Wrestlers make it to section finals
The Staples Motley wrestling team finished 15 points short in the Section 6A team championship, but Coach Dave Anglin feels they were very close to pulling the upset. “We didn’t get the coin toss, but still could have won,” said Anglin. “There were pins we could have avoided and points left on the mat.”
The Cardinals lost to West Central Area 42-27 in the championship match, after beating New York Mills 36-31 in the semifinals. Both matches were Feb. 12 in Barnesville.
Against New York Mills, the Cardinals wrestled well but lost one key bout that put the fate of the match in the hands of heavyweight Kyle Serich. “Kyle had beaten their guy before and he went out and got the pin,” said Anglin. “That fired us up for the next one.”
Against West Central, the Cardinals struggled early but Jeremy Miller put them back on track with a big win at 152 pounds. Alex Erpelding and Jacob Bendson got the team back on track with pins, but it was too late. “In big matches, you can’t give up too many points and that’s what got us,” said Anglin.
The varsity will have one more chance to get to state, with the individual tournament Feb. 19 and 20 at Wheaton. Anglin said seven Staples Motley wrestlers have a chance to get to state. “Even those who won’t get to state have to wrestle well because it affects seeding for next year,” said Anglin.
Team results
Staples Motley 36, New York Mills 31
106 Spencer Miller W 7-1; 113 Brayden Christensen L 16-2; 120 Owen Bjerga W fall; 126 Blayne Dumpprope W fall; 132 Jasiah Paskewitz L 4-2; 138 Eric Lisson W 7-1; 145 Dalton Holmberg W 6-3; 152 Jeremy Miller W 7-2; 160 Alex Erpelding W fall; 170 Jacob Bendson L fall; 182 Cameron Bendson L fall; 195 Shaine Guggenberger L fall; 220 Braden Tyrell L fall; 285 Kyle Serich W fall
Staples Motley 27, West Central 42
106 S. Miller W 7-4; 113 Bjerga L fall; 120 Dumpprope L fall; 126 Jack Tyrell L fall; 132 Lisson W 10-3, 138 Paskewitz L fall; 145 Holmberg L 11-4; 152 J. Miller W 13-10; 160 Isaac Swensrud L fall; 170 Erpelding W fall; 182 J. Bendson W fall; 195 B. Tyrell L 5-3; 220 Guggenberger L fall; 285 Serich W fall
