The Becker ninth grade  and under youth wrestlers competed well in the MNGWL (Minnesota Ninth Grade & Under Wrestling League) Region 7 Individual Tournament Jan. 28 at St. Cloud Apollo High School.

 

The team scored 154 points in the region tournament to capture second place as a team in the region (just six points behind first place).

 

The wrestlers from Becker competing at regions were: Dylan Riedinger (eighth grade, 88-lbs., DNP); Mason Doucette (grade seven, 94-lbs., second place); Ethan Anderson (grade seven, 100-lbs., sixth place); Lukas Paulson (eighth grade, 113-lbs., first place); Kylen Rish (eighth grade, 120-lbs., fourth place); John Stangler (ninth grade, 126-lbs., fifth place); Reid Kraus (ninth grade, 132-lbs., second place); Luke Eigen (eighth grade, 138-lbs., sixth place); Laken Braun (eighth grade, 160-lbs., DNP); Brayden Weber (eighth grade, 170-lbs., first place) and Reid Tripp (ninth grade, 189-lbs., third place).

 

The top two individuals from each weight class advanced to the individual state tournament which was held Feb 4 at Champlin Park High School.

 

Four Becker wrestlers competed last Saturday in the state individual tournament for the MNGWL (Minnesota Ninth Grade & Under Wrestling League).

 

All four wrestlers started out strong and won their first round matches.

 

They all met tough competition in the single-class system with some of the top wrestlers from across the state, but they competed well to earn 16th place out of 108 teams represented.

 

 

Paulson placed fifth with his only loss coming to eventual champion, Dylan Anderson of Apple Valley. Paulson beat Garrett Beying of Hastings in his first match, then lost to Anderson before beating Luke Bethke of Stillwater, Dylan Baker of Kasson-Mantorville and Noah Jensen of Marshall for fifth.

 

Becker’s Weber placed third at 170-lbs. when he beat Mac Kukowski of Farmington in his first match, then beat Cole Smutny of Woodbury before losing to eventual champion, Joseph Johnson of Shakopee. Weber fell to the third place bracket and beat Beau Bullerman of Adrian for the third place crown.

 

Doucette's losses were to the eventual fourth and sixth place wrestlers. Kraus's losses were to the eventual third and seventh place wrestlers.

 

Kasson-Mantorville won the state tournament with 59.5 points. Becker was 16th with 35 points. Big Lake was 22nd with 26 points.

 

“Becker coaches are very proud of the great work the wrestlers did Saturday and coaches are also proud of the whole Becker MNGWL team,” said Coach Dustin Weege.  “The team worked together well this year and found many nice successes.  Coaches are looking forward to bright futures with these hard working wrestlers.”