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North Branch Triangular

The Viking wrestling team won both of its duals at the North Branch Triangular, held last Thursday, January 23 at North Branch High School.  The Vikings beat St. Croix Lutheran 62-10 and bested Somerset, Wisc. 51-18.  Even without the benefit of forfeits, the Vikings would have come out on top in both duals.  They won 38-10 over St. Croix Lutheran in contested matches.  The score against Somerset was a lot closer, but the Vikings prevailed 21-18 in contested matches.

Seven Vikings went 2-0 in their matches:  Dominic Taylor (107), Jack Baker (121), Nicholas Andreotti (127/133), Aiden Schwartz (139), Logan Rediske (152), Levi Krenz (160), Moses Ochoa (285).  Krenz was the only Viking with two pins on the day, and both were in the first period.  He won by fall over Peter McDonnell of St. Croix Lutheran at 1:38 and pinned Thomas Sweeney of Somerset at 1:01.

North Branch 62 St. Croix Lutheran 10

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

114: Joseph Graupman (NOBR) over Tessa Richter (SCL) (MD 14-0)

121: Jack Baker (NOBR) over Jason Olson (SCL) (TF 17-2 5:59)

127: Jack Anderson (SCL) over Mason Henry (NOBR) (Fall 3:28)

133: Nicholas Andreotti (NOBR) over Kade Siemers (SCL) (Fall 1:01)

139: Aiden Schwartz (NOBR) over Conner Aldean (SCL) (Fall 0:22)

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

152: Logan Rediske (NOBR) over (SCL) (For.)

160: Levi Krenz (NOBR) over Peter McDonnell (SCL) (Fall 1:38)

172: Emmit Hansen (NOBR) over Max Mildebrandt (SCL) (TF 15 1:32)

189: Parker Deniger (NOBR) over Thomas Ikens (SCL) (Fall 1:30)

215: George Kuncl (SCL) over Aydan Loren (NOBR) (MD 11-0)

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

North Branch 51 Somerset, WI 18

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

114: Trevor Hantsbarger (SOME) over Joseph Graupman (NOBR) (Fall 3:25)

121: Jack Baker (NOBR) over (SOME) (For.)

127: Nicholas Andreotti (NOBR) over (SOME) (For.)

133: Mason Henry (NOBR) over (SOME) (For.)

139: Aiden Schwartz (NOBR) over Alvin Peterson (SOME) (Dec 10-6)

145: Blake Fox (SOME) over Ethan Kester (NOBR) (Dec 9-6)

152: Logan Rediske (NOBR) over Alex Erickson (SOME) (Fall 0:51)

160: Levi Krenz (NOBR) over Thomas Sweeney (SOME) (Fall 1:01)

172: Carter Bighley (SOME) over Emmit Hansen (NOBR) (Dec 11-4)

189: Matheo Ngbemeneh (SOME) over Parker Deniger (NOBR) (Fall 0:25)

215: Aydan Loren (NOBR) over Jack Mukka (SOME) (Fall 1:16)

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

St. Croix Falls Wrestling Classic

The Vikings sent just six varsity wrestlers to the 18-team St. Croix Falls Wrestling Classic last Saturday, February 25.  Four of the six wrestlers placed:  Jack Baker (120), fourth place; Aiden Schwartz (138), seventh place; Ethan Kester (144), fifth place; and Emmit Hansen (165), sixth place.  The Vikings finished 13th as a team.

In his first match, Baker pinned Devin Jones of St. Croix Falls in 2:28.  He then won by a 13-9 decision over Logan McVeigh of Glenwood City.  In the semifinals, Logan Refsnider of Totino-Grace pinned Baker at 4:45.  And in the third-place match, Waylon Deaton of River Falls won by a 17-2 technical fall over Baker at the 4:24 mark of the matchup, relegating Baker to fourth place.

Wrestling Whangdoodles

Evan Pommier (28-0) made it into the top ten.  In the rankings released Thursday, January 23, he is ranked seventh at 172 pounds in Class AA.

The Vikings will head to St. Francis High School tomorrow night for a triangular with St Francis and Monticello.  The action gets underway at 5 p.m.  And tomorrow night, the Vikings will host the eight-team North Branch Invitational Tournament at North Branch High School, with matches starting at 5 p.m.

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