Wrestling program off to good start
The Rugby wrestlers are working on improving their skills as they aim for the goal of individual state championships at the end of the season.
The wrestlers are improving by leaps and bounds and will enjoy a lot of success in January/February, said the coaching staff.
The staff has been emphasizing to the athletes that this is the time to improve, not necessarily win. That is how state champions are built, according to the coach.
At least ten of the wrestlers have learned this lesson first hand.
Mondahl is placing in varsity tournaments as an 8th grader and went 2-0 in the duals. Another eighth grader, Devon Berg, lost by only one point to a returning state qualifier from Velva in Carrington. Bennie Mygland moved up to the varsity for the dual against Minot Ryan as only an eighth grader; giving up 15 lbs.
Dustin Lawrence, a first- year grappler from Towner, wrestling with Rugby, won his first varsity match ever by pin. He placed in his first varsity tournament and went 2-0 in the duals.
Michael Ostrem after taking fifth place in Velva improved enough in one week to take 1st place in Carrington.
Casey Johnson marks as his accomplishments that he went 2-0 in the duals, moved up a weight class and got a pin.
Dylan Morin is another achiever. He almost took down the 2nd rated wrestler in the state on multiple occasions in Carrington. After that he wrestled Minot Ryan’s heavyweight in Rugby getting the pin and giving up 50 lbs.
Kris Leier is able to take people down “at will” working towards becoming one of the best 145 pounders. in the state, according to his coach.
Two brothers that enjoy the sport of wrestling, Wyatt Thompson and Garrett Thompson are improving at such a pace they can determine the outcome of the matches on their terms.
“They can take people down and pin them whenever they are ready to,” said the coaching staff.
The wrestlers are improving from day to day and week to week through hard work and dedication. Every week since November 9 the wrestling team has gained new athletes.
On Friday, Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 18, the wrestlers will be traveling to Linton for a tournament. The Jr. High wrestlers will travel to Mandan for a Jr. High tournament.