Gators Take Down Cougars

By: Ryan Bergeron

                Looking to finish off the last week before Christmas break on a high note and coming off of an eighth place finish at the Big Bear tournament, the Gators looked to bring a solid effort against Section opponent, the Mahnomen-Waubun Cougars. The Gators went on to win 11 of the 14 matches to post a solid 63-13 victory. Coach Bergeron commented on his team’s fifth victory of the young season, “I thought the kids wrestled hard and were really going after the pins, it was fun to watch the feature match of the night when Tomm Ingle and Garret Hoffner locked horns. It was a match that will help both wrestlers in the long run.”

                The dual started out with two pins for the Gators, IsaakIsane (103) getting his in the first period and Wyatt Becker (113) posting his own with seven seconds remaining in the match, following a late cradle. The Gators Nick Kaml (120) and Trevor Undeberg (126) each accepted forfeits to give the Gators a quick 24-0 lead.

                Hunter Gullikson then took the mat for the Gators against Mahnomen-Waubun’sKole Lefebvre at 132, looking to keep the Gators rolling. Hunter wrestled hard throughout, fighting off some tough pinning combinations,but in the end he fell by a 14-2 major decision. The Gators’ Brandon Waage (138) got the Gators back on track, picking up the team’s third pin of the match in the first period. Next  came the most tense-filled match of the night, with the Gators’ Jake Jenson taking the mat against Mahnomen Waubun’sKody Lefebvre at 145. In a back and forth match for the first two periods, Jake went down in the third and fought off numerous pinning combinations to hang on and win by narrow 7-6, helping the Gators to 33-4 lead.

                After the Gators Corey Hasbrouck accepted a forfeit at 152, Tomm Ingle took the mat against Mahnomen-Waubun standout Garret Hoffner at 160, a match featuring two Big Bear finalists and state ranked wrestlers. Tom fell behind early in the match, but continued to wrestle hard and eventually fell in a very entertaining and hard fought match by a 6-1 score; the Gator still led 39-7.  Gunner Gust (170) and John Westman (182) followed for the Gators, picking up their own first period pins, the fourth and fifth pins for their team.

                The Gators then sent out EthenDaignault at 195 against Mahnomen-Waubun’sKalHandyside. Ethen wrestled hard to start out with, but was caught and pinned late in the first period. Following Beau Blummeraccepting the injury default for the Gators at 220, Cody Olafson took to the mat for BGMR, finishing the match off right for his team, getting an emotional pin midway through the first period; the Gators won the dual 63-13.

                The Gator JV also competed, all wrestling hard and winning seven of the eleven matches. Those picking up victories were Devin Pries, Jacob Berger, Logan Anderson, Nash Sovde, DaronSikorski, Elias Jacobson and Bryce Bergeron. Nice job to the Gator JV; keep working hard and continuing to improve!

                With this victory, the Gators moved their dual record to 5-1, a tough triangular awaiting them in Bemidji on Thursday, December 20 against two AAA teams, in Bemidji and Moorhead. The Gators will again get back to the practice room and continue to work hard and come together as team, looking to finish their pre-holiday schedule by wrestling as hard as they can. A huge thanks to all of those who havesupported the Gators to start the year, as the support means a lot to them.  The young Gators will need great support as they head into a tough triangular to finish before the break, but they will surely be ready for the challenge. GO GATORS!!

BGMR 63 Mahnomen-Waubun 13

106: IsaakIsane (BGMR) fall over Mike Bisek(MW) 1:22

113: Wyatt Becker (BGMR) fall over Shawn Neisen (MW) 5:53

120: Nick Kaml (BGMR) won by forfeit

126: Trevor Undeberg (BGMR) won by forfeit

132: Kole Lefebvre (MW) major decision over Hunter Gullikson (BGMR) 14-2

138: Brandon Waage (BGMR) fall over Ryan McArthur (MW) 1:31

145: Jake Jenson (BGMR) over Kody Lefebvre (MW) 7-6

152: Corey Hasbrouck (BGMR) won by forfeit

160: Garrett Hoffner (MW) over Tomm Ingle (BGMR) 6-1

170: Gunner Gust (BGMR) pin over Dallas Lanoue (MW) :45

182: John Westman (BGMR) pin over Jake Worms (MW) 1:04

195: KalHandyside (MW) pin over EthenDaignault (BGMR) 1:45

220: Beau Blummer (BGMR) won by inj. Default over Miguel Tonihka-Martinez (MW)

