Devils Lake opened the season against the Grand Forks Central Knights on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at the Sports Center in Devils Lake. Unfortunately, the team lost their first duel 24-48 as Grand Forks Central won 9 of the 14 matches of the night.
The duel started slowly for Devils Lake as they dropped their first three matches. Grand Forks Central getting a pin at 152 lbs., a technical fall at 160 lbs. and another pin at 170 lbs. gave the Knights an early lead (0-17), going into 182 lbs. with Braxton Rance as he aimed to end the Firebirds scoreless duel.
Rance wrestling Gavin Pihlgren opened up the match with an exciting and high-scoring first period. Rance scored the first takedown with ease and ended up letting Pihlgren back up to his feet as he aimed to score another quick takedown. As Rance effortlessly succeeds, he looks to cut his opponent again and attempts it a third time. This time Pihlgren showed some fight as the two scrambled for takedowns, Pihlgren won that battle for the last takedown as time expired.
Going into the second period Rance elected to go into the down position. Getting to his feet and getting the one-point escape, Rance went right back to applying pressure and getting a takedown on Pihlgren. Only this time Rance was able to get him to his back as he put Pihlgren away by pin at 3:07.
Following the Firebirds first win and getting the team on the board (6-17) Tate Estenson at 195 lbs. looked to follow his teammate. Estenson wrestling Grand Forks Central Izaiah Hernandez was in for the distance. Estenson opened the first period battling on the feet for most of the period but bested Hernandez before time expired as he scored a two-point takedown and held him down as time expired.
Opening up the second period (2-0) Tate Estenson elected to go into the down position. Trying to get to his feet Hernandez consistently returned Estenson to the mat. Eventually, Estenson timed it correctly and hit a switch scoring a two-point reversal. Trying to work his opponent on the ground with pinning combinations Hernandez refused to give up his back. With Estenson trying to turn his opponent he accidentally performed a potentially dangerous move with a full nelson, doing so gave the Devils Lake wrestler a caution. Throughout the toughness Grand Forks Central gave Estenson he performed another full nelson awarding Hernandez with a one-point penalty. As time expired the two went into the third period with Estenson up (4-1).
Hernandez chose the top position looking to be able to score on top against Estenson. Estenson wasting no time went back to what gave him the points to start the last period. Scoring a two-point reversal. Head coach Brendon Flynn, realizing the team needed at least a major decision win for four team points, told Estenson to take it to his feet. Where Estenson took on a tired Hernandez. Estenson was able to get a takedown and proceeded to cut him a second time looking for points. Scoring his second takedown of the period Estenson looked to have an opening for a pinning combination but that resulted in another one-point penalty due to a full nelson. Time expired and Estenson wasn’t able to get the major decision but he gave his team three points winning by decision 10-4.
Devils Lake dropped the next match at 220 lbs., and had an open at 285, heading into the 106 lbs. match down 9-29. Rylan Samuelson aimed to change the direction of the duel. Samuelson battling Grand Forks Central Rhys Safratowich. Both started slow but battled the entire first period without a single point being awarded to either wrestler.
Opening up the second period Samuelson chose the down position and wasted no time getting to his feet for a one-point escape. The two proceeded to not give up an ounce of room to prevent one another from scoring again in the period.
In the third period, Safratowich chose the down position looking to gain back the point he lost in the second, and quickly got the one-point escape to tie the match. Samuelson and his opponent being even all match on the feet finally scored a two-point takedown with time close to expiring in the third, as he was able to secure a close and exciting win for the Firebirds.
The Firebird would drop the 113 lbs. matchup in a close battle (3-6). But went back to work the next two matches giving the Firebirds a chance to stay in the duel. Grand Forks Central bumped up their 113 lbs. wrestler to 120 lbs. as Tucker Bennett (DL) looked to take on Cesar Cruz (ranked 6th at 113).
Bennett opened up the match with a strong takedown and was able to pin Cruz with ease at 1:06. Owen Lindstrom (DL) bumped up to 126 lbs. looking to keep Devils Lake in the duel also wasted no time on his opponent. Getting his opponent Bryce Kelley down to the mat fast and pinning him in 36 seconds.
Having a chance to tie or win the duel with the score of 24-36, the next three matches at 132, 138, and 145 lbs. went in favor of Grand Forks Central. Putting the end to a very promising night for the young Devils Lake Firebirds wrestling team.
Devils Lake wrestles again on Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m. as they look to face Grand Forks Red River in Grand Forks at Grand Forks Centrals High School.
Results:
Grand Forks Central (GFC) 48.0 Devils Lake (DL) 24.0
152: Anton Perales (GFC) over Landon Kurtz (DL) (Fall 1:19) 160: Mason Williams (GFC) over Avin Wallace (DL) (TF 15-0 2:00) 170: Nicolas A-Lotito (GFC) over Harley Crist (DL) (Fall 2:53) 182: Braxton Rance (DL) over Gavin Pihlgren (GFC) (Fall 3:07) 195: Tate Estenson (DL) over Izaiah Hernandez (GFC) (Dec 10-5) 220: Michael Torgerson (GFC) over Marcus Heiser (DL) (Fall 1:32) 285: Daniel Suda (GFC) over (DL) (For.) 106: Rylan Samuelson (DL) over Rhys Safratowich (GFC) (Dec 3-1) 113: Gabe Flores (GFC) over Mitchell Gerhardt (DL) (Dec 6-3) 120: Tucker Bennett (DL) over Cesar Cruz (GFC) (Fall 1:08) 126: Owen Lindstrom (DL) over Bryce Kelley (GFC) (Fall 0:36) 132: Zack Nelson (GFC) over Daniel Charboneau (DL) (MD 11-2) 138: Allyssa Johnson (GFC) over Michael Nelson (DL) (Fall 3:09) 145: Brendan Winn-Kelley (GFC) over Easton Encinas (DL) (Fall 1:16)
