The Broncos’ Jackson Vollom (11) battles Crookston players in the crease as he scores the first goal in Saturday afternoon’s game at Bronco Arena.
At right, the Broncos’ Nick Hedtke, shown wrestling against an opponent at a January meet in Grand Rapids, placed sixth last weekend at the Section 7A Individual Tournament at Pierz.
High school wrestlers from International Falls wrapped up their regular-season competition last Thursday in Blackduck in a season in which the Broncos resumed a wrestling program for the first time in more than 20 years.
Falls’ two youngest wrestlers, seventh-grader London Rasmussen and eighth-grader Levi Cottrell, competed in their final high school matches of the season, while sophomore Nick Hedtke will seek to qualify for the Minnesota State High School League State Tournament later this month.
Hedtke will be competing at the Section 7A Individual Tournament in Pierz on Feb. 20. He heads into the section tournament following a regular season that included a pair of third-place finishes at the Skip Nalan Invitational in Grand Rapids and the Northwest Tournament in Fertile.
“We’re really optimistic about Nick’s odds to make it to state,” said coach Dan Schermerhorn. “To have the opportunity to possibly be the first Bronco wrestler to compete in the state tournament in over two decades is really exciting, and I think it has given Nick some extra motivation to finish the season strong.”
At right, the Broncos’ Nick Hedtke, shown wrestling against an opponent at a January meet in Grand Rapids, placed sixth last weekend at the Section 7A Individual Tournament at Pierz.
At right, the Mighty Mustangs’ Kalvan Silvers competes against a wrestler from Deer River in Saturday’s “Clash of the Titans” tournament in Nashwauk. Silvers placed first wrestling at 45 pounds at the kindergarten level.
At left, the Mighty Mustangs’ Andrew Hamm attempts to fend off a single-leg hold in Saturday’s “Clash of the Titans” tournament at Nash wauk.
Several Mighty Mustang wrestlers competed Saturday at Nashwauk in the “Clash of the Titans” tournament.
Individual results include, by name, grade/weight and place: London Rasmussen, 7/135, 1st; Nick Bernath, 4/115, 2nd; Austin Hamm, 4/71, 4th; Adley Deedrick, 3/80, 4th; Dominick Juen, 2/62, 3rd; Kyan Swanson, 1/52, 1st; Andrew Hamm, 1/51, 3rd; Kalvan Silvers, K/45, 1st; and Austin Randal, PreK/41, 3rd.
Two other Mighty Mustang wrestlers, Charlie Bannert and Hudson Mann, competed last weekend at the Gopher State Nationals in Monticello. Both wrestlers made it to the fourth round, but fell short of the finals.
On Sunday at North Branch, Mann competed in a MN/USA state qualifier. He won all three matches, one on a 5-0 decision and two others on pins, to take first and rack up 80 more points, bringing his total to 305. His record is now 16-1 with nine pins in MN/USA action.
This coming Saturday, the Mustangs will be in Grand Rapids to compete in a Jaycees state-qualifying tournament.
