Lakers set to host Section 5A Individual Wrestling Tourney, Saturday

The Minnewaska Area wrestling team had the team portion of its season end at the Section 5A Team Wrestling Tourney, Thursday night at KMS High School.

The Lakers, seeded eighth of 10 teams in the section, lost to the top-seeded KMS Saints, 49-18.  Earlier in the night, the Lakers earned a forfeit win over the ninth-seeded Ortonville team.

The Lakers end the team portion of their season with a 16-9 overall record, which includes a 2-3 mark in the WCC.  “I was pleased with the season,” coach Chip Rankin said.  “There were a lot of new faces with not a ton of experience stepping on the varsity mat for us this year.  The guys wrestled with a lot of heart.”

Moving on to the “Final Four” at Benson, Saturday were the top four seeds, KMS, Canby, Minneota and BBE.  The top team advances to the State Class A Tourney.

The Section 5A Individual Wrestling Tournament is set for Saturday, Feb. 25 at Minnewaska Area High School.  The top two individuals in each weight class move on to the State Wrestling Tournament, set for March 2-4 at the ExCel Energy Centre in St. Paul.  Last year, Chase Smith and Jacob Blair earned state berths for the Lakers with Blair going 1-2 at state and Smith 2-2.

Top records going into the postseason for the Lakers are Miles Wildman (32-2), Chase Smith (30-2), Nick Ankeny (31-3), Chase Boelke (24-10), Myles Reichmann (23-11), Xander Johnson (21-10), Noah Jensen (22-12), Jayce Kovarik (19-10) and Nathan Dell (18-12). 

Section 5A Team Tourney

The Lakers won just five of the 14 matches during a 49-18 loss to top-seeded KMS in the Section 5A quarterfinals.

Earning wins for the Lakers were Miles Wildman at 106 pounds (7-2 victory), Mason Schiffler at 132 (8-5 decision), Nick Ankeny at 138 (7-1 victory), Chase Boelke at 182 (pin in 4:24) and Noah Jensen at 220 pounds (3-2 win). KMS meanwhile, earned three pins, three forfeit victories and one injury default among its nine victories.

Section 5A Tourney

at KMS 49, Minnewaska 18

106:  Miles Wildman, Min def Noble 7-2

113:  Froelich, K pin Jude Bailey 3:45

120:  Gunderson, K win by forfeit

126:  Wilts, K pin Garrett Junglaus 2:20

132:  Mason Schiffler, Min def Nielsen 8-5

138:  Nick Ankeny, Min def Johnson 7-1

145:  Olson, K def Jayce Kovarik 4-0

152:  Magaard, K maj Nathan Dell 10-2

160:  Froeh., K pin Myles Reichmann 4:26

170:  Jones, K inj def Xander Johnson

182:  Chase Boelke, Min pin Johnson 4:24

195:  Olson, K win by forfeit

220:  Noah Jensen, Min def Kidrowski 3-2

285:  Jones, K win by forfeit

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