On the weekend of Dec. 15-16, the Bulldog wrestlers participated in the 31st annual MN Christmas Tournament, held at the UCR Fieldhouse in Rochester. The 2-day tournament, which is run annually by the University of MN, has developed a reputation as being one of the toughest and most prestigious individual tournaments in America. This year’s event certainly did not disappoint, featuring 21 teams that are ranked in the top 10 of their state and division. From an individual perspective, over 150 state ranked competitors and 13 nationally ranked competitors participated across the 14 weight classes. 93 wrestlers entered the tournament sporting an undefeated record, and by the time the dust had settled Saturday evening, only 12 remained.
Despite entering the tournament with 0 seeded wrestlers, team highlights for the Bulldogs included finishing roughly in the middle of the 39 team pack, placing ahead of a handful of ranked teams. Additionally, the Bulldogs had 10 different athletes score team points, 8 wrestlers made it to the 2nd day of competition (top 16), 3 wrestlers made it to the blood round (top 12), and 1 wrestler finished on the podium in 7th place.
Individual highlights for the Bulldogs included:
113: Freshman Garrett Olson, compiled a 2-2 record and added two more pins to his season total (5).
120: Senior Nick Miller, won two matches and also scored 2 takedowns in a loss against the eventual 5th place wrestler in his bracket.
126: Freshman Cael Marx, won 3 matches finishing in the top 12, with a close (4-2) loss to the 7th place finisher and a loss to the 4th place finisher and 2X state champion Michael Suda of Pipestone.
132:Freshman Cooper Hofschulte, powered his way to 2 victories over opponents from traditional powers St. Francis and St. Michael Albertville.
145: Sophomore Joe Stucky, scored a victory, but had a brutal draw losing to #2 ranked Colby Njos, and then being eliminated by ND state champion JJ Harms.
152: Junior Carter Marx, scored a team high 4 victories including wins over two ranked opponents and a double overtime win in the round of 12 to earn his place in the top 8.
182: Junior Dustin Dittrich, won 3 matches by fall on his way to a top 12 finish. In his blood round match, Dittrich battled from behind for the entire match and came up just short of the match winning takedown as time expired.
195: Senior Austin Rother, won two matches including a dramatic come from behind victory in the first round. Down as much as 3 points, Rother used an escape and a takedown and ride-out to get the match into overtime. Then in the extra period, Rother scored another takedown to win the match in sudden victory.
220: Sophomore Riley Wingert, battled to a hard fought 6 minute victory in the first round over a very stingy opponent from the always tough Scott West, before being eliminated in the next two rounds including a loss to last year’s state runner-up.
285: Sophomore Logan Wingert, earned two hard fought victories, and wrestled extremely well in his two losses against two state tournament caliber heavyweights.
Coach’s Comments: “I’m certain that a few of our athletes were hoping to place a little higher in the tournament, but I’m extremely proud of the way our wrestlers competed against a collection of some of the very best high school wrestlers that you will find anywhere. We were able to compete with, and defeat many wrestlers from some of the very best programs in the state and country. We learned more about the attitude and perseverance it takes to compete in a tournament of this magnitude. Most importantly, the top-flight competition exposed many of our vulnerabilities that we will need to improve so we can perform at our best in the post-season.”
Pictures of the Event can be located here!
