The Staples Motley wrestlers are 15-1 heading into their last month of action. This past week they took on three teams, including some very tough wrestlers from Pierz, but won all three meets.

Thursday night the Cards participated in a triangular in Breckenridge, along with Parkers Prairie. The Cards first took on the Cowboys from Breckenridge, and won by a score of 61-11. Winning matches by fall were Blake Miller, Sam Duberowski, Jordan Bendson, Dylan Shequen, Ryan Detloff and David DeYonge. Winning matches by decision were Brandon Flickinger (9-0) and Travis Weite (9-1). Receiving forfeits were Jordan Heldman, Tyler Pogreba and Dylan Kylander.

The Cards out wrestled the Parkers Prairie Panthers 57-9 on the mat. Earning falls in this match were Blake M i l l e r, Jordan Heldman and Chandler Trout. Coach Dan Bjerga remarked, “At 152 Parkers Prairie decided to bump up one of one of their better wrestlers, Ryan Silbernick to take on Jordan Bendson. Silbernick is very quick on his feet, but Jordan controlled the entire match as he scored two takedowns

and won the match 6-1.”

At 215, Bjerga said, “Ryan Detloff wrestled a

tough match against Tyler Walsh who is currently ranked fourth in the state. They traded escapes before Walsh was able to turn Ryan for three in an arm bar.”

The Cardinals traveled to Pierz Friday to face the Pioneers. Despite four Pierz wrestlers being ranked in the top eight in the state and a very solid remaining lineup, the SM boys showed their tough side and won the meet 36- 28. The boys started out a little slow and by the time the 145 match came along the Cards were trailing 22-6. This, however, is where the boys turned things around. Brent Lisson (145), Jordan Bendson (152) and Chandler Trout (160) all put their opponents on the mat for a pin to put the team ahead, 24-22. “Chandler wrestled a very aggressive match against No. 7 ranked John Omann and surprisingly pinned him after leading the match 11-10,” Coach Bjerga said.

Dylan Shequen took on the No. 3 ranked wrestler at 171, Sean Huls, and lost 6-5 in a very close match.

At 189, Blake Petrich ended the match quickly, putting the Pioneer on his back for a pin in 1:36. At 215 Ryan Detloff won by forfeit to secure the team win. David DeYonge faced No. 8, 285 pounder Dylan Peterson. Coach Bjerga said about DeYonge, “David wrestled very tough and smart and was able to go the distance with Peterson, and lost by a mere score of 8-3.”

“These guys once again came out and wrestled together as a team. If one or two people lose, then the others pick up the slack. Pierz looked really good on their feet and actually scored twice as many takedowns as we did. But the deciding factor came down to the number of pins that were earned in which Staples Motley earned four, and Pierz only one,” Bjerga said. “One of our goals of the season was to beat every team on their feet. Since we clearly didn’t accomplish this goal, I would normally get on their case and jack them up a little bit, but just this once maybe I can give them a break!”

A little more than a month remains until the 2010 State Meet, March 3-6. The Cards have four meets until then, including one at home this Thursday against the Aitkin Gobblers, which will be the last home meet of the season. Varsity action starts at 7:30.
Wrestling results
Staples Motley 36, Pierz 28
103: Chris Ortman (Prz) maj.
dec Blake Miller 12-4
112: Brad Meyer (Prz) dec
Jordan Heldman 5-4
119: Brandon Sullivan (Prz)
pinned Tyler Pogreba 4:15
125: Brady Killian (SM) dec
Brett Brausen 6-4
130: Sam Duberowski (SM)
dec Josh Lanner 1-0
135: Clint Poster (Prz) win by
forfeit
140: Cody Vnzee( Prz) dec
Brandon Flickinger 4-1
145: Brent Lisson (SM)
pinned Dustin Waytashek 4:53
152: Jordan Bendson (SM)
pinned Nathan Tomala 3:08
160: Chandler Trout (SM)
pinned John Omann 5:28
171: Sean Huls (Prz) dec Dylan
Shequen 6-5
189: Blake Petrich (SM)
pinned Ryley Smude 1:36
215: Ryan Detloff (SM) win
by forfeit
285: Dylan Peterson (Prz) dec.
David DeYonge 8-3.