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Caledonia/Houston wrestler Tyler Stemper recorded another pin
last week during Three Rivers Conference action against
Wabasha-Kellogg. (Submitted photo)
By Tom Murphy
Special for the Argus
Caledonia/Houston scored two seemingly easy victories on the mat last
week against Wabasha-Kellogg and Cashton. “We need more victories like
those,” said coach Jay Tolleson said.
The host Warriors opened with a 40-21 victory over W-K.
The team featured a new lineup with Tyler Stemper wrestling at
135 and Tanner Benson and Willie Krage switching places at 103
and 112. Dan Wermager fought off four others for a spot at 130
while Sonny Eisenhuth won the 145 pound spot. Casey Stemper
was at 160 while Chris Myhre was at 215. Such moves are normal at this
time of the year because wrestlers prepare for the tournaments and
going at a weight where they think they have the best chance.
With Willie Krage wrestling for the first time this year at 112, it
will take a little time to adjust against bigger wrestlers. “Tanner
Benson looked really good,” Tolleson said of his 103 pounder. “Last
year, he lost to this guy 8-6. This year, he had a technical fall,”
Tolleson recalled.
At the lower weight, Tyler Stemper looked even better and he got a
fall. So did Cullen Becker at 152. Wermager had a major decision
as did Owen Fitzgerald, who swapped weights with Tyler Stemper at
140. Gaining decisions were Lee Burg, Casey Stemper, and
Myhre. Winning by forfeit was Blake Knutson at 189.
In the nightcap, The Warriors pounded Cashton, 78-6. There were only
three matches and the Warriors won two of them with Tyler Stemper
and Fitzgerald getting pins. Everyone else won by forfeit.
“Overall, we are wrestling well,” Tolleson said. He concluded, “Our younger guys are not giving up pins.”
Busy schedule for wrestlers
as tournament time nears
You can tell the tournaments are nearing because the Caledonia High School wrestling team’s schedule is getting busier.
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, the Warriors hosted Waukon, Decorah, and Osage,
Iowa with dual meets starting at 5 p.m. This Thursday, the Warriors
travel to Grand Meadow/Leroy-Ostrander against a team that has become a
traditional conference rival. Coach Jay Tolleson characterized the
event as “a brawl.”
This Saturday, it’s the Lake City Invitational which is an
individual tournament with nine teams. The Warriors will see Lake City
and St. Charles so the outcome will help in individual seeding in the
tournaments.
Next Tuesday, the Warriors travel to Southland for a triangular that includes New Richalnd-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva.
It’s also going to be a busy time for the younger wrestlers. On Feb. 2,
the 9th and under state tournament will be held at Champlin Park. There
is also a junior varsity dual tournament coming up at Dover-Eyota.
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