Vikes soar past BSM, finish second at Nalan

By CHUCK FITZER North Branch 59, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 12 The Viking wrestling team crushed conference opponent Benilde-St. Margaret’s 59-12 Thursday, January 24 at Benilde. The win improved the Vikings’ record in dual meets to 14-8 overall. Their 6-1 record in the North Suburban Conference puts them in second place, just behind conference leader Totino Grace (7-0).

Three of the Class AA Vikings’ four individual losses for the evening against Class AAA Benilde came against ranked wrestlers. Thomas Steele (120) lost to Jake Allar 17-10; Allar is ranked ninth in the state in Class AAA at 113. Reid Johnson (126) lost 9-4 to Logan Kass, who is ranked sixth in the state in Class AAA at 126.

And Zack Sundly (195) lost to Christian Dulaney 13-6; Dulaney is ranked fourth in the state in Class AAA at 182.

Individual Results vs. Benilde-St. Margaret’s
106 Kody Strohmayer (NB) won by pin over Frankie Gormley (BS) 1:05
113 James Weigel (NB) won by pin over Zach Bigelbach (BS) 1:29
120 Jake Allar (BS) decisioned Thomas Steele (NB) 17-10
126 Logan Kass* (BS) decisioned Reid Johnson (NB) 9-4
132 Aaron Senne (NB) tech fell Hunter Rust (BS) 6:00 15-0
138 Jake Pilz (NB) pinned Christian Ehlen (BS) 1:10
145 Cameron Sampson (NB) won by forfeit
152 Arik Steele (NB) won by forfeit
160 Carter Burn* (BS) decisioned Tristan Labelle (NB) 2-1
170 Zach John (NB) won by forfeit
182 Levi Eastwood (NB) won by forfeit
195 Christian Dulaney (BS) decisioned Zack Sundly (NB) 13-6
220 Eric Bergstrom (NB) pinned Jameer Anderson (BS) 3:56
285 Seamus Hunter (NB) pinned Tony Czajkowski (BS) 1:40

55th Annual Skip Nalan Wrestling Tournament in Grand Rapids
The Vikings experienced a bit of déjà vu in their trip to Grand Rapids to wrestle in the oldest wrestling tournament in the state, the 55th Annual Skip Nalan Wrestling Tournament.

Last year, they finished second to tournament host and Section 7AA foe Grand Rapids and this year they finished second again to Grand Rapids. Individually, the Vikings won championships at the three heaviest weights. Zack Sundly (195) major decisioned Will Rusch of Grand Rapids 9-1 to repeat as a champion at this tournament.

Viking head coach Jim Hoard is one of the few wrestlers who have won three titles at this tournament in its 55 year history. Despite a sore shoulder, Eric Bergstrom (220) won all three of his matches, pinning Jacob Lynch of Pine City/Braham at 3:23 to win the championship match. And Seamus Hunter (285) continued with his “pinfest,” recording three more pins to make it 13 in a row. He pinned Alan Huju of Deer River at 1:22 in the championship match. Three Vikings finished second at the tournament in their respective weights – Reid Johnson (126), Aaron Senne (132) and Jake Pilz (138).

Team Results at Grand Rapids
1. Grand Rapids 241.0
2. North Branch 201.5
3. Aitkin 195.5
4. Mahnomen 121.5
5. Hibbing 117.5
6. Rush City/Braham 92.5
7. Nashwauk-Keewatin 76.0
8. Deer River 70.0
9. Walker-Hackensack 61.5
10. Virginia Area 27.0
11. Ogilvie 13.0
12. Proctor 0.0

Individual Results at Grand Rapids
106 Kody Strohmayer 1-2 6th
113 James Weigel 0-2 DNP
120 Thomas Steele 2-1 3rd
126 Reid Johnson 2-1 2nd
132 Aaron Senne 2-1 2nd
138 Jake Pilz 2-1 2nd
145 Cameron Sampson 2-2 5th
152 Arik Steele 1-2 5th
160 Zachary John 2-2 4th
170 Tristan LaBelle 3-1 3rd
182 Levi Eastwood 1-2 5th
195 Zack Sundly 2-0 Champion
220 Eric Bergstrom 3-0 Champion
285 Seamus Hunter 3-0 Champion

The Vikings will host archrival Chisago Lakes tonight at 7 p.m. at North Branch High School for bragging rights in southern Chisago County.