The MVC season kicks into high gear tonight with one of the year’s marquee matchups set to take center stage on the first night of conference action. Holmen will look to avenge last year’s 38-21 loss to Sparta and the Spartans will look to start off their MVC title defense by making an early season statement.
Holmen returns eight wrestlers who wrestled in last year’s varsity match while Sparta returns six. Holmen wrestled this past weekend at a tournament in Winona and did pretty well. Here is how the Viking wrestlers did on that day…
Darius Wright (103, 3-0), Avery Hackett (112, 1-2), James Bennett (119, 2-1), Ryan Stalsberg (125, 2-1), Sam Schank (125, 3-0), Dan Niccum (135, 2-2), Brad Hanson (135, 1-2), Kyle Salek (140, 2-2), Luke Medinger (140, 2-1), Isaac Hackett (152, 2-1), DJ Meagher (171, 0-0), Ben Fiers (189, 2-1), Joe Inglett (215, 1-2) and Trevor Scholze (HWT, 2-1)
Here are how the matches involving returning wrestlers went at last year’s dual…
- 103 – Bryce Nowaczyk decisioned Avery Hackett (H) 5-3
- 112 – James Bennett (H) decisioned Adam Weidl 7-4
- 119 – Brandon Rickert major decisioned Dan Nictum (H) 18-6
- 125 – Sam Schank (H) decisioned Nick Winchel 7-2
- 130 – Toby Mosely pinned John Griffing (H) 2:32
- 135 – Derek VonRuden pinned Jordan Griffing (H) 1:18
- 145 – Luke Meddinger (H) decisioned Nick Anderson 2-1
- 152 – Ian Hackett (H) decisioned Morgan Leis 9-3
- 160 – Isaac Hackett (H) decisioned Tom Tourdot 6-4
- 189 – Jordan Stanek pinned Ben Fiers (H) 3:15
- 285 – Trevor Scholze (H) pinned Steven Stevenson 1:45
Looking over the dual and the potential matchups, it becomes clear this is going to be a dual that is a lot closer than last year’s 38-21 score. Bonus points have the potential to decide this match. Picking up pins and staying off their backs will be key aspects for the Spartans tomorrow night.
We will have a live blog of tonight’s dual. Be sure to check Spartanwrestling.com just before the 7:30 start time to catch the live blogging action. Also be sure to stop out early if you can to watch the middle school team in action. They will take the mat around 5pm.
[…] Some notes on tonight’s dual… […]
I agree with you on the bonus point issue. Last years Tomah match was a fine example. Pins made a big difference against a good Tomah team ! Sparta appears to have a pretty well balanced team and I am sure Coach Larsen has them as physically and mentaly prepared as possible for this early season matchup.