Spartans Place 2nd at Section 5AA Team Tournament
The Spartan varsity wrestling team traveled to Totino-Grace High School to determine which team will represent Section 5AA in the State Tournament. Seeded 2nd among 11 teams, Orono earned a bye into the quarterfinals where their first dual was against Brooklyn Center/Concordia Academy (BCCA). The Spartans jumped out to an 18-0 early lead on the strength of 2 forfeits in the lower weights and a fall by Blake Ament (113). BCCA won the next two weight classes to put the team score to 18-8. It was all Orono after that as they cruised to a 69-8 final score. Nick Yockey (145) posted a 10-6 decision and Henry Beck (138), Noah Arneson (152), Johnny Harstad (182), and David Wilfert (195) all recorded falls while 4 more Orono weights picked up forfeits.
The semifinal round opponent was Fridley and Mason Pankonin (106) started the Spartan scoring effort with fall late in the 3rd period. Orono then fell behind after giving up pins in the next two weights. A 4-3 decision by Gustavo Cano-Garnica (126) and 42 second fall by Henry Beck (132) allowed the Spartans to recapture the team lead 15-12. Orono then gave up a pin at 138 before winning 6 of the last 8 matches. Earning first period falls for the Spartans were Noah Arneson (152) in 1:07, Nick Simafranca (160) in 1:55, Danny Striggow (220) in 0:12 and Shea Albrecht (285) at the 1:30 mark. Jacob Schmid (145) and John McCuskey (170) also earned decisions in the 45-24 win.
The final round pitted the Spartans against the top seeded Totino-Grace Eagles. Orono found itself trying to dig out of a huge deficit 0-23 after losing the 1st 4 weight classes. Henry Beck (132) got it started with a major decision. Orono then lost the next 3 weights when they needed to win 2 of those match ups. In the upper weights the Spartans salvaged decisions from Nick Simafranca (160) 7-2 and Shea Albrecht (285) 6-1. Also earning falls were John McCuskey (170) in 3:33, David Wilfert (195) in 0:23, and Danny Striggow (220) in 0:24. Totino held onto the win 43-28 and took team section honors.
In a message to the boys on Sunday, Coach McPherson commented, “We were really close to reaching our goal as a team to go to the State Tournament but just came up a little short. Regardless of the outcome I told all the boys how proud the coaches are of them for being a great team. These guys have worked so hard all year as a TEAM and that is something they will never forget.”
Orono hosts the Individual Section 5AA Tournament this Friday and Saturday. The top 2 placers in each weight will advance to the State Tournament February 28- March 2 being held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
