Gruenes 1st at Rogers tournament
Minneota senior Jonah Gruenes went 4-0 and captured the 170-pound individual title at the Rogers Holiday Matness Wrestling Tournament last week. Peyton Gillund went 4-2 and placed fourth at 126 pounds.
Minneota finished 11th out of 30 teams despite having four open weights due to several key wrestlers still being out.
"Honestly, we have struggled a bit through December," said coach Matt Myrvik. "We had high expectations going into this season and we still have those expectations heading into January. We know we have to push through some of the struggles and we really need to become consistent with how we are performing on the mat and what we are doing off the mat."
The Vikings have been hurt by injuries and being forced to put younger wrestlers on the mat when coaches were expecting to give them more time to develop at a lower level.
"We have been extremely excited for our younger wrestlers. They have been pushing themselves and working hard every day in practice," said Myrvik. "We like how out seventh graders have adjusted to the varsity room and we have added a few new wrestlers to the program in eighth grade in Kyson Arndt and Kaden Lasnetski, and both have really fit in great."
St. Michael-Albertville finished first in the Rogers Invitational with 241 points. Becker was second with 187 points and Anoka was third with 177 points.
Gruenes, who is 13-0 this season, received a first-round bye and then notched a pin and technical fall to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, he recorded another fall before winning an 8-4 decision over Joe Gardas of Zimmerman in the championship. Gruenes earned 29.5 team points.
Gillund (11-3), a junior, also received a first-round bye and then won by a first-period fall in his next match. After a loss, he fought back to win his next three matches by pin, medical forfeit and decision to reach the third-place match, where he lost to Landen Kujawa of Becker.
Adam DeVlaeminck (10-4) placed seventh at 106 pounds and Hudson Scholten (9-6) was seventh at 220 pounds for the Vikings.
Minneota hosts Fulda/Murray County Central and Redwood Valley in a triangular today (Thursday, Jan. 6).
"One thing we do know is the season will not wait for us and we really need to start coming together as a team," Myrvik said. "It looks like we will be getting a few guys back right away in January. Our hope is to have Destin Fier, Brock Fier, Jackson Esping and Jayden Gamrak back in our lineup this week. Zack Fier may be a few weeks out yet, but when he is able to compete, we know he will be ready and prepared to help his team out in any way possible."
Minneota results
106 POUNDS - ADAM DEVLAEMINCK: received a bye ... Won 7-5 decision over Gabrielle Bragg, Anoka, 7-5 (ot) ... lost 4-2 decision to Stephen Dragos, Chaska/Chanhassen ... won 7-4 decision over Bennett Kujawa, Becker ... lost 2-0 decision to Bragg ... pinned Levi Thompson, Princeton, 1:30 ... 7TH PLACE
126 POUNDS - PEYTON GILLUND: Received a bye ... pinned Trey Sann, Two Rivers, 1:35 ... lost 10-0 major decision to Matt Randolph, Scott West ... pinned Damon Bye, Dover-Eyota, :56 ... won by medical default over Sann ... won 8-6 decision over Bryce Young, Blaine ... lost 11-3 major decision to Landen Kujawa, Becker ... 4TH PLACE
132 POUNDS - TROY VAN KEULEN: Pinned Kellen Martin, Zimmerman, 1:28 ... was pinned by Jayden Haueter, Apple Valley, 3:48 ... received a bye ... pinned Aiden Quintana, GMLOS, 2:02 ... lost 8-2 decision to Gavin Hilyar, Elk River.
138 POUNDS - KADE LOZINSKI: Received a bye ... lost 7-5 decision over Peter Hollingshead, Osseo ... received a bye ... lost 6-5 decision to Ryan Lund, Rogers
160 POUNDS - ALEX DEPESTEL: pinned Devin Williams, Osseo, 3:48 ... lost 8-0 major decision to Jordyn Greseth-Clendening, Blaine ... pinned Tremayne Graham, Mpls. Edison, 2:52 ... lost 8-3 decision to DeCarlon Henderson, Park Center.
170 POUNDS - JONAH GRUENES: Received a bye ... pinned Cameron Lehmann, Elk River, 1:22 ... won 16-1 technical fall over Landon Lehnertz, Dover-Eyota ... pinned Jimmy Heil, St. Michael-Albertville, 5:29 ... won 8-4 decision over Joe Gardas, Zimmerman ... .1ST PLACE
182 POUNDS - BRANDEN JOHNSON: Received a bye ... was pinned by Jaden Burandt, Anoka, 3:00 ... received a bye ... was pinned by Aidan Gasper, Dover-Eyota, 4:08.
195 POUNDS - CONNER SIK: Received a bye ... was pinned by Mathew Sloan, White Bear Lake, 1:52 ... received a bye ... was pinned by Gavin O'Neill, Farmington, 2:16.
220 POUNDS - HUDSON SCHOLTEN: Received a bye ... lost 6-2 decision to Brady Thompson, Elk River ... received a bye ... pinned Hunter Lilleskov, Scott West, 2:03 ... pinned Sam Paye, Park Center, 3:59 ... lost 8-4 decision to Thompson ... pinned Myles Dehmer, St. Michael-Albertville, 2:48 ... 7TH PLACE