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Fri-Sat, December 19-20, 2003 - Rochester, MN - Regional Recreation & Sports Center
Friday: Session I 2:00-9:30 pm
Saturday: Session II 9:30 am - 4:00 pm, Session III 5:30-8:30 pm
Participating Teams: Albert Lea, Anoka, Apple Valley, Bismarck (ND), Blooming Prairie, Bloomington Kennedy, Cambridge-Isanti, Centennial, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Elk River, Forest Lake, Frazee, Glencoe-Sliver Lake, Hastings, Hudson (WI), Medford, Milwaukee Custer (WI), New Prague, Robbinsdale Cooper, Rochester Mayo, Scott West, Simley, St. Francis, St. Michael-Albertville, Stewartville, Stillwater, Wabasha-Kellogg, Waconia, Wayzata, Woodbury
By Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine
The venue for Minnesota's toughest high school wrestling tournament may have changed, but the intense competition to determine the best teams and individuals in the area hasn't.
This year the Minnesota Christmas Tournament heads south to Rochester after being held at various locations in the Twin Cities metro area over the past 16 years.
Top-ranked Class AAA Apple Valley will be trying for their eighth straight team title this year. Apple Valley appears to be a bit banged up early in the season, but injuries or not, they consistently bring a good team to the mat. Simley was the runner-up to Apple Valley last season at both this tournament and the State Tournament and will look to win their first Christmas Tournament title since 1988. Simley is ranked second in Class AAA in the latest Guillotine ratings. Expect some excitement when wrestlers from these two teams clash.
Other teams with title hopes include Frazee (#1 rated in Class A), St. Michael-Albertville (#2 Class AA), Scott West (#3 Class AA), Stewartville (#4 Class AA), Albert Lea (#4 Class AAA) and 2003 North Dakota State Champions Bismarck.
Teams who also look to finish high in the standings are Cambridge-Isanti (#5 Class AAA), Wabasha-Kellogg (#6 Class A), Rochester Mayo (#8 Class AAA), Hastings (#10 Class AAA), and Waconia/Mayer Lutheran (#12 Class AA).
The individual format of the Minnesota Christmas Tournament has brought together some great wrestlers over the years and has enabled some very memorable matches to occur. Matt Nagel vs. Marcus LeVesseur, Luke Becker vs. Todd Fuller, and Chad Erikson vs. Pat McNamara are just a few of the matches witnessed at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament in recent years.
This year has the potential for many marquee individual match-ups as well.
Outstanding lightweights to keep an eye on include State Champion Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellogg (#1 AA 103 lbs.); State Champion Zach Bigboy, Bloomington Kennedy (#1 AAA 112 lbs.); State runner-up Mike Thorn, St. Michael-Albertville (#1 AA 103 lbs.); Jason Adams, Coon Rapids (#2 AAA 112 lbs.); and Mike Tingle, Robbinsdale Cooper (#1 AAA 103 lbs.).
A key match-up in the mid-lower weights, if it happens, is State Champion and returning 2002 Christmas Tournament Outstanding Wrestler Jayson Ness, Bloomington Kennedy (1# AAA 119 lbs.) vs. three-time State Champion Charlie Falck, Apple Valley (1# AAA 125 lbs.). Wrestlers who may have a chance to spoil this match-up are State Champion Brandon Dick, St. Michael-Albertville (#2 AA 125 lbs.); State runner-up Ryan Adams, Coon Rapids (#2 AAA 125 lbs.); Ken Kahle, Frazee (#2 A 119 lbs.) and North Dakota State Champions TJ Sailor and Scott Glasser of Bismarck.
Also in the mix around 125-130 lbs., don't miss two-time Christmas Tournament Champion and North Dakota State Champion Travis Lang of Bismarck.
Lower middle-weight wrestlers who look to be high on the awards stand include State Champions Kelly Janke (#1 A 135 lbs.) and Andy Quittschreiber (#1 A 140 lbs.) of Frazee; State runner-up Adam Elseth, Albert Lea (#1 AAA 140 lbs.); Drew Hruska, Rochester Mayo (#1 AAA 130 lbs.); Seth Anderson, Simley (#2 AAA 130 lbs.); John Denney, Forest Lake (#3 AAA 130 lbs.); Ryan Pottebaum, Apple Valley (#3 AAA 135 lbs.); Kyle Sovde, Apple Valley (#2 AAA 140 lbs.); Adam Minette, New Prague (#3 AA 140 lbs.); and North Dakota runner-up Ryan Stockert of Bismarck.
Several excellent wrestlers will battle in the middle-weights. Possible match-ups could occur between State Champion Nate Matousek, Glencoe-Silver Lake (#1 AA 152 lbs.); Michael Fessler, Apple Valley (#1 AAA 145 lbs.); Adam Aho, Frazee (#1 A 152 lbs.); Chas Betts, St. Michael-Albertville (#1 AA 160 lbs.); Mitch Millner, Simley (#2 AAA 145 lbs.); Zach Molitor, Cambridge-Isanti (#2 AAA 152 lbs.); Andy Leisen, Rochester Mayo (#3 AAA 145 lbs.); Tommy LaCombe, Apple Valley (#3 AAA 152 lbs.); Dustin Boumeester, Scott West (#2 AA 145 lbs.); State runner-up Phillip Beaumia, Apple Valley (#2 AAA 160 lbs.); Ross Murray, Anoka (#3 AAA 160 lbs.); Brenton Newling, Frazee (#3 A 145 lbs.); and Davey Gerhart, Scott West (#3 AA 160 lbs.).
Upper-weight wrestlers who will be fighting for the gold medal include Nic Barclay, Apple Valley (#4 AAA 171 lbs.); Tony Biggs, Simley (#5 AAA 171 lbs.); Isaac Ratz, Frazee (#4 A 171 lbs.); Scott Balzer, Medford (#5 A 171 lbs.); Mike Weber, Woodbury (#5 A 189 lbs.); Randy LeMaire, Apple Valley (#6 A 189 lbs.); John Grygelko, St. Michael-Albertville (#6 AA 189 lbs.); Brent Yule, Medford (#6 A 189 lbs.); top-ranked 189 pound Wisconsin wrestler Demetrius Gaines of Milwaukee Custer; and Jordan Engelhardt of Bismarck, ND.
Several top-ranked heavyweights will hit the mats at this year's tournament. Contenders at 215 pounds are Mike Maresh, Champlin Park (#1 AAA 215 lbs.); Jay Salinas, Blooming Prairie (#1 A 215 lbs); Nick Rydberg, Simley (#2 AAA 215 lbs); Dan Goodson, Rochester Mayo (#3 AAA 215 lbs); Steve Larson, Apple Valley (#6 AAA 215 lbs); and Jeremy Kaplin, Medford (#3 A 215 lbs).
Heavyweight State Champion Kyle Massey, Champlin Park (#1 AAA 275) moves up a weight and will attempt to win his second Christmas Tournament title. Challenging Massey for the title will be State runner-up Dan Pohl, Waconia/Mayer Lutheran (#1 AA 275); Kevin Robling, Scott West (#2 AA 275); and Casey Hellenberg, Simley (#4 AAA 275).