Kasson-Mantorville Duals Preview

Simley's Nick Wanzek (red headgear) wrestles Watertown-Mayer/Mayer Lutheran's Joey Stadnick in the 2011 Minnesota Class AA 145 pound semifinal. Wanzek enters the tournament ranked 14th in the nation at 152 pounds.

Sparta travels to Kasson, Minn. this weekend for the Bob Swalla Memorial Duals hosted by Kasson-Mantorville. The tournament features two nationally ranked teams in Simley (11th) and Kasson-Mantorville (43rd). For comparison’s sake, Kasson-Mantorville is ranked one spot ahead of Luxemburg-Casco who beat Wisconsin Rapids 33-29 earlier this year. Rapids does not show up on the national rankings. It’s definitely a competition upgrade from the Rochester tournament Sparta competed in and won the past two years.

Nationally ranked wrestlers at the tournament include Simley’s Jake Short (5th at 145), Simley’s Nick Wanzek (14th at 152), Jackson County Central’s Cooper Moore (9th at 170) and Kasson-Mantorville’s Broc Berge (17th at 195).

State ranked teams at the tournament include Simley (1st in MN Class AA), Kasson-Mantorville (4th in MN Class AA) and Jackson County Central (1st in Minnesota Class A) and Centennial (11th in Minnesota Class AAA).  The tournament packs state ranked wrestlers too. 41 to be exact if you count Sparta’s six ranked Wisconsin wrestlers.  It’s going to be a tough tournament.

In total there will be ten teams and they are Byron, Centennial, Jackson, Lewiston-Altura, NRHEG, Simley, United South Central/Alden-Conger, Waseca, Fairmont, and Sparta.  Last year Simley defeated Kasson-Mantorville 41-21 to win the tournament. Jackson County Central defeated Zumbrota-Mazeppa 42-36 for third and Stewartville defeated Centennial 40-28 for fifth.  Full dual results from last year can be found by clicking here.