Hilltopper wrestlers step up, battle tough competition on the road
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“If you don’t stretch your limits, you’ll set your limits.” – Rob Gilbert, Motivational speaker, author of Gilbert on Greatness, Professor at Montclair State University.
With an eye on improving, not just now but in future seasons, Glenwood City’s wrestlers stepped up their level of competition during a busy week on the mats.
After the Chippewa Falls tournament was canceled due to a winter storm, the Hilltoppers jumped at the opportunity to wrestle bigger and better opposition in last Tuesday’s St. Croix Central Duals, which was followed by a conference clash against Dunn-St. Croix favorite Spring Valley/Elmwood on Thursday and topped off by a very challenging individual tournament at St. Croix Falls on Saturday.
Although Glenwood City lost to Foley, MN (ranked 4th in the Gopher State’s Class AA polls) and host St. Croix Central in the January 21 duals, to the Cardinals of SV/E and landed 18th in the 22-team St. Croix Falls Wrestling Classic on January 25, the Hilltoppers persevered and gained invaluable experience.
The pinstripe crew will continue to build toward WIAA tournament time with a multi-school event at Menomonie this Friday, January 31.
Spring Valley Dual
Senior Tucker Lagerstrom was the only Hilltopper to win a contested match when Glenwood City wrestled a Dunn-St. Croix dual in Spring Valley last Thursday evening.
Glenwood City also picked up a pair of forfeit but Spring Valley/Elmwood, who won nine matches including four via forfeits and three more by pin falls, flew to their second straight conference victory in as many weeks with a 48-18 victory in the January 23 dual.
SV/E improved to 2-0 in the conference standings while GC is now 2-1 with one match remaining, a showdown against rival Boyceville on February 6.
Lagerstrom gave Glenwood City its first team points with a first-period pin of the Cardinals’ Paul Schwebach at 170 pounds. The win cut the Toppers’ deficit to 18-6 after the Cardinals had received three straight forfeits to begin the dual.
Andrew Berends (285) and James Knight (132) picked up forfeit victories for Glenwood City’s final 12 points.
There were also double forfeits at 106 and 120 pounds.
Topper underclassmen Ian Radintz and Thomas Moede both lost close decisions at 113 and 138 pounds, respectively.
Spring Valley/Elm. 48, Glenwood City 18
145-Riley Merth (SVE) received forfeit; 152-Cross Hurlburt (SVE) received forfeit; 160-Brayden Wolf (SVE) received forfeit; 170-Tucker Lagerstrom (GC) pinned Paul Schwebach (SVE), 1:41; 182-Trenten Marson (SVE) pinned Marcis DeSmith (GC), 1:56; 195-Clayton Neisinger (SVE) received forfeit; 220-Travis Marty (SVE) pinned Trenton McNamara (GC), 2:54; 285-Andrew Berends (GC) received forfeit; 106-Double Forfeit; 113-Kaleb Casey (SVE) dec. Ian Radintz (GC), 5-1; 120-Double Forfeit; 126-Cole Steinmeyer (SVE) pinned Andy Grant (GC), 2:48; 132-James Knight (GC) received forfeit; 138-Max Schmitt (SVE) dec. Thomas Moede (GC), 8-6.
St. Croix Central Duals
After the Chippewa Falls tournament was canceled the previous Saturday (January 18), Glenwood City was able to pick up a pair of duals at St. Croix Central High School on Tuesday, January 21.
Although the Toppers were unable to earn a victory, losing 40-22 to the host Panthers and 60-12 to Foley, MN, a team that is ranked fourth in their state’s Class AA state poll and features seven ranked wrestlers, they did see some individual success.
Andy Grant, Thomas Moede and Ian Radintz each won two matches that evening.
Grant and Moede finished with a pair of pins while Radintz scored a 5-0 shut out at 106 pounds over Foley’s Cyler Ruhoff and a 13-1 major decision against Brandon Trudell of SCC at 113.
Tucker Lagerstrom picked up a win beating Michael Moulzolf of Foley, 7-2 at 170 pounds.
Foley, MN 66, Glenwood City 12
106-Ian Radintz (GC) dec. Cyler Ruhoff (F), 5-0; 113-Andy Grant (GC) received forfeit; 120-Levi Jacobson (F) pinned Gabe Knops (GC), 2:37; 126-Ethan Oswald (F) pinned James Knight (GC), 0:47; 132-Evan Milejczak (F) pinned Jabin Hojem (GC), 0:16; 138-Daniel Halverson (F) pinned Thomas Moede (GC), 5:28; 145-Micheal Rothfork (F) pinned Noah Brite (GC), 2:30; 152-Logan Thorsten (F) received forfeit; 160-Isaiah Fitch (F) received forfeit; 170-Tucker Lagerstrom (GC) dec. Michael Moulzolf (F), 7-2; 182-Sutherlin Schmit (F) pinned Marcis DeSmith (GC), 2:02; 195-Hunter Gorecki (F) received forfeit; 220-Greg Miller (F) received forfeit; 285-Elijah Novak (F) pinned Andrew Berends (GC), 5:25.
St. Croix Central 40, Glenwood City 22
120-Andy Grant (GC) pinned Hunter Feyereisen (SCC), 2:33; 126-David Olson (SCC) dec. Gabe Knops (GC), 8-5; 132-Tadan Holzer (SCC) majored James Knight (GC), 11-0; 138-Erik Collins (SCC) pinned Jabin Hojem (GC), 1:30; 145-Thomas Moede (GC) pinned Sean O`Keefe (SCC), 2:54; 152-Micah Larsen (SCC) pinned Noah Brite (GC), 2:35; 160-Double Forfeit; 170-Devin Wasley (SCC) dec. Tucker Lagerstrom (GC), 12-9; 182-Parker Shackleton (SCC) pinned Marcis DeSmith (GC), 0:28; 195-Zavier Sentinella (SCC) received forfeit; 220-Josh Bair (SCC) received forfeit; 285-Andrew Berends (GC) received forfeit; 106– Double Forfeit; 113-Ian Radintz (GC) majored Brandon Trudell (SCC), 13-1.
St. Croix Falls Classic
With only four wrestlers competing in the varsity tournament at St. Croix Falls last Saturday, Glenwood City finished in 18th place out of 22 schools with 38 points.
But three of the four placed highlighted by freshman Ian Radintz’ third-place showing in the 106-pound weight bracket.
Senior Tucker Lagerstrom copped a fifth at 170 and Andy Grant came in sixth at 113 pounds.
Radintz “wrestled a great tournament” according to head coach Shane Strong as he finished 3-1 in a very competitive 106-pound bracket.
Lagerstom tallied a 4-1 record at the Falls with three pins including one in the fifth-place match.
Grant finished 3-2 with a pair of pins and a 6-0 win in the consolation finals before losing 9-5 in his final match to take sixth.
Glenwood City also found success in the junior varsity competition where Trenton McNamara went 3-0 to win the 220-pound bracket; James Knight and Marcis DeSmith earned seconds at 120 and 182 pounds respectively; and Jabin Hojem copped a fourth at 132.