Spartan Wrestlers Close Out Regular Season
The Spartan varsity wrestling team completed their regular season by attending the Leopold-Haglund Invitational Tournament at Mound- Westonka Friday evening. The event which featured many highly ranked wrestlers in the State provided an opportunity for the Spartans to get ready for post season wrestling. Junior Captain Danny Striggow led the way with 2 convincing wins against ranked wrestlers. After a 1st round bye, Striggow currently ranked #4 in AA 220, put on a takedown clinic against Monticello’s Jesse Midas himself ranked #6 in AA. Midas was no match for Striggow’s relentless attacks and fell 23-10. In the final, Striggow was equally impressive and won the weight class with a 11-3 major decision over Osseo’s Jaeger Schack currently ranked #9 in AAA.
A host of other Spartans wrestled well but were tripped up in the semifinal round. Senior Captain Henry Beck (138) opened the tourney with a 3rd period fall over Brainerd’s Mark Boran but then got caught by Waconia’s Gage Mueller in the semifinals. Beck was able to finish 3rd with a 6-2 decision over Jack Cornell of Osseo.
Sophomore Noah Arneson (152) advanced out of the 1st round with a quick fall and then won again in the last few seconds against Osseo’s Aidan Wayne 12-11 in the quarterfinal round. Arneson then ran into Tim Stapleton of Waconia who demonstrated why he is the top ranked wrestler at AA 152. The loss put Arneson into the consolation final round where he ended up 4th.
Senior Captain Nick Simafranca had a similar experience at 160. Simafranca was stopped in the semis by Waconia’s top ranked Cade Mueller in AA but was able to earn a fall over Mound’s Lance Munsterteiger to place 3rd.
Junior John McCuskey did the same at 170 with an early round pin over Mound’s Dylan Albert. McCuskey’s semifinal nemesis was Buffalo’s Riley Habisch currently #1 in AAA. McCuskey’s loss to Habisch dropped him into the consolation finals where he ended up 4th.
Other wrestlers competing were Mason Pankonin (106), Blake Ament (113), and Eli McKown (120) with all 3 placing 6th for the day.
On Saturday, 13 wrestlers competed in the Dassel-Cokato JV Tournament. This was Orono’s best showing in years as Daniel Musgjerd (106) and Nick Yockey (138) led the way with 1st place finishes. All 11 other wrestlers placed starting with Mason Pankonin (106) in 2nd, followed by Eli McKown (120) and Oliver Stevenson (126) in 3rd, Jack Eugster (106) and Blake Ament (113) in 4th, Luke Saunders (160) in 5th, Dominick Kariniemi (106) and Jack Parresol (152) in 6th, Brady McPherson (120) and Devin Pearce (138) in 7th and Parker Abed (113) in 8th place.
Post season action begins this Saturday with the Team Sectional Tournament at Totino-Grace High School. Orono enters the event as the #2 seed in Section 5AA. The top team will advance to the State Tournament in just under 2 weeks. Orono will host the Individual Section Tournament next Friday and Saturday. The top two placers in each weight will also advance to the State Tournament.
