CROOKSTON WRESTLERS FALL IN TIGHT DUAL TO BADGER-GREENBUSH-MIDDLE RIVER

The Crookston Pirates Wrestlers dropped a dual on Thursday night against Badger-Greenbush-Middle River by a final score of 42-33. “We lost a hard-fought dual tonight,” said Pirates Head Coach Wes Hanson. “We battled all the way through but it wasn’t enough.”

At the 106-pound match, Evin Trudeau got Crookston on the board with a strong 15-4 victory in which his opponent did not score in the second and third period, putting Crookston in front 4-0. After a Pirates forfeit at the 113-pound match, Gavin Hluncy won for Crookston at the 120-pound match to put the Pirates back in front 9-6. “That was a very strong performance from Gavin Hluncy tonight,” said Pirates Head Coach Wes Hanson. “he scored on a big move late to secure the tech fall and that was big for us.” Badger-Greenbush-Middle River would win both the 126-pound and 132-pound matches on Pins and take control with an 18-9 lead. The Pirates would get two wins at the 138-pound and 145-pound matches due to forfeits from Badger-Greenbush Middle River, and after a Badger-Greenbush-Middle River victory at the 152-pound match, things were tied up at 21-21. The teams traded forfeits at the 160-pound and 170-pound matches, setting up the final four matches to decide who would be victorious.

Hunter Knutson wrestled in the 182-pound match for the Pirates against the #4 ranked wrestler in the state at 170 pounds in Hunter Waage. The match went the full time but Waage was victorious over Knutson with a 9-3 result giving Badger-Greenbush-Middle River a 30-27 lead. Each team had their best wrestler in the 195-pound match as Ethan Boll who is ranked #2 in the state at 195 pounds, faced off against Caleb Vacura who is ranked #4 in the state at 182 pounds. Boll continued his incredible season with a pin in the second period at the 3:38 mark, giving Crookston the lead back at 33-30 with two matches remaining. “That was a huge pin from Ethan (Boll),” said Pirates Head Coach Wes Hanson. “That put us back in a position to win the dual.” Unfortunately for the Pirates, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River would win the last two matches of the night, both pins in the first period, and secure a 42-33 victory. “I thought we wrestled well on the mat tonight,” said Pirates Head Coach Wes Hanson. “We just gave up the big move too many times.”

Crookston drops to 13-6 on the season in duals and will wrestle on Saturday in Fertile at the NW Invitational. Badger-Greenbush-Middle River improves to 5-8 in duals with the win.