BY HERMAN LENSING
Staff Writer
HOLDINGFORD - In the final wrestling match at Holdingford this season, last Thursday, the Huskers senior wrestlers showed they cannot be overlooked in the upcoming post-season competition. The Huskers finished 2-1 in the quadrangular defeating Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (HLWW) 48-18 and Eden Valley-Watkins (EV-W) 39-30 before falling to Long Prairie-Grey Eagle-Browerville/Eagle Valley (LPGE-B/EV) 57-22. Each of the matches had forfeits in them. "They had some forfeits and we had some forfeits, but it was nice to get two more wins under our belts before sections," said Holdingford Head Coach Logan Oellien.
A key part of those wins was the effort of seniors Brandon Skroch, Nolan Prokott, Anthony Kierstead and Walker Nienaber. Skroch earned a forfeit in the win over EV-W. The other three finished the night unbeaten. Nienaber had two pins on the night. Kierstead's 9-2 win against EV-W followed by a pin from Nienaber sealed the win for Holdingford. Kierstead, who pinned his opponent in the LPGE-B/EV match, said it was not an accident that the upper weights did well. "When you have a good guy in the upper weights, and you all practice together, you rub off on each other," said Kierstead. "We don't have that in the lower weights." Still an emerging bright spot for the Huskers has been the wrestling of Tate Lange in the 106 division. Thursday he also recorded two pins going 2-1 on the night. Both pins took less than a minute. Oellien credits Lange's success to a great work ethic. "He is making progress. He comes in every morning and works out," said Oellien. "It is nice to see them getting success when they put in extra time."
The night was highlighted by Kierstead reaching a milestone. The pin against LPGE-B/EV was his 75th win over his career. "There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears and work in the wrestling room," he said. "Some were forfeits, but that happens in the upper weights."
Forfeit has become a familiar word for the Huskers this year. They never had a match where they could fill all the weights. Late in the year they had to open another spot as senior Aaron Maleska needed shoulder surgery, missing the rest of the season. All that said, the team enters post-season (team playoffs started Tuesday) knowing it has wrestlers who have improved over the year. James Welle and Blake Sigler both have had solid contests this year, and both came close to pins on Thursday. Zach Kobernusz and James Welle, while young, have both shown they can compete against varsity opponents. Josh Peterson, Blake Sigler and Alex Lange have also held their own against varsity opponents. They have earned six team wins, despite usually forfeiting 20 to 36 points. The five seniors were thanked for the work and dedication to the team on Friday. Also thanked was Jim Jarnot for his dedication to Holdingford wrestling.
PIERZ - The Huskers had pins by Tate Lange and Walker Nienaber in the 46-33 loss to Annandale-Maple Lake (ANML) Thursday, Feb. 2. Nolan Prokott had a decision. The Huskers won by forfeit at 120, 160 and 170, but also forfeited at 113, 131, and 195.
ANML 46, Holdingford 33 106 - Tate Lange won 5:47.
120 - Zach Kobernusz won by forfeit.
126 - Maxwell Secord fell 2:16.
138 - James Welle fell 3:21.
145 - Blake Sigler fell (MD) 15-2.
152 - Josh Peterson fell 2:41.
160 - Aaron Maleska won by forfeit.
170 - Brandon Skroch won by forfeit.
182 - Nolan Prokott won 8-4.
220 - Tony Kierstead fell 3:04.
285 - Walker Nienaber won 1:24. Holdingford forfeited at 113, 132, 195.
Holdingford 48, HLWW 18 106 - T. Lange won :41.
120 - Kobernusz won 13-11.
126 - Secord won by forfeit.
132 - Welle won by forfeit.
138 - Sigler won by forfeit.
145 - Alex Lange won by forfeit.
152 - Peterson fell 5:57.
170 - Skroch fell 5:52.
182 - Prokott won 4-1.
220 - Kierstead won by forfeit.
285 - Nienaber won by forfeit. Holdingford forfeited at 11. Neither side had entries at 160, 182.
Holdingford 39, EV-W 30
106 - T. Lange won :44.
120 - Kobernusz fell 1:06.
126 - Secord fell :23.
132 - Welle fell 11-6.
138 - Sigler fell 6-4.
145 - A. Lange won by forfeit.
160- Peterson won by forfeit.
270 - Skroh won by forfeit.
195 - Prokott won by forfeit.
220 - Tony Kierstead won 9-2.
285 - Nienaber won :50. Holdingford forfeit-152. Neither side had entries at 113, 195.
LPGE-B/EV 57, Holdingford 22 106 - T. Lange fell 3:51
120 - Kobernusz won :40.
126 - Secord fell 1:20.
132 - Welle fell 18-8.
138 - Sigler fell 4-2.
152 - Peterson fell 1:59.
182 - Prokott won 1:10.
220 - Kierstead won 1:40.
285 - Nienaber won 1:31. Holdingford forfeited 113, 145, 160, 170, 195.
Tony Kierstead was all smiles after he won his 75th match last week Friday.
Nolan Prokott earned a pin, a decision and was awarded a forfeit on Friday night.
James Welle didn't get a pin, but his 18-8 major decision was the first win of the match against LPGE-B/EV.