PONIES MAKE A STATEMENT IN JANUARY
Dateline: Coach Onken’s Living Room 1/19/2025 7:06 AM
Coming off the Christmas Tournament, The Clash and the Rumble on the Red, one might think the schedule for the Ponies would get a bit easier, but that would was not the case. The Ponies started the trek towards the post season with a tri against two SEC opponents; the number two ranked Mounds View Mustangs and the Royals of Woodbury. In the first dual the Ponies took care of business winning easily over Woodbury by a score of 69-6. Mikey Jelinek earned his 100th career varsity win while August Hartung saw his first action on varsity and made it memorable with a victory.
In the main event of the evening the Ponies faced off against the Mustangs. The Ponies have not beaten Mounds View since the 22-23 season and their streak of State Tournament appearances was stopped last year during the Section 4AAA tournament. This dual would come down to the final match and Andrew Olson nailed it with a victory to give the Ponies a 35-27 victory. The Mustangs will lick their wounds and be ready for the Section 4AAA team tournament in a few weeks, but the Ponies did put a chink in their armor and should have them worried about repeating a state tournament trip. The Ponies finished the evening with 2 more victories making their season record 12-4 and 6-0 in the Suburban East Conference. The JV also performed well against the Royals and Mustangs, winning 37-17 over Woodbury and 50-27 over Mounds View.
One week later the Ponies headed to Wayzata for a quad meet with Shakopee, Eden Prairie and Wayzata. The Ponies wrestled 3rd ranked Shakopee in the first dual. The Ponies kept it close throughout, but the Sabers had a little more fire power and took the dual by a score of 35-22. If the Ponies make it to the state tournament as a team this could be a potential semifinal match and could look different with a healthy Noah Nicholson in the lineup.
The Ponies then wrestled Eden Prairie taking 11 of 13 matches and winning by a score of 60-11. In the final dual of the evening the Ponies took on Wayzata and easily earned a 43-19 victory. The Ponies ended the night at 14-5. The JV continued its domination in dual meets as well winning all three with scores of 47-32 over Shakopee, 50-0 over Eden Prairie and 63-6 over Wayzata. The JV has compiled a 15-1 record this year with its only loss coming to Lakeville North at the Anoka JV tournament.
On Saturday the Ponies headed to the East Ridge Ruckus in Woodbury, a 16 team Varsity Boys, Varsity Girls and JV Tournament. The Ponies won the tournament with a score of 228 points. Joe Dauffenbach earned his 100th career varsity win with his first victory of the day. Ryan Gregory saw his first action on varsity and received a victory. Team scores were not kept for the JV or Girls tournaments but based on placing both teams would have placed high or even ended up champions. Below are the results.
Varsity Boys
- Chase Lawrence – 2-1 3rd
- Brodie Lawrence – 1-1 4th
- Joe Dauffenbach – 3-0 Champ
- Cade Elzen – 3-0 Champ
- Mikey Jelinek – 4-0 Champ
- Jay Hammarsten – 2-1 3rd
- Axel Rogotzke – 1-2 DNP
- Isaac Leonard – 4-0 Champ
- Grayson Eggum – 3-0 Champ
- Andrew Karas – 4-1 5th
- Ryan Gregory – 1-2 DNP
- Braden Hatalla – 1-2 DNP
- Lindson Turner – 3-1 2nd
- Cael Spates – 3-1 3rd
- Cohen Lumby – 1-2 4th
- Andrew Olson – 3-1 3rd
JV
- Elijah Hunter – 2-1 2nd
- Ryan Birkenmayer – 3-0 Champ
- August Hartung – 2-1 2nd
- Kingston Pak – 4-0 Champ
- Eli Nye – 4-0 Champ
- Clark Bryant – 4-0 Champ
- Evan Heuer – 3-1 2nd
- Wyatt Reeves – 4-0 Champ
- Evan Milby – 1-2 DNP
- Kamel Benyahia – 1-2 DNP
- DeMarco Cavil – 3-1 2nd
- Tyler Johnston – 2-1 3rd
- Owen Stow – 2-2 4th
- Erik Skjervold – 2-1 2nd
Girls
- Jaylen Surgenor – 3-1 3rd
- Bailee Onfre – 0-2 4th
- Isabelle Cruz – 0-2 DNP
- Maya Jelinek – 3-0 Champ
- Meo Ojulu – 0-2 DNP
- Aubrey Spates – 2-2 4th
- Alyssa Leonard – 1-1 2nd
- Merci Kent – 3-0 Champ
- Cham O’Bang – 0-2 4th
- Rommy Baakman – 0-3 4th
- Audrey Rogotzke – 2-0 Champ
- Helen Peltier – 0-3 6th
Thats a wrap!