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After losing their opening match to the host team in the Rock Ridge duals, the Viking wrestling team came back with two wins to win fifth place/the consolation championship.  The tournament was held on Tuesday, December 30 at Rock Ridge High School.

In the consolation semifinals against Ashland, seven of the Viking wrestlers won their matches by pin – Hunter Kovarik (107), Drew Steinke (121), Mason Henry (133), Lucas Schwartx (145), Aiden Schwartz (152), Mason Henry (160), and Vincent Kaiser (172).  The Vikings won the dual 57-17.   And in the consolation finals against Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson, the Vikings won their four matches by forfeit to take a 24-10 lead after the 139-pound match. But three straight pins gave the Vikings an insurmountable 42-10 lead:  Lucas Schwartz (145) over Anders Olson, Aiden Schwartz (152) over Xavier Skiff, and Logan Rediske (160).  Pine City won the last four matches – two by forfeit and two by pin – but the Vikings won 42-34.

Rock Ridge 50, North Branch 24

North Branch 57, Ashland 17

107        Hunter Kovarik (3-3) 7th, NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (F 5:19)

114        Jaxon Berry (1-0) , NOBR over Forfeit, ASHL (FF)

121        Drew Steinke (1-0) 8th, NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (F 0:22)

127        Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL over Joey Graupman (0-6) Fr., NOBR (F 3:03)

133        Mason Henry (5-9) So., NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (F 0:32)

139        Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL over Nick Andreotti Jr (2-5) Fr., NOBR (TF 18-1 (3:24)

145        Lucas Schwartz (2-2) , NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (F 0:55)

152        Aiden Schwartz (7-7) , NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (F 0:14)

160        Logan Rediske (5-8) , NOBR over Lincoln Lemieux (9-11) Jr., ASHL (F 3:27)

172        Vincent Kaiser (0-2) , NOBR over Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL (Dec 12-7)

189        Roman Mastarone (0-0) , NOBR over Forfeit, ASHL (FF)

215        Marc Cade (0-0) Fr., ASHL won by forfeit

285        Lucas Hunter (5-4) , NOBR over Forfeit, ASHL (FF)

North Branch 42, Pine City/Hinckley-Finlayson 34

Wrestling Whangdoodles

Tonight, the Vikings will head across the border to Somerset High School for a triangular with Somerset and Spring Valley, with the action getting underway at about 7 p.m.  Tomorrow night, the Vikings will host Washington Technology Magnet School for a dual at North Branch High School starting at 6 p.m.

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