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The Vikings traveled to Grand Rapids Saturday, January 26 to wrestle in the Skip Nalan Tournament. North Branch finished fifth out of 13 teams. Individually, Boyd Suparat won the championship at 130 pounds. Second-place finishers for the Vikings were Erik Kostik (125), Greg Arnt (171), and John Morrison (HWT).

"We wrestled fairly well in this tourney," said Viking coach Tony Aho. "But we think we can do much better. There were a lot of teams in this one, and you have to be focused in every match in order to stay in the tourney.

"Tom Mork has dropped to 112 and looks like he is starting to get used to it, as he looked good in his third-place match. Boyd Suparat looked very sharp in this tourney. He puts a lot into this sport and is reaping the rewards for all of his hard work. He currently holds the win record with over 100 and will only add to it in the next two years. Greg Arnt wrestled a very tough kid in the finals and looked very good. He is getting closer to the very good wrestlers and will be ready for the postseason," Aho concluded.

Team Results

1. Aitkin 168

2. Grand Rapids 163.5

3. Hibbing 157.5

4. Mahnomen/Waubun 139.5

5. North Branch 139

6. Roseau 117

7. Deer River/Northland 86.5

8. Ogilvie 85.5

9. Virginia/Mountain Iron-

Buhl 79

10. Blackduck/

Cass Lake-Bena 74

11. Cloquet 48.5

12.Nashwauk-Keewatin-Greenway 39.5

13. Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis 39

Individual Results

103 Jake Kostik 4th

112 Tom Mork 3rd

119 Jake Kalkbrenner DNP

125 Erik Kostik 2nd

130 Boyd Suparat Champion

135 Joe Blom DNP

140 Matt Newham 3rd

145 Luke Levasseuer DNP

152 Chad Anderson DNP

160 Zach Frink DNP

171 Greg Arnt 2nd

189 Jeremy Lacina 6th

215 Justin Bergerson 4th

HWT John Morrison 2nd

The Vikings were scheduled to host Mahtomedi in a dual meet Tuesday, January 29. They'll travel to Columbia Heights for a dual meet tonight, Thursday, January 31, at 7 p.m. and to Braham for a dual meet Tuesday, February 5 at 7 p.m.

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