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Princeton 40, Chisago Lakes 27

The Wildcat wrestling team and the Princeton Tigers hooked up in Hibbing Saturday, January, and the Wildcats squeezed out a 37-33 win. Just five days later, the Tigers turned the tables on the Wildcats, beating them 40-27 at the Spring Lake Park Triangular.

Joe Virga had the most exciting match of the dual for the Wildcats. Tied 2-2 in the second period, he reversed and pinned his opponent for the win. Said Wildcat head coach Shawn Frederixon "Joe had a good night against a kid who has been a tough wrestler for them. In fact, he went 5-0 over the weekend for us and he is only an eighth grader. Princeton turned a couple of matches around on us and was able to beat us this time. We will both be different squads by the time sections roll around and it will be fun if we have to face them. for a third time this year, at sections.

Individual Results vs. Princeton

103 - Dylan Connell won by fall

112 - Sean Hoyt lost by maj. dec.

119 - Sean McConville lost by fall

125 - Quade Zupko won by fall

130 - Mark Sontag lost by dec.

135 - Joe Virga won by fall

140 - Bobby Sontag lost by dec.

145 - Tyler Heckel lost by fall

152 - William Pool won by dec.

160 - Eric Brown lost by fall

171 - Ben Hinderman lost by fall

189 - Travis Kammerer won by forfeit

215 - Jake Nase lost by dec.

285 - Dylan Hoyt lost by dec.

Chisago Lakes 53, Spring Lake Park 15

The Wildcats won this catfight handily, beating the Spring Lakes Park Panthers 53-15 in the second dual of the Spring Lake Park Triangular. Wildcat head coach Shawn Frederixon said "Spring Lake Park is still building. They have a new head coach again this year. Despite the score, we had some pretty good matches with them. Joe Virga stood out again, beating one of their better kids in overtime.

Individual Results vs. Spring Lake Park

103 - Dylan Connell won by fall

112 - Sean Hoyt lost by dec. in OT

119 - Sean McConville won by fall

125 - Quade Zupko won by forfeit

130 - Mark Sontag lost by dec.

135 - Joe Virga win by dec. in OT

140 - Bobby Sontag won by maj. dec.

145 - Tyler Heckel won by maj. dec.

152 - William Pool won by fall

160 - Eric Brown lost by dec.

171 - Travis Kammerer won by fall

189 - Ben Hinderman lost by fall

215 - Jake Nase won by fall

285 - Dylan Hoyt won by fall

Hinckley-Finlayson/Pine City/East Central Jaguar Tourney

Trying to get more matches in for some of their wrestlers, the Wildcats split the squad up last Saturday and participated in two tournaments. Nine wrestlers went to the Jaguar Tourney in Hinckley. The Wildcats finished third as a team. Two Wildcats were champions in their weight classes, both finishing 3-0 overall for the day: Jake Nase (215), who won at this tournament for the third year in a row, and Dylan Hoyt (285), who won for the second time in a row. In the finals, Hoyt beat Donaldo Martinez of Melrose, who is ranked fourth in Class AA at 285 pounds.

Said Wildcat head coach Shawn Frederixon "Dylan had a couple of chances during regulation where he almost had a takedown but ran out of space, so it was tied at the end of three periods. In overtime, they got into a scramble and Dylan ended up on top for the win. As a team, we had nine wrestlers there and had nine placewinners. I think the guys did a really nice job placing third with a short squad. I was happy with that result."

Team Results at the Jaguar Tourney

1. Hinckley 203

2. Osseo 168

3. Chisago Lakes 155

4. Sauk Centre-Melrose 138.5

5. Virginia 106.5

6. Ogilvie 97.5

7. Big Lake 95

8. Trinity School 90

9. Spectrum 52

10. Rush City/Braham 40

11. Granite City Baptist 11

Individual Results at the Jaguar Tourney

103 - Dylan Connell 2nd

112 - Sean Hoyt 2nd

119 - Sean McConville 2nd

135 - Cody Fugleberg 2nd

140 - Bobby Sontag 4th

145 - Tyler Heckel 6th

171 - Ben Hinderman 3rd

215 - Jake Nase 1st

285 - Dylan Hoyt 1st

St. Croix Lutheran Crusader Invitational

The Wildcats did even better as a team at the St. Croix Lutheran-hosted Crusader Invitational, finishing second to conference foe Fridley while sending only nine wrestlers to this tourney, as well. Travis Kammerer (171) was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler. The Wildcats had four individual champions on the day: Kyle Schoenecker (103); Quade Zupko (119); Joe Virga (135) and Kammerer.

"Kyle Schoenecker, a seventh-grader, is a tough wrestler," said Wildcat head coach Shawn Frederixon. "In fact, we've got two really tough 103 pounders this year. We have 15 wins between him and Dylan Connell. Today's matches were the first time Quade Zupko has dropped down to 119 this year. According to the coaches who were there [Frederixon was with the group at Hinckley], he was pretty dominating. He had two pins in the first period and a technical fall in his other match. Joe Virga apparently had a wild one. The coaches said it was back and forth with this kid and Joe came up with some pretty big moves to beat him 16-9."

Kammerer, ranked fourth in the state in Class AA, faced Patrick Faber of Fridley, ranked third in Class AA, in the finals at 171. Faber took a 6-4 lead after the first period. Kammerer wore him down after that, scoring points for a reversal, an escape and picking up a point assessed against Faber for stalling. Faber was exhausted by the end of the match. It was Faber's first loss of the year. "Travis is having a pretty good run right now," said Frederixon. "Beating Faber basically won him the outstanding wrestler award. Travis wrestled well and proved that when you work hard, good things happen. As a team, we are still tinkering with our lineup and hope to be able to put our best team out there in February for sections."

Team Results at the Crusader Invitational

1. Fridley 216

2. Chisago Lakes 172.5

3. Nicolett 164

4. St. Thomas Academy 153

5. Brooklyn Center 144

6. Patrick Henry 108.5

7. St. Croix Lutheran 104

8. Minnehaha/DeLaSalle 85

9. Minneapolis North 22

Individual Results at Crusader Invitational

103 - Kyle Schoenecker 1st

119 - Quade Zupko 1st

125 - Kenny Tye DNP

130 - Joe Olinger 6th

135 - Joe Virga 1st

140 - Carson Velaski 4th

145 - Mike Sampson 6th

152 - William Pool 4th

160 - David Barwin 4th

171 - Travis Kammerer 1st

189 - Vince Virga 3rd

215 Jonah Westbury 3rd

Travis Kammerer Watch

Kammerer's five wins this week give him 152 wins for his career. That is just two wins shy of the legendary Dan Dellwo's all-time Wildcat record of 154 wins. Kammerer has a good chance to break that record this Saturday at Elk River. Tonight, the Wildcats travel to St. Francis to take on the Fighting Saints in a dual meet at 7 p.m. They will again split the squad for two tournaments this weekend. Half the wrestlers will go to the Eden Prairie Invitational, which starts at 10 a.m. The other half, including Kammerer, will wrestle at the Elk River Invitational starting at 9 a.m. If you head down to Elk River this Saturday, there is a good chance you will see history made by Travis Kammerer.

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