The Minnewaska Area wrestling team opened up the season with a pair of wins at a home triangular, Thursday night.  The Lakers edged Sauk Centre-Melrose Area in one match, 40-33, and also routed Morris Area-Hancock in the other, 53-18.

Minnewaska Area placed third of eight teams at the Big Lake Invitational, Friday.  Winning titles for the Lakers were Alex Adams and Chase Smith.

Among the highlights of the triangular was Miles Wildman recording his 100th career victory during a first-period pin against SC-Melrose in the first match.  He later added win No. 101 with a quick pin against MAHACA.

On tap this week is the Pelican Rapids quadrangular, set for Thursday, Dec. 12.  After that, the Lakers are set to host another triangular, Thursday, Dec. 19.

•  This year’s Minnewaska Area wrestling roster includes seniors Chase Smith, Evan Friese and  Noah Jensen; juniors Porter Weets, Tyler Gregory, Braylen Scharmer, Eric Bowen, Riley Dell and Tate Anderson; sophomores Austyn Schuler, Jack Payne, Landon Schiffler, Miles Wildman, Riley Spindler and Tyler Kohn; ninth-graders Riley Weisel, Sadie Daniels, Mari Jordahl, Alex Adams, Caleb Ashler, Grady Braaten, Isaiah Rosario, Jude Bailey, Sawyer Erickson, Sawyer Taufen, Soren Jergenson and Zayden Johnson; eighth-graders Clara Rankin, Blair Kindel, Charlie Taintor, Jaden Vig, Jaxson Vig, Karsen Fenger and Rowan Wilson; and seventh-graders Lillie Rogers, Michael Swensrud, Henry Cihlar, Brayden Erickson, DJ Cruz, Tate Braaten, Cade Kittelson, Jayda Hormann, Terrence Swensrud, Callan Erickson, Kira Ashler, Adrian Radil and Gage Boelke.

Minnewaska triangular

Alex Adams, Austyn Schuler, Miles Wildman, Chase Smith, Isaiah Rosario and Braylen Scharmer had two wins each to lead the Lakers to a sweep of their two matches at the Minnewaska triangular to open up the 2024-25 season.

During the win over SC-Melrose, the Lakers took a 34-4 lead and then held on for the 40-33 win.

Adams earned a pin in 4:55 to give the Lakers their first win of the season and a 6-6 early tie.  After a win by SC-Melrose at 121 pounds, Schuler (15-0 technical fall), Wildman (pin in 1:53), Smith (pin in 1:01) and Rosario (17-2 technical fall win) earned four-straight wins to put the Lakers up 34-4.

SC-Melrose would go on to win five of the final six matches, but it was too little, too late as Scharmer earned a pin in 3:07 at 189 pounds to clinch the victory for the Lakers.

Wildman’s win gave the MAHS sophomore his 100th career win.

•  After a short break, in which SC-Melrose edged MAHACA in a close match, the Lakers sprinted to an early 35-6 lead before eventually settling for the 53-18 victory.

The Lakers lost only three matches against MAHACA, including one by forfeit.

Adams (pin in 1:33) won the first match and then, after a pin by the Tigers, Landon Schiffler (pin in 1:07), Schuler (16-1 technical fall), Wildman (pin in 47 seconds), Smith (pin in 1:40) and Rosario (fall in only 16 seconds) earned five-straight wins to put the Lakers up comfortably at 35-6.

Sawyer Erickson put the Lakers up 41-12 with a pin in 52 seconds at 160 pounds and the Lakers also earned victories in the final three matches as Scharmer won by a pin in 1:16 at 189 pounds, Riley Dell earned an 8-1 victory at 215 pounds and Noah Jensen closed out the match with an 11-5 win at 285 pounds.

Big Lake Invite

The Lakers placed third of eight teams at the Big Lake Invitational, Friday, earning two individual titles in the process.

Alex Adams went 3-0 at 107 pounds to claim first place and Chase Smith also won all three of his matches to earn the 139-pound title.  Adams and Smith both improved to 5-0 for the season.

Placing second were Landon Schiffler at 114 pounds, while Miles Wildman was third at 133, Isaiah Rosario was third at 145 pounds and Jude Bailey also placed third at 152 pounds with a 3-1 record.  In addition, Minnewaska also had two fourths, two fifths and four sixths.

Pierz won the team title with 209.5 points, while KMS was second (185 points) and Minnewaska Area third (167.5).

Minnewaska triangular

Waska 40, SC-Melrose 33

107:  Callan Erickson, Min win by forfeit

114:  Alex Adams, Min pin Van Horn 4:55

121:  Kerzman, SC maj Landon Schiffler 10-1

127:  Austyn Schuler, Min tfall Mayers 15-0

133:  Miles Wildman, Min pin Rueg. 1:53

139:  Chase Smith, Min pin Hernandez 1:01

145:  Isaiah Rosario, Min tfall Wiech. 17-2

152:  Christen, SC tfall Jude Bailey 17-1

160:  Pallow, SC pin Sawyer Erickson 4:14

172:  Friedrichs, SC win by forfeit

189:  Braylen Scharmer, M pin Frericks 3:07

215:  Lara, SC pin Eric Bowen 3:40

285:  Frericks, SC pin Noah Jensen 2:42

Waska 53, Morris-Han 18

107:  Alex Adams, Min pin Seggerman 1:33

114:  Haugen, MA pin Blair Kindel 2:04

121:  Landon Schiffler, Min pin Hughes 1:07

127:  Austyn Schuler, Min tfall Gibson 16-1

133:  Miles Wildman, Min pin Raths :47

139:  Chase Smith, Min pin Kleindl 1:40

145:  Isaiah Rosario, Min pin Payne :16

152:  Gibson, MA pin Jude Bailey 1:54

160:  Sawyer Erickson, Min pin Mast :52

172:  Marty, MA win by forfeit

189:  Braylen Scharmer, Min pin Olson 1:16

215:  Riley Dell, Min def Olson 8-1

285:  Noah Jensen, Min def Johnson 11-5

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at Big Lake Invitational

Team results:

(1) Pierz 209.5  (2) KMS 185  (3) Minnewaska Area 167.5  (4) Big Lake 122  (5) St. Cloud 105.5  (6) Amery (WI) 100  (7) Sartell 93  (8) Spectrum 52

Minnewaska results:

107:  Alex Adams 3-0 (first place)

114:  Landon Schiffler 2-1 (second)

114:  Blair Kindel 1-3 (sixth)

121:  Karsen Fenger 1-2 (fifth)

121:  Soren Jergenson 0-2

127:  Austyn Schuler 1-2 (fourth)

133:  Miles Wildman 3-1 (third)

139:  Chase Smith 3-0 (first)

139:  Caleb Ashler 1-3 (sixth)

145:  Isaiah Rosario 3-1 (third)

152:  Jude Bailey 3-1 (third)

160:  Sawyer Erickson 1-3 (sixth)

172:  Braylen Scharmer 1-3 (sixth)

215:  Eric Bowen 2-2 (fifth)

285:  Noah Jensen 2-2 (fourth)

285:  Preston Wilson 0-2

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