CROOKSTON WRESTLERS FALL TO #1 RANKED LONG PRAIRIE-GE

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle is the #1 ranked team in the state in Class A and the defending two-time state champion.  Oh, they also have seven ranked wrestlers, so half of their lineup, and they won eight of the last nine matches to pull away for a 50-22 victory over the Crookston Pirate Wrestlers in a dual held in Long Prairie.  “They are a very good program,” said Pirate Coach Wes Hanson. “It was a little intimidating with their two state championship banners hanging in the gym for the last two years.  They have some very good wrestlers and are a great program.”
Crookston was also scheduled to wrestle Detroit Lakes, but they canceled due to COVID issues. 

LPGE won the first two matches, one by pin and one by major decision to take a 10-0 lead to start the match.  The first two LPGE wrestlers were ranked in the top 10.   Crookston answered with three straight wins when Zach Brown, who is ranked eighth in the state at 126-pounds, dropped down to 120 pounds to win his match by a pin in the third period. “Zach competed at 120 pounds tonight and looked sharp,” said Coach Hanson. “He got the first takedown and rode tough.  He was able to get the top position and went back on his feet and was able to get another takedown before hitting a move to his back and getting the fall.”
Ethan Bowman, ranked #3 at 120 pounds, won his match by a pin in the second period. “Ethan was hitting off his leg attacks early,” said Coach Hanson. “He was scoring points and built a big lead and was able to hit a big move to his back as well for a couple of big pins in a row.”
Carter Coauette made it three wins in a row with a win by major decision (11-3).  “Carter did a good job of keeping his opponent guessing,” said Coach Hanson. “He was getting little fakes in there and that created some opportunities to score and was able to build up a major decision.”  Crookston took a 16-10 lead through five matches. “It was a great start,” said Coach Hanson. “We were leading the number one team in the state and feeling pretty good about it, but they had the heart of their line-up coming up.”
LPGE’s heart of the line-up included four wrestlers ranked in the top 10 in a row.  They won two matches by Tech Fall and were awarded 10 points and they won the next two by pin for a 32-16 lead.  Crookston was open at 170 pounds and LPGE won by a decision at 182 pounds for a 41-16 lead.
Crookston won their fourth match of the night as #2 ranked Ethan Boll won his match at 195 pounds by a pin in 56 seconds. “Ethan went out there and had a dominating performance and another win by pin,” said Coach Hanson. “To have three wins by pin on the day against a very good team was good for us.”
LPGE won the final two matches of the night and won 50-22. “We knew it was going to be a tough match going into tonight,” said Coach Hanson. “Overall, our guys competed hard and I am proud of their effort.”

Crookston drops to 18-7 on the year and will host United Clay Becker and Thief River Falls in the Crookston triangular on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Browerville improves to 23-0 in duals.