Sue Sitter/PCT Panther wrestler Brady Volk defeated Devils Lake's Zach Lange in St. John last Thursday.

The Rugby Panther varsity and JV wrestlers began 2020 with a 15-57 battle against the Class A Devils Lake Firebirds in St. John last Thursday evening.

Coach Craig Zachmeier told the Tribune the match meant more than 15 points against a larger school for the Class B Panthers; the tourney meant an opportunity for “another practice.”

“We don’t see Devils Lake again until Rugby (at the Rugby Panther Booster Tourney), so we came up to work on stuff,” Zachmeier added.

“We put our young guys in and took some losses where it doesn’t matter so we can get better.”

Senior wrestler Brady Volk had an opportunity to add another win to his record at the tournament, defeating Firebird Zach Lange by 15-3 decision in the 160-pound category.

Zachmeier said the Panthers were setting their sights on Velva for this week, and the Central Cass Letterman’s Tournament in Casselton this weekend. Results for these events will appear in next week’s Tribune.

Results for the St. John Tournament were:

– Devils Lake 57 final points; Rugby 15 final points.

Individual results: 106-pound division: Bryson Amyotte, Rugby, overtime loss to Jenna Gerhart, Devils Lake. 120-pound division: John Jundt, Rugby, win by fall in 1:49 over Peyton Horton, Devils Lake. 132-pound division: Cole Anderson, Rugby, loss by fall, 1:03 to Tate Estenson, Devils Lake. 138-pound division: Riley Odden, Rugby, win by tech fall over Colton Young, Devils Lake. 145-pound division: Bailey Zachmeier, Rugby, loss by fall, 0:34 to Colton Schneider, Devils Lake. 152-pound division: Isaac Christenson, Rugby, loss by fall, 1:30 to James Charboneau, Devils Lake. 160-pound division, Volk, Rugby, win by 15-3 decision over Lange, Devils Lake. HWT division: Landen Zietz, Rugby, loss by fall, 0:24 to Shane Canvanaugh, Devils Lake.