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In the southern half of the Section 7AA team tournament, the third-seeded Vikings easily beat up on sixth-seeded Rush City 45-27 last Tuesday, February 1 at Chisago Lakes. But later that evening, the tables were turned on the Vikings as they were knocked out of the team sections by Milaca 54-12. The loss ended the Vikings' team season for 209-2010.

Said Viking head coach Tony Aho "Having to forfeit 103, due to weeks of competition limits for middle schoolers, and 112, due to injury, was not an ideal situation for us. We were also without our starting 119 pounder, Jake Pilz. The guys responded pretty well, and things went about as expected. The score with Rush City was closer than earlier in the year, but the guys did enough to get by them and get a shot at Milaca. The Wolves outwrestled us at just about every weight, with the exceptions coming from Jake Kostik at 125, Andy Freel at 152 and John Morrison at 285. They are a good team, but I think we could have made that score a lot closer."

Individual Section Tournament

The Vikings will host the individual tournament for Section 7AA this Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27, at North Branch High School. The action starts at 9 a.m. both days. Several Vikings, including three state entrants from last year -- Jake Kostik (125), Justin Bergerson (215) and John Morrison (285) - have a great chance to make it to this year's state tournament. The state tournament starts next Wednesday, March 3 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

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