Team Scores(rank,state, division):
1 Anoka (#2, MN, AAA)175.5
2 Simley (#2, MN, AA) 175.0
3 Shakopee (#6, MN, AAA) 174.5
4 Apple Valley (#1, MN, AAA) 168.5
5 Holmen (#3, WI, Div 1) 165.5
6 Kaukauna (#1, WI Div 1) 149.0
7 Willmar (#5, MN, AAA) 145.5
8 Scott West (#3, MN, AA) 136.5
9 Owatonna (#8, MN, AAA) 136.0
10 Kasson-Mantorville (#1, MN, AA) 128.5
11 Albert Lea (#4, MN, AAA) 126.0
11 Prior Lake (#7, MN, AAA) 126.0
13 Forest Lake (#9, MN, AAA) 113.5
14 Waconia (#8, MN, AA 109.5
15 St. Michael-Albertville (#3, MN, AAA)108.5
16 Ellsworth (#2, WI, Div 2) 106.0
17 Zumbrota-Mazeppa (#1, MN, A) 104.0
18 Totino-Grace (#10, MN, AA) 89.0
19 St. Cloud Tech (#17, MN, AAA) 82.5
20 Hastings (#16, MN, AAA) 81.0
21 Plainview-Elgin-Millville 79.0
22 West Fargo (#2, ND, A) 72.5
23 St. Francis (#12, MN, AAA) 69.0
24 Pipestone 66.0
25 Stillwater (#10, MN, AAA) 65.0
26 Moundsview (#14, MN, AAA) 64.0
26 Westfield (#8, MN, A) 64.0
28 Wayzata 58.0
29 Wahlert Catholic, IA 56.5
30 Minnetonka 51.0
31 Eagan 49.5
32 Rochester Mayo 43.5
33 Farmington 42.5
34 Moorhead 38.0
35 St. Croix Falls (#4, WI, Div. 3) 37.0
36 Jackson County Central 31.0
37 Leo, IL 21.5
38 Stewartville 20.5
39 Eastview 15.0
2017 MN Christmas Tournament Results
106- Carter Meyers (3-7) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Javan Kauffman (Moundsview) 5-6 won by fall over Carter Meyers (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 3-7 (Fall 3:11)
- Cons. Round 1 - Cory St. Martin (Prior Lake) 12-4 won by fall over Carter Meyers (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 3-7 (Fall 0:16)
113- Garrett Olson (7-5) place is unknown and scored 6.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Riese White (Waconia) 3-5 won by decision over Garrett Olson (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (Dec 6-3)
- Cons. Round 1 - Garrett Olson (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 won by fall over Dylan Peper (Rochester Mayo) 0-2 (Fall 0:24)
- Cons. Round 2 - Garrett Olson (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 won by fall over Noah Kendall (Farmington) 2-9 (Fall 0:43)
-Cons. Round 3 - Cole Becker (St. Michael-Albertville) 4-2 won by major decision over Garrett Olson (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (MD 10-1)
120- Nick Miller (11-4) place is unknown and scored 9.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Nick Miller (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 11-4 received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Nick Miller (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 11-4 won by fall over Rylee Rensberry (Holmen) 11-5 (Fall 1:22)
-Champ. Round 3 - Boyd Mumbuwa (Minnetonka) 5-2 won by major decision over Nick Miller (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 11-4 (MD 12-4)
- Cons. Round 4 - Nick Miller (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 11-4 won by decision over Cade Sungaard (Apple Valley) 2-2 (Dec 3-2)
- Cons. Round 5 - Marshall Peters (Rochester Mayo) 11-4 won by decision over Nick Miller (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 11-4 (Dec 5-1)
126- Cael Marx (12-4) place is unknown and scored 10.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Cael Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by fall over Lucas Ojeda (Wayzata) 4-7 (Fall 0:39)
- Champ. Round 2 - Michael Suda (Pipestone) 11-2 won by major decision over Cael Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 (MD 14-4)
- Cons. Round 2 - Cael Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by fall over Ryan Beaver (Jackson County Central) 0-2 (Fall 0:47)
- Cons. Round 3 - Cael Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by fall over Jim Burroughs (Waconia) 3-4 (Fall 4:38)
- Cons. Round 4 - Triston Zuniga (Totino-Grace) 11-6 won by decision over Cael Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 (Dec 4-2)
132- Cooper Hofschulte (9-6) place is unknown and scored 7.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Cooper Hofschulte (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-6 received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Cooper Hofschulte (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-6 won by decision over Chris Vrudny (St. Michael-Albertville) 0-2 (Dec 9-5)
- Champ. Round 3 - Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley) 18-1 won by tech fall over Cooper Hofschulte (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-6 (TF-1.5 3:46 (15-0))
- Cons. Round 4 - Cooper Hofschulte (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-6 won by decision over Zach Bonte (St. Francis) 6-5 (Dec 7-4)
- Cons. Round 5 - Luka Rajkic (St. Cloud Tech) 11-3 won by decision over Cooper Hofschulte (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-6 (Dec 4-0)
138- Joe Stucky (10-4) place is unknown and scored 7.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Joe Stucky (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 10-4 received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Joe Stucky (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 10-4 won by major decision over C.J. Lange (Wahlert Catholic) 5-10 (MD 14-2)
- Champ. Round 3 - Colby Njos (Anoka) 11-3 won by tech fall over Joe Stucky (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 10-4 (TF-1.5 3:41 (16-1))
