THE HOLIDAY WRESTLING RECAP

By stillwaterwrestling | January 4, 2025 | Comments Off on THE HOLIDAY WRESTLING RECAP

Dateline: Coach Onken’s Living Room 1/4/2025 8:55PM

Happy Holidays and welcome to 2025.  Its been a bit, so we will recap the Ponies last couple of weeks in this post starting with the Mat Boss MN Christmas Tournament.  The Ponies joined many of the top teams in MN and a few from out state in Rochester just before Christmas.  The Ponies entered the tournament with a full lineup and did very well, even without any wrestler placing in the top 4.  STMA walked away with the overall championship with Mounds View and Shakopee taking 2nd and 3rd respectively while the Ponies were next in line with a solid 4th place finish as a team.  Below is the list of entrants, their weekend record and place.

  • 107 – Chase Lawrence – 5-2  9th
  • 114 – Joe Dauffenbach – 4-2  7th
  • 121 – Noah Nicholson – 3-2   6th
  • 127 – Cade Elzen – 2-2  DNP
  • 133 – Mikey Jelinek – 5-2  7th
  • 139 – Isaac Leonard – 3-3  8th
  • 145 – Grayson Eggum – 5-2  5th
  • 152 – Clark Bryant – 2-3  DNP
  • 160 – Isaac Hunter – 3-3  8th
  • 172 – Lindson Turner – 4-3  6th
  • 189 – Cael Spates – 4-2  7th
  • 215 – Cohen Lumby – 3-2  DNP
  • 285 – Andrew Olson – 1-2  DNP

This was Clark Bryant’s first action on the varsity level and what a welcome it was, wrestling in one of the toughest tournaments of the season and coming away with 2 victories.

While the varsity was in Rochester the JV headed to Anoka for a 16 team JV only bracketed tournament.  The Ponies earned the 3 seed in the tournament and got things under way with a convincing 58-9 win over the hosting Anoka Tornados.  In round 2 the Ponies JV took on Lakeville North and came up short in the end losing 33-30.  The Ponies then went on to wrestle 2nd seeded Willmar and even after giving up two forfeits, still pulled out a close victory by a score of 35-34.  The Ponies finished the day wrestling for 5th place against Waconia and came away with a convincing 38-27 victory.  The Ponies ended the day 3-1 and the 5th place finish was the highest in recent years.  Wyatt Reeves saw his first action in a Ponies singlet and put a win in his column.

Immediately after winter break the Ponies JV headed north on 94 for the Rumble on the Red JV Tournament.  Sixteen wrestlers participated in the tournament with brackets of 64 and some larger.  There were over 70 teams from across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and a few other out of state teams.  Though the Ponies did not have a placer this year the boys represented well and gained valuable experience.  Caleb Vang won his first match of the season and seven boys made it to day two of the tournament.  Below is a list of wrestlers and their weekend records.

  • 114 Elijah Hunter – 3-2
  • 121 August Hartung – 5-2
  • 127 Caleb Vang – 1-2
  • 133 Kingston Pak – 5-2
  • 139 Eli Nye – 2-2
  • 145 Clark Bryant – 3-2
  • 145 Ryan Gregory 3-2
  • 145 Evan Heuer 6-2
  • 152 Caleb Line – 0-2
  • 152 Grady Newman – 0-2
  • 160 Wyatt Reeves – 1-2
  • 160 Evan Milby – 3-2
  • 172 Kamel Benyahia – 1-2
  • 189 Tyler Johnston – 1-2
  • 285 Owen Stow – 2-2
  • Erik Skjervold – 0-2

As a team the Ponies JV scored 108.5 team points and finished 30th of 71 teams.

The varsity girls team also participated in the Rumble on the Red and finished 16th overall.  Audrey Rogotzke took first place in her weight class.  Below is a list of participants and their record for the weekend.

  • 100 Monroe Eggum – 4-2
  • 112 Evie Huffer – 2-2
  • 112 Jaylen Surgenor – 5-2
  • 118 Isabelle Cruz – 0-2
  • 130 Aubrey Spates – 4-2
  • 130 Peyton Surgenor – 2-2
  • 136 Alyssa Leonard – 1-2
  • 136 Cham Obang – 0-2
  • 142 Rommy Baakman – 1-2
  • 148 Audrey Rogotzke – 5-0 Champion
  • Helen Peltier – 0-2

While the girls and the JV were heading back from Fargo the Ponies Varsity was beginning its first dual at The Clash National Duals in La Crosse Wisconsin.  The Ponies were the 4th seed in Bracket C and began their day with La Crosse Aquinas winning 41-28.  Their next opponent was the 1st seeded Staley team from Missouri.  The Ponies made quick work of Staley knocking off the 1st seed by a score of 38-19.  In the championship of Bracket C the Ponies took on Staples Motley, the number 2 ranked team in Class A.  The Ponies made a good run but, in the end, Staples won by a score of 31-26.  This was the first team dual loss of the season for the Ponies and would put them in bracket 2 for the second day which would include all of the 2nd place teams from day one.  During Friday’s competition Noah Nicholson earned his 100th career win.  Jay Hammarsten also saw his first varsity action and his first career varsity win.

On day 2 the Ponies ran into some juggernauts.  The first dual was against St. Pius X from Kansas City and it was the closest with the Ponies coming up short by a score of 33-27.  In round 2 the Ponies took on Chicago Marist and fell by a score of 45-20.  In their final dual of the night the Ponies took on Class A 1st ranked Chatfield.  It was tied going into the last two weight classes but the Ponies did not have enough power to compete with two #1 ranked opponents at their respective weights.  In the end the Gophers of Chatfield won by a score of 37-25.  The Ponies ended in 8th place with an overall record of 2-4.  For the season the Ponies are 10-4 and will begin their campaign toward the Section 4AAA team tournament this coming week, taking on Suburban East Conference foes Woodbury and Mounds View this Thursday.  This will give the Ponies a look at their Section 4AAA competition.

Until then, welcome to 2025 and we will talk soon.

Posted in Pony Wrap