The Minnewaska Area wrestling team placed seventh of 38 teams at the Jackhammer Invitational at Pine River last Friday and Saturday.

Staples-Motley won the team title by 85 points over runner-up Hutchinson (266.5-181.5), while Paynesville was a distant third with 147 points and the Lakers were seventh with 114 points.

Leading the way for Minnewaska Area were Chase Smith, Miles Wildman and Landon Schiffler, who all placed among the top four at their respective weight class.

The Lakers had a total of 18 wrestlers competing at the tourney and those wrestlers finished a combined 33-35 against some of the best competition in the state.

The Lakers were also set to host Eden Valley-Watkins in a dual match, Thursday, Dec. 19, but that match was postponed due to snow.  The new date was not known by presstime.

On tap this week is the Milbank Invitational, set for Saturday, Jan. 4.

The Lakers have three wrestlers who have double-digit wins already this season — Miles Wildman (13-2), Chase Smith (11-2) and Alex Adams (10-4).

Jackhammer Invite

The Lakers had five wrestlers place in the top eight at the Jackhammer Invitational last Friday and Saturday.  That was enough to lift the Lakers into a seventh-place finish in the team competition with 114 points.

Staples-Motley dominated the meet with 266.5 points, while Hutchinson was second (181.5 points) and Paynesville third (147).

Chase Smith had the top finish for Minnewaska Area, placing second at 139 pounds with a 4-1 record.  He was seeded second and won his first four matches before losing to the top-seed from Pequot Lakes-PR, 16-8 in the finals.

Miles Wildman earned third at 127 pounds.  Seeded first, he fell in the semifinals to the fourth seed from Champlin Park, 2-0, before coming back to win twice to finish third.

Landon Schiffler placed fourth at 114 pounds.  He was seeded third and won his first three matches before losing to the second seed from Paynesville in the semifinals, 8-3.  Schiffler won his next match, but then fell 9-8 in the third-place match to finish fourth.

Also placing for the Lakers were Riley Dell at 215 pounds and Alex Adams at 107.  Dell was seeded fourth and won his first two matches before losing in the semifinals, 11-1.  He won his next two matches before losing twice to finish sixth.

Adams meanwhile, was unseeded and lost his first match before winning three-straight.  He fell in the consolation quarterfinals, 4-1, but then came back to win the seventh-place match, 16-3.

Going 2-2 at the tourney were Isaiah Rosario at 145 pounds, Sawyer Erickson at 152, Eric Bowen at 215 and Noah Jensen at 285, while winning once during the invitational were Blair Kindel at 114 pounds, Jack Payne at 160, Braylen Scharmer at 172 and Tate Anderson at 189.

•  The Lakers are coached this season by Chip Rankin, Jared Lyle and Tate Card.  Serving as statisticians are Rachel Rankin, Adysen Hess, Brielle Hess and Kaylen Blair.

at Jackhammer Invitational at Pine River

Team results:

(1) Staples-Motley 266.5  (2) Hutchinson 181.5  (3) Paynesville 147  (4) Lake Crystal-WM 138.5  (5) Mille Lacs 136.5  (6) Bemidji 133.5  (7) Minnewaska 114  (8) Centennial 105  (9) Little Falls 104.5  (10) BBE and Eagan, both 97.5 . . . (18) SC-Melrose 61  (19) Pelican Rapids 57  (26) LPGE-Browerville 42.5  (27) Albany 41 . . . total of  38 teams

Minnewaska results:

107:  Alex Adams  4-2 (seventh place)

107:  Brayden Erickson 0-2 

114:  Blair Kindel 1-2

114:  Landon Schiffler  4-2 (fourth)

121:  Karsen Fenger 0-2

127:  Miles Wildman 5-1 (third)

133:  Austyn Schuler 0-2

139:  Chase Smith 4-1 (second)

139:  Caleb Ashler 0-2

145:  Isaiah Rosario 2-2

152:  Sawyer Erickson 2-2

160:  Jack Payne 1-2

172:  Braylen Scharmer 1-2

189:  Tate Anderson 1-2

215:  Eric Bowen 2-2

215:  Riley Dell 4-3 (sixth)

285:  Preston Wilson 0-2

285:  Noah Jensen 2-2

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!