Devils Lake wrestling finished their last home dual of the season in a loss to the Valley City Hi-Liners 66-12 at the Devils Lake Sportscenter last Thursday, as the team gets ready for the EDC tournament.
The duel opened at 106 lbs. with an exciting match with Wesley Fisk facing off against his Hi-Liner opponent Chase Coghlan. In the first period the two lightweights battle for position as they looked to get a shot in on each other. Most of the period burned off before Fisk was able to secure a two-point takedown just before the time expired with the match 2-0 in favor of Fisk.
Fisk had the choice to elect which position in the second period as he looked to score more points he chose the down position. Plans didn’t go his way, as he was trying to score, the match turned into a scramble which resulted in Fisk being turned to his back as Chase held him long enough to score a three-point near fall. Fisk, determined to end the period with points, succeeded in getting a reversal. Putting him back up 4-3 as he rode out the time remaining in the second.
The third period had Chase selecting the position as he chose the down position in search of points as well. The period was a battle with Fisk refusing to give up a one-point escape. In the process, the ref spotted a potentially dangerous move being performed by Fisk and rewarded Chase with a one-point penalty. With it being tied up Fisk couldn’t afford to let him get any more points as he succeeded to ride him out to push overtime at 4-4.
The overtime period was brief as the two dug deep to set up their best shot, it ended up being Fisk that succeeded in getting the takedown and ending this exciting match 6-4.
The Firebirds as a team went into the next match 3-0. But the lead would shortly go away as their wrestlers at 113 and 120 lbs. ended up getting pinned in the first period each. Putting the Hi-Liners up 3-12 going into 126 lbs.
Owen Lindstrom was up next at 126 lbs. Facing off against his opponent Khruz Kappenman. Lindstrom wasted no time getting off the mat as he quickly secured the two-point takedown and instantly started looking for pinned combinations. Shortly after getting his opponent to slip he succeeded in getting him turned to his back and the match ended in a pin in 38 seconds. Putting points on the board for the Firebirds, the score was 9-12.
The duel started to lean toward the Hi-Liners after that, as the next four matches all ended in pins in favor of Valley City putting the insurmountable lead to 9-42.
That didn’t stop Braxton Rance at 170 lbs. to try and put some points on the board for Devils Lake as he wrestled Valley City’s, Tyson Hovland. The two opened the first period automatically looking for ties and hand position as they aimed to score the first two points of the period. Eventually, the first takedown went to Rance. He then continued to ride him out for the rest of the period to prevent Hovland from scoring any more points with Rance up 2-0.
Rance had the choice of position to open the second period as he elected the down position. With a little battle between the two, Hovland did everything he could to keep Rance on the mat but it ended up failing as Rance managed to stand back up against him and secured a one-point escape. Then like it was when the match opened the two were on their feet battling for hand position. As Rance looked to gain inside ties he succeeded in a battle to secure himself another two-point takedown increasing his lead before the second period’s time expired.
Hovland opened the third with the choice of position and elected to go neutral as both of them went back to work with hand positions on their feet. Rance was in good shape to put this match to an end with a two-point takedown and he succeeded in scoring those points Hovland didn’t end it without a fight as he pushed for a one-point escape with time close to expiring but Rance was able to circle his way to victory at 7-1. Putting the points on the board for the Firebirds they proceeded with the duel down 12-42.
The Firebirds had the usual open weights in the heavier weights and another due to injury which led to forfeits from 182 to 220 lbs. as the Hi-Liners stacked the scoreboard up to 12-54 before the last match at heavyweight. Valley City quickly ended the duel by pin at 285 lbs. to let the Firebirds set their sights on the East Region tournament. EDC will take place at Red River High School in Grand Forks, ND at 8 a.m. on February 11.
Valley City (VC) 66.0 Devils Lake (DL) 12.0
106: Wesley Fisk (DL) over Chase Coghlan (VC) (SV-1 6-4) 113: Tyson Klabo (VC) over Caber Bryce-Volk (DL) (Fall 1:47) 120: Koltyn Grebel (VC) over Tucker Bennett (DL) (Fall 1:09) 126: Owen Lindstrom (DL) over Khruz Kappenman (VC) (Fall 0:38) 132: Tucker Johnson (VC) over Easton Encinas (DL) (Fall 1:44) 138: Hunter Undem (VC) over Coby Dronen Levitt (DL) (Fall 1:46) 145: Koye Grebel (VC) over (DL) (For.) 152: Espen Kunze (VC) over Landon Kurtz (DL) (Fall 0:22) 160: Alex Rogelstad (VC) over Harley Crist (DL) (Fall 3:17) 170: Braxton Rance (DL) over Tyson Hovland (VC) (Dec 7-1) 182: Leighton Hendrickson (VC) over (DL) (For.) 195: Cardar Jewett (VC) over (DL) (For.) 220: Broden Muske (VC) over (DL) (For.) 285: Scot Rhode (VC) over Jeffery Sommer (DL) (Fall 0:22)
