PONIES BRING HOME THE MEDALS FROM 2025 STATE TOURNAMENT

By stillwaterwrestling | March 1, 2025 | Comments Off on PONIES BRING HOME THE MEDALS FROM 2025 STATE TOURNAMENT

Dateline: Coach Onken’s Living Room 3/1/2025 9:10PM

In case you missed it, the Ponies not only won the Section 4AAA Team Tournament for a trip to State; they also managed to send 11 wrestlers from the Section 4AAA Individual Tournament.  My apologies for not getting a report out this last week, life got in the way.  That being said, there will be some mention of it in this article.

On Thursday morning the Ponies left Stillwater Area High School with fans cheering and a personal escort up Interstate 94 on their way to the X.  Thursday is for the team tournament and the 3rd seeded Ponies had visions of meeting STMA in the finals.  First, they had to make it through Prior Lake and the task was an easy one as the Ponies took care of business against the Lakers with a 52-15 victory.  In the semis the Ponies met Shakopee who they had previously lost to during the regular season.

Many scenarios had been created for this dual and the Ponies had avenues for winning the dual.  The Sabers got on the board 1st with a tech fall but the Ponies hit back by winning the following 6 matches from 114 to 145 and took a lead of 21-5 or had they.  Unfortunately, the Ponies were deducted a 1-point penalty for supposed taunting.  The call seemed suspect at best, but the ref was unwilling to change his mind.  Little did he know that his call would impact the finish.

Shakopee went on a run of four in a row taking over the dual lead at 24-20 lead.  Based on previous results the Sabers were feeling good about their changes of moving on, but Cohen Lumby quickly wiped their confidence with a fall at 215 so the Ponies regained the lead at 26-24.  Andrew Olson gave it his all and nearly tied his match to go into overtime but another controversial call left the Ponies reeling and the Sabers with a 27-26 win.  Had the penalty point not been taken, the Ponies tie at 27 and win on criteria as they had won 7 of the 13 matches.  I would like to think the ref who made the questionable penalty call is maybe second guessing his call.  It always seems better of the athletes decide the outcomes rather than the referees.

With heads hung a bit the Ponies came back to the X for Session 2 and a 3rd place match against Albert Lea.  It was clear the Sabers and taken it out of the Ponies and the same could be said of the Sabers.  The Ponies had to wait until the final match of the dual to secure a 32-28 win.  The Ponies took 3rd and will look to make another run in 2026.  As mentioned the Ponies took it out of the Sabers as well and it showed in the finals as STMA won by a convincing score of 47-18.

On Friday the individual tournament began, the Ponies had 11 opportunities to make the podium and a 12th with Audrey Rogotzke in the girls tournament.  Below you will find both the Section 4AAA finish and the MSHSL finish.

Boys

  • 107 – Chase Lawrence
    • Section 4AAA Champ
    • MSHSL 0-1 DNP
    • Without a double elimination tournament, it is hard to gauge how first round losers would have performed
  • 114 – Joe Dauffenbach
    • Section 4AAA Runner Up
    • MSHSL 4-2 4th Place
    • Joe finishes his career as a two-time place winner
  • 121 – Noah Nicholson
    • Section 4AAA Champion
    • MSHSL 4-1 3rd Place
    • Noah is now a 3 time place winner with two more years to earn that State Championship
  • 133 – Mikey Jelinek
    • Section 4AAA Runner Up
    • MSHSL 0-1 DNP
    • Mikey finishes his career with multiple individual state entries and amassed over 100 career wins
  • 139 – Grayson Eggum
    • Section 4AAA Champion
    • MSHSL 4-0 CHAMPION
    • Grayson becomes the 1st Ponies Champion since Ryder Rogotzke 3 years ago.
  • 145 – Isaac Leonard
    • Section 4AAA Champion
    • MSHSL 4-1 3rd
    • In his first chance at the State Tournament Isaac places and may be earning the title of the “Comeback Kid” after winning multiple matches after being down.
  • 160 – Isaac Hunter
    • Section 4AAA Runner Up
    • MSHSL 0-1 DNP
    • Isaac finishes his career as a 3 time state entrant.
  • 172 – Lindson Turner
    • Section 4AAA Champion
    • MSHSL 4-1 3rd
    • Lindson finishes as a 3 time qualifier placing twice.
  • 189 – Cael Spates
    • Section 4AAA Runner Up
    • MSHSL 0-1 DNP
    • We need a double elimination tournament
  • 215 – Cohen Lumby
    • Section 4AAA Runner Up
    • MSHSL 0-2 DNP
    • This is Cohen’s 2nd trip to State and will not be the last
  • 285 – Andrew Olson
    • Section 4AAA Champion
    • MSHSL 0-2 DNP
    • This is Andrew’s first trip to the big show

Girls

  • 148 – Audrey Rogotzke
    • Section Champion
    • MSHSL 3-0 Champion
    • This is Audrey’s 2nd State Title and fourth placing tournament

So, the Ponies come home with a 3rd place plaque for Team and finish with 6 placers including 2 Champions, 3 third places and 1 fourth place.  All is good in the Pony Neighborhood!

See you in a few months.

Posted in Pony Wrap