Posted: 12/18/07
LARP's final 21 points keys win over Warriors
 Willie Krage got the scoring started for the Caledonia/Houston Warriors with a 3-2 victory over a tough wrestler from Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson. (Photo by Daniel McGonigle) |
By Tom Murphy
Special to the Argus
It took a 21 point surge in the last four weights for Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson to defeat Caledonia/Houston in wrestling last week at Houston. It was the first time in coach Jay Tolleson's tenure that the Warriors have lost to LARP.Ý
The Warriors built up a commanding 30-15 lead, only to see LARP score 21 points in the final four weight classes for the 36-30 win.
The meet was at Houston High School before a good crowd where four of the Warrior wrestlers attend school.
"It was a tough loss for us against a team that is more experienced than we are in the closing weights," Tolleson said. "LARP is a good solid team."
Still, there were the ëwhat ifs'. Five matches were decided by a total of eight points and the Warriors only won one of them.
Houston High School wrestlers on the Warrior team are Willie Krage (98); Tanner Benson (112) ; Owen Fitzgerald (140); and Sonny Eisenhuth (152).
Krage opened the meet with a 3-2 victory over a "real tough kid", Nathan Manfull. LARP turned the tables on Benson when he was pinned in the first period.
Lyndon Becker followed with a fall. At 130, Lee Burg had a fall. Fitzgerald also had a fall at 140. Tyler Stemper had a solid 7-2 victory.
Then, Tolleson gambled and inserted Eisenhuth. He almost pinned his opponent at one point. He lost, though, 8-7. Cullen Becker went up a weight and had a pin in the second period at 160.
From there, LARP ran the table and scored 21 points on an overtime decision of Troy Frank and then three falls.
This week, the Warriors travel to Dover-Eyota on Thursday night. They follow with participation in the Bi-State Wrestling Tournament on December 28-29.
"We want our kids to improve every time out with a goal of being at our best in February," Tolleson said.
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