Park wrestling: Team wins 3 of 4, improves to 9-2 overall

The Park wrestling team is rolling.

In its last four matches, Park went 3-1. The Wolfpack is now 9-2 overall, 3-0 in the Suburban East Conference and 2-1 against Section 3AAA foes.

Most recently, Park took down Rosemount 32-31 and lost to Eagan 40-34 at an Eagan triangular on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

In the win over Rosemount, which is regarded as one of the top teams in Section 3AAA, Park won three of the last four matches to edge the Irish.

Park’s Nate Bauman and Cody Linssen each earned pins at 182 pounds and 195 pounds, respectively, and Tyler Liljedahl won a major decision, 11-3, at 220 pounds and heavyweight Craig Sargeant did just enough to secure the win for the Wolfpack.

“The heavy weights came through again against Rosemount,” Park head coach Jim LaBrosse said. “It was a very emotional night full of ups and downs.”

In addition to the aforementioned winners, Park got victories from Collin LaBrosse, 22-8, at 103 pounds, David Giadyu, 5-1, at 138 pounds, Kenny Gerhardt by pin at 145 pounds and Corey Flaata, 8-5, at 152 pounds.

“Honestly , we were very flat against Rosemount but secured a nice Section 3AAA win,” Jim LaBrosse said. “They are a good team and just came of a big tournament win at the Kenyon Invitational last Saturday and ran away with it. This win was a big step in the right direction for Park wrestling.”

The tables were turned, however, in the loss to Eagan, as the Wildcats earned victories in three of the last four matches – two by pin – to squeak out a victory over Park.

For the Wolfpack, Collin LaBrosse won by pin at 113 pounds, David Ayers won with a pin at 138 pounds,

Flaata got a pin at 152 pounds, Scott Johnson won with a pin at 170 pounds and Linssen pinned his opponent at 195 pounds.

“The team was riding high after the win (over Rosemount ) and we had a huge letdown against Eagan, a team we should have beat,” Jim LaBrosse said. “You can’t expect to win with just five or six guys, but we almost did. We had five big pins, but unfortunately we lost seven matches by just one or two points and one was an overtime match. We just needed another one of our team members to step up and get it done.”

Prior to battling Rosemount and Eagan, Park took down North St. Paul and SEC foe Roseville in a triangular at Roseville High School on Thursday, Dec. 21.

The Wolfpack started the night by beating North St. Paul 46-21, then followed up with a 42-23 whipping of Roseville.

Against North St. Paul, Park’s Nick Cekalla won with a pin at 285 pounds, D’Monte Farley pinned his foe at 160 pounds and Ayers won with a 11-0 major decision at 138 pounds. In addition, Jake Lanik, J.P. Pallais, Tony Watson, Nate Bauman and Darius Henry won with forfeits. Park forfeited at 132 pounds and 220 pounds.

In the win over Roseville, Collin LaBrosse started things on the right foot with a 58 second pin at 103 pounds. Also winning by way of pins were: Lanik, at 120 pounds, Ayers, at 138 pounds, Kenny Gerhardt, at 145 pounds, and Sargeant at heavyweight. Additionally, Pallais won 7-4 at 126 pounds, Flaata won 10-5 at 152 pounds, Farley won 7-5 at 160 pounds and Johnson won 4-2 at 170 pounds.

The wins by Flaata and Farley were big upsets.

Flaata’s win came over previously ranked Matt Allen, a senior. Farley beat Andrew Paul, who was ranked ninth in Class AAA.

“Both guys out conditioned their opponents,” coach LaBrosse said. “Corey finished the match with a beautiful takedown to seal the victory and the key to D’Monte’s win was scoring points at the last seconds of each period.”

Coach LaBrosse called the team wins “another great dual meet performance.”

“We wrestled very well from top to bottom,” he said. “Our lower weights came through. Collin (LaBrosse) sparked the team again with a quick first period pin, Austin Thurmes wrestled extremely well bumping up from 106 for the team, Jake Lanik and J.P. Pallais came through with big wins and David Ayers, Kenny Gerhardt, Scott Johnson and Craig Sargeant had great performances as well.”

On the year, Ayers is 5-1, Collin LaBrosse is 10-3, Flaata is 9-3, Linssen is 11-2 and Liljedahl is 9-4.

Next, Park will travel to the Eau Claire Christmas Duals on Thursday, Dec. 29, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire McPhee Physical Education Building. Park will wrestle in five duals. Wrestling starts at 9 a.m.

“We’re very close to firing on sall cylinders,” LaBrosse said.

Tags: sports, wrestling, park, wolfpack, prep, updates