Spartans Crown One Champion at the Bi-State Classic
The Orono wrestling team was forced to make some quick last minute decisions this past weekend. With poor weather looming in the west, the school district canceled plans for the Spartans to travel to the Rumble on the Red Tournament in Fargo. Athletic Director Bucky Mieras and Head Coach Joe McPherson scrambled to find another competition. The 37th annual Bi-State Classic in La Crosse, Wisconsin had an opening which was quickly accepted. The 69 teams attending gave the Spartans plenty of competition.
The wrestlers competing in the 220 pound weight class may have wished Orono stayed away as Junior Captain Danny Striggow ran roughshod over his competitors. Entering the tournament as the 8th seed, Striggow proceeded to take down 3 highly ranked wrestlers from the state of Wisconsin. Striggow posted 2 quick pins and a major decision in the opening 3 rounds. In the quarterfinal round, Striggow dominated top seed, Drew Hennessey of Wisconsin’s Iowa Grant/Highland high school. Striggow ran up the score to 7-0 before pinning Hennessey, currently the top ranked wrestler in Wisconsin’s Division 3. In the semifinal round Striggow gave up 4 points early against the #4 seed, Connor Westfall of Athens, WI. Danny responded with 8 unanswered points before getting the pin in the 3rd period. Westfall is currently ranked 3rd in Wisconsin’s Division 3.
In the championship round Striggow came out with a quick take down against the #2 seed, Reed Ryan of Waunakee, WI. Ryan, currently ranked #2 in Wisconsin’s Division 1 was able to tie the score 4-4 by the end of the 1st period. Striggow wore down the NDSU football commit in the remaining two periods and won the match 14-10.
Sophomore Shea Albrecht (285) wrestled 7 times in the two day tournament to place 12th. Henry Beck (138), Jacob Schmid (145), Noah Arneson (152), Nick Simafranca (160), Luke Saunders (170), Johnny Harstad (182), and David Wilfert (195) all earned wins before being eliminated from competition.
The day after the tournament Coach McPherson reflected on the team’s accomplishments. “It was a great tournament and we had a lot of success as a team. We had 4 boys make it to day #2 and 3 more only one match away from making it. That alone is a great accomplishment for our team and we are very proud of all of them.”
The team will compete again Thursday, January 3 at a quadrangular dual meet in Wayzata and then again on Saturday at the Buffalo Invitational Tournament.
