Posted: 2/9/05
Rangers outlast Hastings for SEC title
|
|
 |
Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The goal was simple, beat Hastings and the Forest Lake High School wrestling team would capture the Suburban East Conference title. The only problem was Hastings was facing the same situation.
Hastings jumped out to an early lead, winning the first four weight classes. In the first match, Charlie Janssen lost a close match to top ranked Luke Vath. Vath narrowly beat Janssen 6-5 at 103 lbs.
ìTheir (Hastings) strength was in those first five matches,î Rangers head coach Bob Dettmer said. ìWe kept the matches close and that kept the end goal in reach towards the end.î
Eric Morris got the Rangers on the board with a major decision at 130 lbs. Morris defeated Adam Peterson 9-1. Two matches later Patrick Taylor (140 lbs.) defeated Andy Siebenaler 10-4, then Jordan Kolbow (145 lbs.) improved his record to 26-0 with a 12-6 victory over Brendan Eichman.
At 160 lbs., Lucas Munkelwitz pinned Judd Connel, then Ryan Turry followed up with an 11-5 decision win at 171 lbs.
Phillip Osterbauer looked to have things in control at 189 lbs., but ended up being pinned at the 5:36 mark.
ìThat was a heart breaker,î Dettmer said. ìHe had a major decision going, then got pinned.î
With their backs against the wall, the Rangers needed a major decision and a pin in the last two weight classes to defeat Hastings.
At 215 lbs., Dustin Bently knew what he had to do so he defeated Andy Trembath 14-5 for a major decision, meaning Derek Peterson needed a pin in the final match to give the Rangers the win and SEC title.
After the first period, the match was scoreless, but at 3:09, Peterson threw Jade Helsper to the mat and pinned him, giving the Rangers a 29-28 victory.
ìThose last two matches were important, but the matches prior to that were key to put us in that position to win,î Dettmer said. ìWe wanted to win the conference and to put that trophy in the trophy case.î
Two days later, the Rangers were back in Hastings for the SEC Conference Tournament.
In the first round the Rangers had little trouble with Park (Cottage Grove). The Rangers won the match 61-0. The second round was much the same as the Rangers defeated Mounds View 59-9.
The third round saw the Rangers match up against a strong Woodbury team. The Rangers narrowly won the match 35-32. After their close match with Mounds View, the Rangers breezed through Stillwater 48-15 and White Bear Lake 50-9.
In the sixth round, the Rangers had a rematch with Hastings. The two team wrestled to the same outcome, score and all. After defeating Hastings, the Rangers defeated Roseville 57-15 to go 7-0 and win the tournament.
The Rangers now move on to the section 7AAA team tournament Friday and Saturday in Grand Rapids. The Rangers are ranked fourth out of 12 teams.
ìI was really upset with the way the coaches in the section voted,î Dettmer said. ìI feel you need to look at head to head competition. I conceded to St. Francis and Coon Rapids because they beat us, but we beat Cambridge, Anoka, Grand Rapids and I felt we should be the number three seed. Our kids are going to have to go in there and prove theyíre the top team in the section.î
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605