Posted: 3/3/04

Two wrestlers from Forest Lake earn trip to state meet

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Even though the Forest Lake High School wrestling team finished sixth at the team section 7AAA meet last week, there was still a chance to advance its wrestlers to the state meet this week at the Xcel Energy Center.

At the Individual section 7AAA meet this past weekend, two Rangers wrestlers battled their way through the brackets and were crowned section 7AAA individual champions.

Senior Johnny Denney moved his way through the 135 lbs. weight class bracket to move on to the state meet. The other Rangers wrestler who wrestled his way to the top of section 7AAA was senior Jimmy Underdahl in the 140 lbs. weight class.

Denney has wrestled at the state meet before, but this will be Underdahlís first appearance at the meet.

ìIíll be talking to them,î Forest Lake wrestling coach Bob Dettmer said. ìI think both will approach this as another big tournament and take it one match at a time and focus on the match at hand. Itís going to be very intense and I think our schedule has been an intense one that has prepared them for the state meet.î

Denney will square off against Alex Thurston of St. Paul Highland Park in the first match at the state meet, while Underdahl will go up against Matt Hedlund of St. Paul Como Park. Denney is heading into the state meet with a 32-2 record, and Underdahl a 33-3 record.

ìWeíve been preparing them for this competition with our tough schedule and tough practices,î Dettmer said. ìWhen you get to the state tournament, there are no easy matches. Theyíre all going to be intense matches.î

Denney and Underdahl were not the only Rangers who had a successful individual section tournament. Eric Morris placed third in the 119 lbs. weight class and ultimately lost in a double overtime match. Morris almost won the match as he was in the midst of completing an escape move when he did not complete the technique and gave up two points.

Other top finishers were fourth place finishers Jordan Kolbow at 145. lbs and Jake Brown at 215 lbs. Phil Osterbauer, 189 lbs, Andy Ramierez, 152 lbs., and Ryan Schmidt all placed fifth at the section meet. Ken Janssen placed sixth at 130 lbs.

ìSection 7 has totally lived up to its reputation of being really competitive, and to have nine wrestlers finish in the top six is an accomplishment for this team,î Dettmer said. ìItís fitting that the two seniors won their weight class.î

The state meet begins today, Thursday, at 8 a.m. with AA individual prelims, and runs through Saturday. Visit www.mshsl.org for a complete schedule.

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