Park wrestling: Upset of Stillwater falls just short

Though young and shorthanded the Park wrestling team battled Suburban East Conference foe Stillwater last week, and nearly pulled off an upset.

The Wolfpack fell 36-29 to the Ponies on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Park High School.

Stillwater led Park 28-23 with three matches remaining. At 195 pounds Stillwater earned a forfeit win, then the Ponies’ Mitchell Schertz won a 6-0 decision over Park freshman Devon Hubbard, who is filling in for Wolfpack injured standout Cody Linssen at 220 pounds to seal the match.

For Park, seventh grader Garett Whitehead won a 9-2 decision at 106 pounds, junior David Giadyu won an 11-2 major decision at 138 pounds, sophomore Cory Flaata won a 20-8 major decision at 160 pounds, freshman Zach Wills won with a pin at 182 pounds and senior Stephen Zemke won with a pin at heavyweight. Also, Park freshman Parise Hardie won a forfeit at 113 pounds.

Prior to hitting the mat against Stillwater, Park placed fourth at a tournament in Richfield. Though competing without Linssen, who is out for the year, Whitehead and Wills, the Wolfpack scored 151.5 points to take fourth. Lakeville North, ranked ninth in Class AAA, won the tourney with 220 points.

All 12 of Park’s wrestlers who were able to compete in the tournament placed in the top six.

Park freshman Collin LaBrosse, sophomore David Duval and Giadyu led the way for the Wolfpack, each taking second place.

At 145 pounds, Giadyu had a 3-2 lead with 25 seconds remaining in the final match to go, but No. 10-ranked Colton Pasvogel of Lakeville North pulled out the win for first place. At 113 pounds, LaBrosse lost 5-3 in overtime to ninth-ranked Collin Degramont of Lakeville North and at 132 pounds, Duval had a great tournament getting into the finals before losing to third-ranked Carson Cannedy of Northfield by pin.

Also, for Park, sophomores Brandon Young (152 pounds) and Flaata (160 pounds) each placed third, Zemke (285 pounds), Hubbard (195 pounds) and freshman Sam Figlmiller (182 pounds) earned fourth, senior Cade Fishbaugher (126 pounds) and sophomore Jake Lanik (138 pounds) placed fifth, while freshman Jose Fritz (106 pounds) and junior Austin Thurmes (120 pounds) placed sixth.

“It was great to see the positive individual and team effort,” Park head coach Jim LaBrosse said. “It is just what we needed. Now it’s time to prepare for conference matches and get ready to make a run at the end of the season.”

Next, Park is on the road at White Bear Lake for an SEC dual match on Thursday, Jan. 24. The Bears are ranked 11th in Class AAA.

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