The Crookston Pirate Wrestling team will send 10 wrestlers to the Minnesota State High School League state individual wrestling prelims on Saturday at Cass Lake-Bena High school after an outstanding day of wrestling in the Section 8A Individual Tournament at the Crookston High School. “It was a good day for our guys. We did a lot of things well, we wrestled hard, advanced 10 out of 13, and we got all our seniors through. Overall it was a good day for the Pirates.”
The top four wrestlers at each weight advanced to the Super Regional/State prelims. Now the top four wrestlers will compete against the top four wrestlers from Section 7A in Cass Lake. The top two wrestlers in each weight group will advance to the state individual wrestling tournament.
Crookston Coach Wes Hanson was named the Section 8A Coach of the Year and said it has everything to do with the kids he is coaching. “It is an honor to be the section coach of the year,” said Coach Hanson. “I am thankful I have a hard-working crew of wrestlers that put me in a position to win an award like that.”
PIRATES ADVANCE 10 TO STATE PRELIMS
Evin Trudeau, at 106 pounds, had a great day winning two matches and losing one and advances to Saturday. “He really had a good day, and he came out and scored first in the matches that he was able to win,” said Coach Hanson. “Those are big-time matches for a guy that hasn’t competed in the section individual tournament and to win a 4 vs. 5 matchup right away by a major decision, and he is moving on.”
Nolan Dans, at 113 pounds, won both of his matches by pin to advance. “I can’t say enough about Nolan Dans,” said Coach Hanson. “He is a very good wrestler and a good person, and I am happy he was able to come away with a couple of wins today to keep his great season going.”
Zach Brown, at 120 pounds, received the top seed and had a first-round bye. He won his only match by a pin in the second period to advance. “It was a short day for Zach,” said Coach Hanson. “He was explosive on his feet and was tough in the top position. He was able to pick up the pin and a good way to go out as a senior wrestling for the last time in this gym.”
Ethan Bowman, at 126 pounds, received the top seed and had a first-round bye. Like Brown, he won his second match by a pin to advance. “He is wrestling great,” said Coach Wes Hanson. “He is smooth on his attacks and locked up something tight. For him to wrestle for only 1:24 is pretty good.”
Cam Weiland, at 132 pounds, won his first match, lost his second match, and bounced back to win his final match of the day by a major decision to advance. “A great day for Cam,” said Coach Hanson. “The first-round matchup was one of the better matches I have seen him wrestle. He scored when opportunities presented themselves, and he was never in any danger and was able to lock up something tight in the third. It was nice to see him battle back and get the win the consolation semi’s to advance. That was huge.”
Braxton Volker, at 138 pounds, advanced by winning his first match by a decision. After losing his semi-final match, he bounced back with a win by pin to move on to Saturday. “He had a nice win by decision in the first round,” said Coach Hanson. “He was able to put his opponent away in the consolation semi-finals, and I am happy for him to be advancing. He deserves it.”
Hunter Knutson, at 160 pounds, won his first match by a pin, lost by a decision, and bounced back to win by a pin to advance. “Hunter is physical and did a great job of getting an early pin in his first match,” said Coach Hanson. “To come back and be dominant in the top position in his consolation semi-final match and push through was what we needed and a good day overall for Hunter.”
Ethan Boll, at 195 pounds, had no problems with two pins to advance to Saturday. “Ethan was quick and didn’t spend a lot of time on his feet,” said Coach Hanson. “He was able to get some quick takedowns, and he is wrestling really well right now.”
Hunter Kresl, at 220 pounds, went 2-1 on the day, including a pin in his third match to advance. Hunter’s loss came at the hands of the #1 ranked Dominic Vacura of BGMR. “It was an outstanding day for him to come out and get the upset win in the first match was huge,” said Coach Hanson. “To come away with a pin in the consolation semi-finals and push forward was great to see, and I am happy he is advancing.”
