Ashley Burkhartsmeier/PCT Rugby High School senior Bennie Mygland controls Velva’s Robert Wible in a 170-pound match Mygland won by fall at 5 minutes, 27 seconds Tuesday at RHS.

The Rugby High School wrestling team is gaining loads of experience early this season. The Panthers wrestled at three events from Dec. 11 through Dec. 16, including Tuesday’s triangular against Stanley-Powers Lake and Velva at RHS.

The Panthers won the dual against the Blue Jays with a 51-30 final score, but fell 48-23 to the Aggies.

RHS won nine matches against S-PL, including seven by pin. Senior Reid Mundahl pinned Brad Ladwig at the 4-minute, 46-second mark of the 160-pound match. Seventh-grader Brady Volk (113) also took his match into the third period before pinning Dakota Moser at 4:36.

Senior Bennie Mygland (182) earned the quickest stop on the team in the dual with a 46-second pin of Nick Curren.

The Panthers won just four matches against Velva, but eighth-grader Riley Zachmeier joined Mygland as the Panthers with two pins during the evening.

RHS at Carrington tournament

The Panthers took sixth overall at the Al Larsen Invite in Carrington on Dec. 13. Pembina County North won the tournament with 217.5 points, edging the host Cardinals by 0.5 points. Napoleon was third at 202 and RHS earned 96 points.

“We battled long and hard all day,” RHS assistant coach Brad Jundt said. “We hit a wall about the semifinal round, but bounced back. Our tournament legs aren’t there yet. We still need to work on conditioning.”

Jundt led the team as head coach Craig Zachmeier traveled with the junior varsity.

The Panthers took a small group to Carrington, leaving openings at six weight classes. Of the eight Panthers competing, six placed in the top six with Mundahl taking the highest place with a win in the 160-pound third-place match.

Mundahl pinned Beulah-Hazen’s Tyrel Mellmer at 3:42.

“I was getting my underhook with the left arm and I felt I was in control,” Mundahl said. He added that work is needed on securing easy points, recalling an escape he didn’t completely convert for a point.

“Reid placed higher than his seed,” Jundt said. “Other than that, we didn’t gain any ground, but we didn’t lose any. We’re good for two matches, but not four or five.”

Jundt emphasized that technique looks strong throughout the lineup and conditioning will catch up.

Panthers rout Northern Lights

RHS easily handled Northern Lights 36-6 at the Bishop Ryan quadrangular Dec. 11. There were seven double forfeits in the dual.

Ryan beat RHS 33-24, but the Panthers gained confidence especially in the higher weight classes. Berg (220), Ethan Morin (195) and Mygland (170) all beat Lions on pins.

“In duals, once we get everybody in position, we should be OK,” Jundt said. “We should be top three, if everybody keeps wrestling hard.

The Panthers finish a two-day tournament in Linton today.