Posted: 1/15/03

Wrestlers romp Wolfpack 69-9

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Missing one of its top wrestlers and facing a lesser opponent didnít faze the Forest Lake wrestling team last week.

Forest Lake defeated Park 69-9 on Thursday, Jan. 9, in a Suburban East Conference dual.
ìWe looked very solid,î Forest Lake coach Rich Elliot said, ìand we avoided wrestling down to our opponent, which can always be a problem.î

Forest Lake also has developed a problem at 130 pounds where the Rangers have lost Dan Taylor to a knee injury. It didnít slow them down, however, against the Wolfpack.

Jake Menk, filling in for Taylor at 130, John Denney (135), Josh Determan (145), Phil Osterbauer (171), Alex Behling (215) and Brandon Engel (275) all won by pin against Park while Brandon Girtz (140), Jim House (152) and Eric Morris (103) all won by technical fall.
The Rangers also got forfeit wins from Clayton Harrison (112), Jordan Kolbow (125) and Doug Joyer (160) against Park.

On Saturday, the Rangers took fourth place at the Paynesville Invitational.

Scott West won the eight-team tournament with a score of 226.5 followed by Dassel-Cokato (185.5), Minneota (150) and the Rangers with 146.

Girtz was Forest Lakeís only individual champion, dominating the field at 140. He won in the final by a 22-11 mark.

Morris and Sean Hogan (112) each finished second for the Rangers while Osterbauer and Behling each had third-place finishes.

Kolbow, Joyer and Jason Waidzulis (189) each finished fourth for the Rangers.

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