- Cons. Round 4 - JJ Harms (West Fargo) 16-5 won by decision over Joe Stucky (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 10-4 (Dec 12-5)
145- Lafe Aarsvold (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Lafe Aarsvold (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 0-2 received a bye
- Champ. Round 2 - Hayden LeMonds (St. Michael-Albertville) 7-3 won by fall over Lafe Aarsvold (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 0-2 (Fall 0:26)
- Cons. Round 2 - Lafe Aarsvold (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 0-2 received a bye
- Cons. Round 3 - Dylan Anderson (Apple Valley) 6-5 won by major decision over Lafe Aarsvold (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 0-2 (MD 13-0)
152 Carter Marx (12-4) placed 7th and scored 12.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 received a bye
- Champ. Round 2 - Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by decision over Bryce Erickson (Willmar) 6-7 (Dec 4-2)
- Champ. Round 3 - Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by major decision over Conner Dehn (Totino-Grace) 12-5 (MD 12-2)
- Quarterfinal - Tyler Eischens (Anoka) 14-0 won by fall over Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 (Fall 1:05)
- Cons. Round 6 - Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won in tie breaker - 1 over Nolan Wanzek (Simley) 9-2 (TB-1 2-1)
- Cons. Round 7 - Jacob Tvinnereim (Jackson County Central) 6-2 won by major decision over Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 (MD 12-0)
- 7th Place Match - Carter Marx (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-4 won by decision over Mathias Waskey (Forest Lake) 8-5 (Dec 10-3)
160- Alex Rahman (2-5) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - William Krueger (Rochester Mayo) 5-5 won by fall over Alex Rahman (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 2-5 (Fall 3:02)
- Cons. Round 1 - Levi Kermes (Albert Lea) 5-6 won by fall over Alex Rahman (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 2-5 (Fall 2:06)
170- Connor Jones (4-7) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Connor Jones (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 4-7 received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Kenny O`Neil (Prior Lake) 12-2 won by fall over Connor Jones (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 4-7 (Fall 4:15)
- Cons. Round 2 - Connor Jones (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 4-7 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 - Drew Allred (Eagan) 7-7 won by major decision over Connor Jones (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 4-7 (MD 9-0)
182- Dustin Dittrich (9-3) place is unknown and scored 10.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-3 won by fall over Gabe Anderson (St. Michael-Albertville) 6-5 (Fall 3:48)
- Champ. Round 2 - Bryson Alsteen (Kaukauna) 13-2 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-3 (Dec 9-6)
- Cons. Round 2 - Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-3 won by fall over Eric Schmidt (Eastview) 6-3 (Fall 2:59)
- Cons. Round 3 - Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-3 won by fall over Joe Masumbuko (West Fargo) 6-8 (Fall 3:50)
- Cons. Round 4 - Garrett Ploeger (Pipestone) 9-4 won by decision over Dustin Dittrich (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 9-3 (Dec 13-10)
195- Austin Rother (12-2) place is unknown and scored 9.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Austin Rother (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-2 received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 - Austin Rother (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Declan Duffy (Wahlert Catholic) 13-4 (SV-1 7-5)
- Champ. Round 3 - Tyler Buesgens (Scott West) 13-1 won by fall over Austin Rother (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-2 (Fall 1:18)
- Cons. Round 4 - Austin Rother (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-2 won by fall over Brodie Schiedermayer (Kaukauna) 5-7 (Fall 4:47)
- Cons. Round 5 - DJ Smith (Shakopee) 10-3 won by decision over Austin Rother (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 12-2 (Dec 7-6)
220- Riley Wingert (7-5) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Riley Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 won by decision over John Hilgers (Scott West) 4-5 (Dec 6-3)
- Champ. Round 2 - Jarret Haglund (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) 11-3 won by fall over Riley Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (Fall 4:34)
- Cons. Round 2 - Riley Kringlie (West Fargo) 2-2 won by fall over Riley Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (Fall 0:57)
285- Logan Wingert (7-5) place is unknown and scored 7.00 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 - Logan Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 won by fall over Luke Kreisel (Farmington) 0-4 (Fall 1:27)
- Champ. Round 2 - Nick Pierce (St. Francis) 10-3 won by fall over Logan Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (Fall 4:49)
- Cons. Round 2 - Logan Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 won by fall over Collin McCarthy (Stillwater) 4-6 (Fall 1:49)
- Cons. Round 3 - Brett Heinlein (Eagan) 5-4 won by decision over Logan Wingert (Plainview-Elgin-Millville) 7-5 (Dec 3-2)
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