Greg Gonzalez, at 285 pounds, went 2-1 on the day with two wins by pin to advance to Saturday. “He really wrestled well. For him to advance out of here is great,” said Coach Hanson. “he is going to have a shot on Saturday and his performance today was solid, and he created opportunities, and that is what we like to see.”
The Pirates are happy to advance 10 to Saturday, and even the three that didn’t advance, Coach Hanson was happy with their performances. “I am proud of the guys, and I know it has been a pile of wrestling the past week and a half,” said Coach Hanson. “We had a great day on Saturday and celebrated that and get right back at it and wrestle on Tuesday is something we haven’t experienced before. I thought the guys were sharp today, and we are excited for Saturday.”Â
SECTION 8A WRESTLING AWARDS –Â
Crookston Coach Wes Hanson was named the Section 8A Coach of the Year.Â
Efren Novacek (of BGMR) was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Team academic champion – United North Central (3.7 GPA)
The Section 8A All-Academic Team (Must have a 3.0 or higher. Be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and section placing is considered)
Crookston – Ethan Boll
United North Central – Eion Hess, Torrey Carlson, Hunter Skoro, Ethan Hendrickson
Frazee – Christian Carlson, Daniel Graham, Kaden Heimenz, Jake Nagel
Mahnomen-Waubun – Garret Eiynck
Fertile-Beltrami – Wesley Ramberg
Park Rapids – Tristan Hill
Red Lake County Central – Tristan Ferguson
Fosston-Bagley – Dane Schoenborn, Carter Sorenson
| # | Pirate | Opponent | Results |
| 106Â | Evin Trudeau | Beat Noa Halberg (Fos/B) 11-0 Lost to Dante Yost (Fe/B) pin 3:33 Beat Trevor Neisen (MW) pin 1:33 |
Advances |
| 113Â | Nolan Dans | Beat Sebastian Sonnenberg (Fra) pin 2:40 Beat Blake McMullen (MW) pin 5:14 |
Advances |
| 120Â | Zach Brown | Bye Beat Zach Hendrickson (UNC) pin 3:00 |
Advances |
| 126 | Ethan Bowman | Bye Beat Garret Eiynck (MW) pin 1:24 |
Advances |
| 132Â | Cam Weiland | Beat Zach Thompson (Fos/B) pin 5:23 Lost to Ethan Hendrickson (UNC) pin :54 Beat Henry Thorson (PR) 12-2 |
Advances |
| 138Â | Braxton Volker | Beat Wesley Ramberg (Fer/B) 5-1 Lost to Kaden Hiemenz (Fra) 5-0 Beat Danyn Janousek (BGMR) pin 1:50 |
Advances |
| 145Â | Spencer Ness | Lost to Tyler Moe (Fra) pin 3:45 Bye Lost to Seth Lavalier (Fer/B) 13-5 |
DNP |
| 152Â | Casey Weiland | Lost to Hank Tellers (UNC) 16-2 Lost to Brogan Beito (BGMR) Pin :18 |
DNP |
| 160Â | Hunter Knutson | Beat Tatum Bement (MW) by pin :58 Lost to Brock Barlund (Fra) 6-1 Beat Jayce Thompson (Fos/B) pin 3:20 |
Advances |
| 170Â | OPEN | ||
| 182Â | Cade DeLeon | Lost to Dane Schoenborn (Fos/B) pin 2:35 Lost to Nikowa Fortier (MW) pin 3:23 |
DNP |
| 195Â | Ethan Boll | Beat Blake Geray (MW) pin 3:24 Beat Paul DeHate (RLCC) pin 1:08 |
Advances |
| 220Â | Hunter Kresl | Beat Cooper Hasbargen (UNC) 8-7 Lost to Dominic Vacura (BGMR) pin 1:40 Beat Dandre Johnson (PR) pin 1:05 |
Advances |
| 285 | Greg Gonzalez | Beat Peyton Stock (MW) pin 2:00 Lost to Dawson Beito (BGMR) pin 3:47 Beat Alex Hagen (Fos/B) pin 3:33 |
Advances |
