, and Tony Olson finished second, and Tristan Locken, Kobe Dostal and Jacob Bergsnev third.
Coming off a solid second place team finish, the Gators will get back to the practice room and into the grind to prepare for the final season home match versus 8AAA Bemidji on Thursday, January 22. This Parents’ Night matchup will feature two solid teams and promises to bring many close matches and a final team outcome that surely won’t be decided until late. Action starts earlier at the Swamp, with JV action beginning at 6 p.m. andthe varsity match following afterparent recognition. Come out to watch the Gators for a final time from the Swamp in a dual featuring two of Northwest Minnesota’s premier teams. Go Gators!
Varsity Team Scores
1. Totino-Grace 179.0
2. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 178.5
3. Park Rapids Area 131.0
4. Detroit Lakes 108.5
5. Thief River Falls 104.5
6. Roseau 102.0
7. Ottertail Central 99.0
8. Bemidji 97.0
9. Fertile-Beltrami 68.5
10. Prairie Valley 59.0
11. Crookston 52.0
12. Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena 43.0
13. East Grand Forks/Sacred Heart 34.0
14. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis 31.5
15. Red Lake County Central 24.0
16. Norwood Young America 14.0
17. West Marshall 3.0