Maple Grove Wrestling Team Takes 6th at State, Earns 2nd Place in State Academic Gold Team Award
Press Release 8 March 2010
Osseo-Maple Grove Press
NWCT Channel 12
Maple Grove Wrestling Team Takes 6th at State
Earns 2nd Place in State Academic Gold Team Award
History was made as the Maple Grove Crimson competed in the Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament this past weekend at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Crimson earned their first appearance as a team at the state tournament by defeating Centennial two weeks ago in a thrilling 5AAA section tournament. Adding to the excitement, the Crimson sent eight wrestlers to the individual state tournament which shattered a previous record of sending four individuals to state in one year.
Maple Grove entered the state tournament as a team facing the #2 ranked Knights of St. Michael Albertville. Although the Crimson fought valiantly, they lost to St. Michael, who eventually took 2nd place behind Apple Valley.
The Crimson rebounded victoriously in the next round as they defeated the Northfield Raiders 37-24. In the first match Jacob Halvorson faced Northfield’s #9 ranked individual and eventually lost. However, Halvorson kept the team points within reach as Northfield took the initial lead 4-0. At 112 lbs. Zach Gawboy ignited the fire by scoring a 2nd period pin with two seconds left on the clock. Maple Grove quickly re-took the lead 6-4. Northfield’s #4 ranked wrestler at 119 lbs. recorded a fall to give the Raiders a 10-6 lead.
The next five matches would be pivotal if the Crimson were to come out victorious. Each of the next five Raider wrestlers had 20+ wins during the season, but much of the Crimson’s strength was in this part of the line up as well.
At 125 lbs., workhorse Jonny Dill did his job and regained the momentum by earning a 5-3 decision. Dill closed the gap, leaving the Raiders with only a one point lead 10-9. Feeding off the enthusiasm, Reid Weiland at 130 lbs. manhandled his opponent into a 12-4 major decision which allowed Maple Grove to once again re-take the lead 13-10.
At 135 lbs. Zach Quam faced an evenly matched opponent based on season record. After an extremely hard-fought, low-scoring match, Quam lost 2-1, and the Raiders tied it up 13-13. Frank Cramer, highly energized at 140 lbs. hustled out to the mat and dominated his opponent the entire match to a 12-5 decision. Once again, the Crimson re-gained the lead 16-13. Adam Whirly lost 8-2 allowing the Raiders to tie it up at 16-16 once more.
At 152 lbs. Jeremy Borchardt’s loss against Northfield’s #5 ranked wrestler provided momentum for the Crimson by not giving up additional bonus points. The Crimson gave up a fall at 160 lbs. and the Raiders extended their lead to 24-16. Although the Raiders possessed an 8 point lead with 4 weight classes left in the match, the Crimson had three individual state entrants yet to wrestle and the Raiders had none. However, three Crimson wins without bonus points would still result in a Raider victory.
At 171 lbs. another Crimson workhorse and pinning machine, Dan Rekuski, recorded a fall in the 2nd period, providing a huge lift to the team and reduced the deficit to two points. The turning point in the match was provided by Alex Gray at 189 lbs. After an intense back and forth squirmish through two periods and Gray leading 10-5, Gray pinned his opponent in the third period to extend the Crimson lead by 6 points. The Crimson fans erupted with wild enthusiasm as the score turned 28-24.
Joe Borchardt (215 lbs) solidified the victory by pinning his opponent with 12 seconds left in the third period raising Maple Grove’s lead to 34-24. Chad Thompson (hwt) in the grand finale’ earned a 3-1 decision, leaving the Crimson victorious at 37-24. This was Maple Grove’s first ever state tournament team victory.
The Crimson advanced to face the St. Cloud Apollo Eagles in the consolation finals. Both Dill and Whirly defeated their opponents by fall. Senior Adam Whirley’s pin marked his final match and 100th win of his career. Although Jeremy Borchardt and Thompson won by decision, the Crimson fell to the Eagles 47-18.
The Maple Grove Wrestlers were also honored this past week for achieving 2nd place in the Minnesota State High School League AAA State Academic Gold Team Award. Place winners are determined from all AAA high schools by taking the 10 best academic grade point averages from the team’s 14 varsity wrestlers to determine the team’s final GPA score. Maple Grove’s varsity wrestlers achieved 2nd place honors with a GPA score of 3.82. "I am extremely proud of this team and these boys. They are truly champions and leaders on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community" stated head coach Troy Suebert.
Highlights from this year’s tournament include Joe Borchardt and Zach Gawboy, who earned 4th and 5th place honors respectively. Both wrestlers lost their opening round matches, but battled back feverishly in the wrestle backs to place in the medal round. Borchardt, a two-time state entrant and last year’s state runner up, placed 4th in this year’s competition. Gawboy, also a two-time state entrant, advanced to the 5th place medal round where his final opponent defaulted due to injury prior to the match, automatically awarding Gawboy 5th place honors.
Two other Crimson wrestlers advanced deep into the tourney but narrowly missed the medal round. Jonny Dill went 2-2 in the individual tournament and lost his final match 4-3 in a closely fought battle to Sam Stewart, the eventual 4th place state winner. Zach Quam, who wrestled extremely well throughout the tournament, was in control of his final match before suffering a leg injury which prevented him from continuing in the match or advancing to the medal round.
Leading the Crimson this year were a number of individuals who achieved more than 30 wins during the season. Zack Gawboy finished the year with 39 wins. In Maple Grove wrestling history, only Eric Healy (41 wins) and Luke Greder (39) have reached that mark. Also joining the elite group of 30+ wins were Joe Borchardt (37), Jonny Dill (35) and Dan Rekuski (34).
"This year’s squad achieved more than any other Maple Grove wrestling team. Many team and individual records were set. Hard work, dedication, and a great bunch of guys allowed this to happen," explained Coach Seubert. "I am honored to be associated with these fine young men and I am so proud of them. Hopefully, this year’s team success inspires other Crimson wrestlers to believe that big things are possible - because they've proven it."
Submitted by:
Mike Dill
612-661-8126 W
612-269-0996 C
Brad Gawboy
763-420-9747 W
952-240-1813 C
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