Husker wrestler second at Rogers tournament
BY HERMAN LENSING
Staff Writer
Alex Lange finished as runner-up in the 170-pound division Friday in the Rogers Holiday Matness wrestling tournament.
Lange, now 17-4 on the year, was edged in a 6-4 contest by Caden Dewall (12-0) of Becker for the championship. Lange tied the match with a reversal in the third period. Dewall scored a take-down in the first overtime.
Lange started the tournament pinning his opponent at 1:44 of the first round to qualify for the semi-finals. He continued his strong performance in the semi-finals converting a takedown opportunity into a two and then a three point near fall before the period ended to take a 7-2 lead into the second period. Fighting from the top that period he was reversed but took a 7-4 lead into the third period. In the last period he regained a five-point lead with a reversal and added to it with a two-point and three-point near fall to win 14-5 major decision and reached the championship.
Fifth places
Also in the semi-finals was Max Secord (8-8) who took fifth in the 182 match. Secord reached the semi-final round pinning his opponent at 4:20 in the quarter-finals. His semi-final contest resulted in him being pinned at 1:02 and going into the wrestleback semi-finals where he was 12-2 and sent to the fifth place match. He rallied from that loss to take fifth with a pin at 1:16 in his final match of the day.
Two other Huskers Mike Miller (6-1, 152) and Sam Harren (6-3, 195) reached the quarter-finals before being beaten. Both were sent to the wrestlebacks after quarter-final losses.
Miller, who finished fifth, scored a pin in his opening round coming off the mat at 3:24. Miller controlled the match from the start with a first period takedown. In the second period he engineered an escape then took his opponent down for the pin.
In his quarter-final match, a 13-7 loss, Miller rallied from an 8-0 first period deficit to make a match of it. He scored the only points of the second period, with a reversal. In the third period he had two takedowns and an escape before the match ended. In the wrestleback quarter-finals he scored a pin at 1:54 to reach wrestleback semi-finals. Miller earned the right to battle for fifth place with a pin at 2:19 of the wrestleback semi-finals. He controlled that match from the start winning the takedown and working a near fall. In the second period he was in control until the pin. He won the fifth place contest 7-6 earning an escape to get the winning point in the final period.
Wrestlebacks
Harren had a bye the first round but was pinned at 1:51 of the quarter-finals and was sent to the wrestlebacks. Harren took early command of the wrestleback quarter-finals with a take down. He wasted little time adding to his 2-1 lead when he escaped early in the second period for a 3-1 lead. This was his last lead. His opponent worked a takedown and Harren was pinned ending his tournament run.
Blake Sigler (8-12, 145) and Drew Lange (11-10, 106) both fell in their opening rounds. Sigler fell in a 12-4 major decision in the first round to Class A fourth ranked Nolan Rommel of Wabasha-Kellogg. Sigler scored his points from underneath earning two escapes and a reversal. After a bye in the wrestlebacks he competed in the wrestleback quarter-finals. He fell in a close 3-2 match when he was taken down in the final seconds of the contest. The loss ended his run at the tournament.
At 106 Drew Lange (11-10) earned three escapes in his 13-3 major decision first round loss. He then advanced to the wrestlebacks with a first round bye. Lange's day ended when he fell 4-3 in the wrestleback quarter-finals. He did have a 2-1 lead after a second period takedown, but came into the final period trailing 4-2. He earned an escape just before the match ended.
Holdingford next competes Saturday at the Foley Tournament.