Wrestling: Elks 3rd, Thunder 7th in Elk tourney; 2 champs each
Evan Caldon had a cradle hold on Elks teammate Yong Yon Vee, who was wrestling unattached, in the 112-pound finals. Caldon didn't get the pin but won 7-2. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
by Bruce Strand, Sports editor
Elk River had a pair of first-time champions in an otherwise disappointing day as they placed third in their own Elk Invitational on Saturday.
Evan Caldon, a sophomore, and Jake Staffenhagen, a senior, each captured his first tournament title as a varsity wrestler.
Jake Staffenhagen (left) resisted a Chisago Lakes foe in the 119-pound finals. Staffenhagen won 3-0. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
Meanwhile, Zimmerman also had two champions — senior Zach Stepan and sophomore Mitch Robinson — while placing seventh among 11 teams.
The Stillwater Ponies were team champion and had four individual champs.
The Elks wanted a better showing in their home gala.
“We only had two champions. We didn’t wrestle well today,” said Elk coach Paul Nelson. “We had a great first round, but in the second round, it all dropped off.”
Caldon (15-5) had two pins to reach the finals, where he went against teammate Yong Yee Vang, who was wrestling unattached. Caldon won 7-2 over his frequent sparring partner.
“We kinda know each other’s moves, so it was pretty close,” Caldon said.
Staffenhagen (14-6) had a major decision, then edged Harding’s Tar Baw 1-0 on a second-period escape, and, in the finals, tipped Chisago Lakes’ Quade Zupko 3-0 on a reversal and takedown.
Zach Stepan of Zimmerman tugged at a Brainerd opponent in the 125-pound finals, won by Stepan 9-2. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
The Elks had two runners-up. Eric Stevens was leading Osseo’s Adam Hammer 1-0 in the third period at 135 when the Oriole reversed and pinned him in 5:03. Jory Lubinski also got pinned in the 215 finals by Stillwater’s Mitch Elmer in 5:23.
Austin Halleron, Austin Stevens and Abe Williams all placed third.
Zimmerman’s Stepan has over 100 wins but had not been an Elk Invitational champ until Saturday. Stepan topped Brainerd’s Matt Solid 9-2 in the finals.
Stepan absorbed his first loss of the season Thursday, 8-6 against Kimball’s Marcus Hamer, and was still smarting a bit from that.
“I was not on top of my game, but that kid is pretty good, too,” said Stepan. “It’s not a major thing, but, I guess, I learned my lesson. I’m going for state now.”
Mitch Robinson (left) dueled Osseo's Jon Volp for the 189 title and won 8-4. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
Robinson took the 189-pound title with an 8-4 win over Osseo’s Jon Volp in the finals, after pinning his first two foes.
The Elks will wrestle at Blaine on Thursday, and Zimmerman will host Rogers, also Thursday.
Team scoring
1. Stillwater 234.5
2. Brainerd 203.0
3. Elk River 167.5
4. Chisago Lakes 136.5
5. Osseo 92.0
6. Dassel-Cokato 91.0
7. Zimmerman 85.5
8. St. Paul Harding 77.0
9. St. Paul Highland Park 33.0
10. Columbia Heights 18.0
11. Granite City Baptist 5.0
Individual champions
103 — Bryton Mutz, Brainerd
112 — Evan Caldon, Elk River
119 — Jake Staffenhagen, Elk River
125 — Zach Stephan, Zimmerman
130 — Luke Boran, Brainerd
135 — Adam Hammer, Osseo
140 — Jessen Franzen, Brainerd
145 — Mack Glasby, Brainerd
152 — Mitch Keogh, Stillwater
160 — Jack Baglio, Stillwater
171 — Travis Kammerer, Chisago Lakes
189 — Mitch Robinson, Zimmerman
215 — Mitch Elmer, Stillwater
285 — Brock Horwath, Stillwater
Eric Stevens of the Elks had the upper hand here against Osseo's Adam Hammer, but would get pinned in the final minute, in the 135 finals. (Photo by Bruce Strand)
How Elks fared
103 — Zang Vang 2-2 (2 pins), 5th place
112 — Evan Caldon 3-0 (2 pins), 1st place
112 — Yong Yee Vang 2-1 (pin, techfall), 2nd place (wrestling unattached)
119 — Jake Staffenhagen 3-0, 1st place
125 — no entry
130 — Austin Halleron 3-0 (1 techfall), 3rd place
135 — Eric Stevens 2-1 (1 pin), 2nd place
140 — Austin Stevens 3-1 (1 pin), 3rd place
145 – no entry
152 — Corey Collins 2-2, 5th place
160 — Kevin Weeks 0-2
171 — Abe Williams 3-1 (3 pins), 3rd place
189 — Mitch Beaudry 1-3 (1 pin), 6th place
215 — Jory Lubinski 2-1 (1 pin), 2nd place
285 — Kyle Wiemann 2-2 (2 pins), 4th place
How Thunder fared
103 — Justin Viktora 0-3
112 — no entry
119 — Hunter Smith 0-2
125 — Zach Stepan 3-01(pin, techfall), 1st place
130 — Austin May 1-2 (1 pin), 5th place
135 — no entry
140 — Alex Koch 2-3 (2 pins), 6th place
145 — no entry
152 — no entry
160 — no entry
171– Jon Zdenek 1-2
189 — Mitch Robinson 3-0 (2 pins), 1st place
215 — Zach Copic 3-2 (3 pins), 5th place
285 — Albin Sterneman 0-2
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