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North Branch Triangular

With a low number of varsity wrestlers for the past several years, it has been difficult for the Vikings to win any dual meets.  And even more rare is winning two duals on the same day.  Viking head coach Kyle Kahl said “We did win two in a row last year against some city schools.  But before that, it was at least five years.”  But things are getting better with numbers rising and more experience throughout the lineup.  And it’s starting to pay off.  At the North Branch Triangular last Thursday, the Vikings beat the Mahtomedi Zephyr 63-9, then finished off the evening with a 57-15 win over St. Croix Lutheran.  Nine Viking wrestlers won both of their matches:  Dominic Taylor (107), Jack Baker (121), Aiden Schwartz (133), Colin Duvall (139), Ethan Kester (145), Parker Larson (152), Leonardo Santos (172), Aayden Anderson (215) and Moses Ochoa (285).

North Branch 63, Mahtomedi 9

107: Dominic Taylor (NOBR) over (MAHT) (For.)

114: Joseph Graupman (NOBR) over Aidan Carlson (MAHT) (Fall 1:14)

121: Jack Baker (NOBR) over Shelby McFetridge (MAHT) (Fall 1:10)

127: Isaiah Bodsberg (NOBR) over Oliver LaValle (MAHT) (Fall 5:07)

133: Aiden Schwartz (NOBR) over Owen Eigen (MAHT) (Fall 1:31)

139: Colin Duvall (NOBR) over Ean Carlson (MAHT) (Fall 1:58)

145: Ethan Kester (NOBR) over Samuel White (MAHT) (Dec 6-0)

152: Parker Larson (NOBR) over Max Faust (MAHT) (Fall 5:44)

172: Leonardo Santos (NOBR) over Wyatt Herschbach (MAHT) (Fall 1:09)

215: Aayden Anderson (NOBR) over Jeremiah Hass (MAHT) (Fall 0:25)

285: Moses Ochoa (NOBR) over (MAHT) (For.)

North Branch 57, St. Croix Lutheran 15

107: Dominic Taylor (NOBR) over (SCL) (For.)

121: Jack Baker (NOBR) over Jack Anderson (SCL) (MD 12-2)

133: Aiden Schwartz (NOBR) over Conner Aldean (SCL) (Fall 1:48)

139: Colin Duvall (NOBR) over Matthew Liu (SCL) (Fall 0:34)

145: Ethan Kester (NOBR) over (SCL) (For.)

152: Parker Larson (NOBR) over Shelesh Gangadari (SCL) (TF 15-0 4:50)

160: Emmit Hansen (NOBR) over (SCL) (For.)

172: Leonardo Santos (NOBR) over Max Mildebrandt (SCL) (Fall 1:01)

215: Aayden Anderson (NOBR) over Eli Miner (SCL) (Fall 0:48)

285: Moses Ochoa (NOBR) over (SCL) (For.)

Somerset Tournament

The Vikings sent ten wrestlers to the Somerset, Wisc. tournament last Friday, December 15, and six Vikings had top six finishes.  Not surprisingly, Jack Baker led the way by coming in second at 121.  Ethan Kester (144) finished third, Aayden Anderson (215) took fourth, and three wrestlers earned the sixth spot on the podium:  Aiden Schwartz (132), Emmit Hansen (165), and Moses Ochoa (285).

In his opening match against Aidan Johnson of Luck/Fredrick/Grantsburg/Siren, Baker got a takedown later in the first period to go up 2-0.  Baker got a another takedown midway through the second period, but Johnson escaped with 16 seconds remaining, giving Baker a 4-1 lead after two periods.  Baker chose bottom in the third period.  He got a reversal at 4:15 and completed a pin just three seconds later for the win.

In the semifinals, Baker took down Deaven McClanahan of Clear Lake after just 30 seconds to go up 2-0.  One minute later, McClanahan got a reversal and was awarded a three-point near fall to go up 5-2 after one.  McClanahan chose down n the second period, and each wrestler managed a reversal, giving McClanahan a 7-4 lead after the second period.  Baker got a takedown at 4:18 to cut the lead to 7-6.  McClanahan escaped 15 seconds later, stretching his lead to 8-6.  Working tirelessly, Baker got another takedown at 5:13 to tie it at 8-8.  47 seconds later, the match was headed to overtime.  In the first overtime period, after McClanahan received a stalling warning, Baker completed a takedown with 55 seconds left for a 10-8 sudden victory.

In the championship match, Baker faced Connor Bruhn of Chippewa Falls.  Bruhn got a takedown at 1:20.  He added an escape and a takedown in the second period and another takedown in the third period to win 7-0, leaving Baker in second place.

Individual Results

120  Jack Baker                

 2-1         2nd

132  Aiden Schwarz        

 2-2         6th

138  Colin Duvall             

 2-1         DNP

144  Ethan Kester             

3-1         3rd

144  Parker Larson           

1-2         DNP

165  Emmit Hansen        

 2-2         6th

175  Leonardo Santos     

1-2         DNP

190  Parker Deniger         

1-2         DNP

215  Aayden Anderson    

1-2         4th

285  Moses Ochoa           

1-2         6th

Team Results

1 St Croix Falls 551.0

2 Glenwood City 487.5

3 Luck/Fredrick/Grantsburg/Siren 325.5

4 Spooner 318.0

5 Clear Lake 306.0

6 Chippewa Falls 254.5

7 North Branch 252.0

8 Ladysmith 251.0

9 Ashland 250.5

10 Woodbury 232.0

11 Prescott 192.0

12 Turtle Lake/Clayton 171.0

13 Somerset 129.0

14 Spring Valley/Elmwood 122.0

Wrestling Whangdoodles

The Vikings will host Washington Technology Magnet School for a dual meet tonight at 5 p.m. at North Branch High School.

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