285: Cody Olafson (BGMR) pin over Alex Medina (MW) 1:04

GATOR MATHLETES COMPETE IN TRF FOR 2^nd EVENT

On Monday November 26^th, in the second MSHSL Mathematics League competition of the year, the Gators made the trek to Thief River Falls and scored 17 points on the day. Leading the scoring with 5 points was senior Tayler Wilson competing in Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus subject areas. Other high scorers for the Gators in the second event were senior Kayla Stanelle with 4 points competing in Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus and junior Nels Wicklund, also with 4 points competing in Algebra and Pre-Calculus subject areas. In their inaugural Mathematics League season, the Gators are continuing to improve and are beginning to compete at a high level. The Gators came in 2^nd out of 3 Division II teams at the TRF site behind Nevis and ahead of Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig.

GATOR MATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Tayler Wilson, a senior mathlete competing in Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus subject areas, led the Gators for the TRF site on the 26^th of November with 5 points. “Tayler is one of our more enthusiastic mathletes and is continuing to improve. Tayler has been a consistent scorer for us all year and as one of our senior captains is a leader on this team,” said Coach Solberg of Wilson. Tayler is the daughter of Jon Westling and Julie Undeberg.

GATOR JV MATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ashley Lorenson, a junior mathlete competing in Algebra and Pre-Calculus subject areas, led the Gator JV Mathletics team at the TRF site on the 26^th of November with a solid 4 point effort. “Ashley has done a great job of anchoring our JV team all season long and will be a force for this team in future events. Ashley has put up impressive scores all season long and has provided great leadership as an underclassmen,” said Coach Solberg of Lorenson. Ashley is the daughter of Danny and Debbie Lorenson.

GATOR MATHLETES TRIUMPH IN BEMIDJI

On Monday December 17^th, the Gators made the voyage to Bemidji for the 3^rd MSHSL Mathematics League event of the season and scored 14 points. Leading the scoring for the Gators was junior Nels Wicklund with an impressive 5 point effort competing in Algebra and Geometry subject areas. Other high scores for the Gators were junior Tierra Novacek, who scored 3 points in Algebra and Geometry subject areas, junior Steven Hlucny with 3 points in Algebra and Pre-Calculus subject areas, and freshman Brady Kilen with 3 points in Algebra and Geometry subject areas. Going into the team event, the Gators were tied with a talented Nevis team at 13 points. During the team event, the Gators pulled out 1 point to break the tie and put the Gators ahead for an exciting win. The Gators hard work paid off, as they came in 1^st out of 3 Division II teams at the Bemidji site. The Gators are in action next on January 14^th in Detroit Lakes.

GATOR MATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Nels Wicklund, a junior competing in Algebra and Geometry subject areas, is the Gator Mathlete of the week for the Bemidji site on December 17^th. Wicklund provided 5 of the Gators 14 points on the day and helped put the Gators ahead for the win. “Nels has been a high scorer for our JV team all season long and when promoted to the varsity level put up our high score at this event. He will continue to be a high scorer for the rest of this season and next season as well,” said Coach Solberg of Wicklund. Nels is the son of Dale and Annette Wicklund.

GATOR JV MATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Nicole Loerzel, a junior competing in Algebra and Pre-Calculus subject areas, is the Gator JV Mathlete of the week for the Bemidji site on December 17^th. Loerzel scored 3 points on the day individually and was a key leader on the JV team during the team event. “Nicole has been working hard all season long and her hard work paid off this past event in putting up a nice score. She will continue to improve with hard work and is a leader on this team,” said coach Solberg of Loerzel. Nicole is the daughter of Dan and Karla Loerzel.