The AP/GC wrestling teams each went 2-0 in Thursday’s triangular at Columbus Catholic, as aired on 99 The Wave and RadioOnTheGo’s YouTube channel. The boys defeated the hosts 75-6 and Sumner-Fredericksburg 60-19. The girls beat the Cougars 36-33 and Columbus 54-18.
In the opening boys dual against Sumner-Fredericksburg, the Falcons had 10 wins, all pins. They were by Leo Block at 106, Johny Moen at 113, Zion Uhlenhopp at 120, Gage Miller at 150, Carsten Wyant at 157, Emerick Nolte at 165, Parker Mulder at 175, Mason Pruisner at 190, Maison Copp at 215 and Chevy Richardson at 285.
They had 11 pins against the Sailors. Chase Bertram at 138 and Devan Eberhart at 144 joined those who won by fall. Josh Elsberry won a decision at 132. Nolte was one of the wrestlers who went 2-0.
“I was ready for a fight because they looked pretty strong, and I was just ready for it all,” Nolte says. “And I feel like it all paid off because of practice and just going hard and having a good partner, because that’s where the small things come in handy.”
Head Coach Joel Reints believes it was a statement for the boys team.
“I knew Columbus wass going to be a young team and I think they came out and fought really hard,” Reints says. “Sumner-Fred, I was really impressed. I kind of told the guys that shame on me for underestimating what you could do, because I thought that would be a lot closer. And our kids are fighters, and they’ll go out and take it to anyone.”
In an unusual way to win it, the girls had five wins by forfeit against Sumner-Fredericksburg. The only win in a contested match was a pin by Lila Reints at 140. Reints and Makenna Steinmeyer at 145 each got pins against the Sailors. Reints was the lone wrestler to win two contested matches.
“The first girl completely picked me up, I managed to throw her right back on her back and get her down into cradle and pin her,” Reints says. “Second match, the girl was tough. I remember she qualified for state last year, had to take a couple tries for a headlock, got her down, kept her down for a while, and got that pin finally.”
In their next action, the girls will compete at Friday’s BGM January Bash at 5:00 p.m., and the boys will be at the Doc Carr Duals at New Hampton Saturday.
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