Erpelding, Miller win at Big Bear, team places third
Alex Erpelding and Spencer Miller won individual titles and Eric Lisson placed second to lead the Staples-Motley wrestling team to a third place finish at the Big Bear tournament at Cass Lake-Bena Dec. 16-17.
Coach Dave Anglin said this tournament is one of the toughest in the state, with around 50 ranked wrestlers in the 14 weight classes. “To place third is really something for our program, it took all the kids believing in themselves and willing to work hard,” said Anglin. “Each kid did what he had to do.”
For Erpelding, it was his third straight tournament championship at 182 pounds, but he had to work hard to get it. After three falls and a 9-0 win got him to the championship, Erpelding faced Justin Dravis of Park Rapids. Erpelding found himself on his back for the first time this season, but got out of it and came back for an 8-5 win.
At 113 pounds, Miller had several tough matches but always came out on top. In the semifinals, he earned a 3-2 win over a wrestler who beat him at state last year. In the finals Miller won 4-2.
Lisson had a great run to the finals with two falls and two shutout wins. In the final he dropped a 6-3 decision to Class AA’s fifth ranked wrestler.
Another finisher for the Cardinals was Owen Bjerga, who made it through one of the toughest brackets at 126 pounds. “He wrestled great against a lot of tough opponents,” said Anglin. In the third round Bjerga stayed right with a returning state champion, but ended up falling 8-6. He lost to another ranked wrestler later on but came back to win the fifth place match 9-3.
As a team, the Cardinals were in 11th place after the first day of competition, but several wrestlers went on a tear on that second day.
Two of the biggest winners were Braden Tyrrell at 195 pounds and Kyle Serich at heavyweight. Tyrrell lost his opening match in the tournament but reeled off four straight wins before a 6-4 loss dropped him to the seventh place match, which he then won with a pin. Serich also had to battle back through the lower bracket after losing in the second round. He wrestled to five straight wins, including three pins, before falling in the third place match.
Coach Anglin said the rest of the team also wrestled up to their ability. “I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishment,” said Anglin. “The kids set goals and they are working hard to meet them. They are starting to see what they are capable of doing.”
The Cardinals finished one point ahead of section rival West Central Area, setting up a big home match between the two on Friday, Dec. 30, at 10 a.m. “It will be interesting,” said Anglin.
Team results
Big Bear Tournament
Hutchinson 209.5, Thief River Falls 161.5, Staples-Motley 142.5, West Central Area 141.5, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 139.5, Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena 134, Park Rapids 125, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 112.5, Mounds View 112, Hibbing 111, Barnesville 107, Detroit Lakes 101, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River 96.5, Deer River 83.5, Fosston-Bagley 80, United North Central 79.5, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 76.5, St. Cloud Apollo 75, Osakis 72, Roseau 72, Bemidji 70, Mora 66.5, Sauk Centre-Melrose 63, Aitkin 61.5, Andover 54.5, Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus 54, Crookston 38, MAHACA 34, Wadena- Deer Creek 32.5, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis 27, Crosby-Ironton 25, United Clay-Becker 25, Nash-Kee- Greenway 24, 23, Fertile-Beltrami 17, Fergus Falls 12, Spectrum 7, Red Lake County Central 6, Mahnomen-Waubun 5
Staples-Motley results: - 103 Sam Jennissen 0-2; 113 Spencer Miller 5-0, 1st place; 120 Owen Bjerga 5-2, 5th place; 132 Eric Lisson 4-1, 2nd place; 138 Matt Miller 1-2; 145 Cade Schmidt 0-2; 152 Jonathan Lisson 0-2; 160 Isaac Swensrud 1-2; 170 Brandon Szymkowiak 0-2; 182 Alex Erpelding 5-0, 1st place; 195 Braden Tyrrell 5-2, 7th place; 220 - Shaine Guggenberger 1-2; 285 Kyle Serich 6-2, 4th place
