Erpelding, Bjerga win tournament titles

The Staples-Motley wrestling team had two champions at the Paul Bunyan tournament in Brainerd on Dec. 9-10. Owen Bjerga won the 132 pound title and Alex Erpelding won at 182 pounds.

Erpelding scored two pins in his first two rounds, then won 6-1 in the final. Bjerga had two close matches to start out, winning 1-0 and 5-3, then won 5-2 in the final.

Spencer Miller also made the finals at 120 pounds, but lost 16-6 to finish second.

The Cardinals finished seventh as a team even though they had five weights with no wrestlers entered. They will enter another tough tournament filled with ranked wrestlers in the Big Bear at Cass Lake-Bena Dec. 16-17.

The Cardinals also defeated Crosby-Ironton 59-9 in a dual meet on Dec. 6.

Team results

Staples-Motley 59, Crosby-Ironton 9

106 - Sam Jennissen W ff; 113 - Brayden Christensen W ff; 120 - Spencer Miller W 9-6; 126 - Blake Gerard L 1-0; 132 - Blayne Dumprope W 5-3; 138 - Owen Bjerga W tf; 145 - Eric Lisson W fall; 152 - Dalton Holmberg W fall; 160 - Jonathan Lisson W 6-0; 170 - Brandon Szymkowiak L fall; 182 - John Statema W 4-3; 195 - Alex Erpelding W fall; 220 - Shaine Guggenberger W ff; 285 - Kyle Serich W fall

Paul Bunyan tournament, Brainerd

Foley 246.5, Frazee 180, Pierz Healy 146, Moorhead 141, Brainerd 109.5, Little Falls 101, Staples-Motley 100, Bemidji 99, Grand Rapids 89.5, Aitkin 76, Cloquet 62, Mound Westonka 52, Chisago Lakes 50, Amery 20.5, Minneapolis Southwest 0

Staples-Motley wrestlers:

113 - Christensen 2-2, 7th place; 120 - S. Miller 2-1, 2nd place; 126 - Dumprope 3-3, 6th place; 132 - Bjerga 3-0, 1st place; 138 - E. Lisson 4-2, 5th place; 152 - J. Lisson 1-2; 182 - Erpelding 3-0, 1st place; 285 - Serich 2-3, 6th place