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The Wildcat wrestling team hosted the Chisago Lakes Holiday Tourney  Friday, December 16 at Chisago Lakes Area High School.  Logan Bender won the championship at 195 pounds for the Wildcats.  Jack Baker was the highest finisher for the Vikings, coming in second place at 106 pounds.  Team scores were not available for this tournament.

Bender was dominant in the tourney, pinning his first three opponents in less than one minute each.  In his opening match, he pinned Victor Ortiz of Champlin Park in 53 seconds.  It took Bender just 13 seconds to pin Austin Holst of Goodhue in the quarterfinals.  In the semifinals, Bender pinned Mayson Utgard of St. Croix Falls in 45 seconds.  Bender won the championship by medical forfeit over Parker Shackleton of St. Croix Central.

Baker opened with a 9-2 quarterfinal decision over Tucker Gould of Rush City-Braham.  He decisioned Link Toops of Pierz 8-2 in the semifinals.  And in a tight championship match, Baker lost 5-4 to Grady Weinbrenner of Rogers, putting Baker in second place for the day.

After losing his opening match, Michael Thao (138) came back to claim third place for the Vikings.  He won his next two matches– 13-2 by major decision over Payton Holst of Goodhue and an 11-4 decision over Nick Lunemann of Woodbury.  Thao’s third-place match with Jace Deyoung of Stewartville was tied 6-6 after three periods.  Thao’s takedown in overtime gave him an 8-6 sudden victory win.
 
Chisago Lakes Individual Results
106 Conner Aspenson                   0-2         DNP
132 Franklin Stark 0-2  DNP
138  Braxton Bender-Ehlke           
1-3   6th
145 Andrew Novack 3-2         
5th
152 Michael Amos 3-2    5th
160 Reed Bleymeyer 2-2 7th
170 Stephen Weill 1-3   8th
195 Logan Bender 4-0 Champ
195 Connor Frederixon   3-2         4th
285 Chuck Gilman 1-2    7th
 
North Branch Individual Results
106  Jack Baker   2-1    2nd
120  Ethan Kester   2-2   4th
138  Michael Thao  3-1  3rd
145  Joseph Krenz  0-2  DNP
152  Tanner Cummings 0-2         DNP
160  Jay Kramer    0-2   DNP
182  Elijah Watts   0-2  DNP
285  Karson Gariepy 0-2 DNP

Wrestling Whangdoodles
The Wildcats were scheduled to wrestle in a quadrangular last night at East Ridge and are scheduled to wrestle this afternoon at St. Paul Johnson at 1:30 p.m.  The Vikings were scheduled to wrestle in a multi-team event last night at Mounds view.  Snowy, windy conditions may postpone this week’s matches, so check mississippi8.org for updates.  After this week, nether team will wrestle until they get together for a dual meet on Thursday, January 5 at 6 p.n. at Chisago Lakes High School.

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