Sports News

Three champions.
Hillsboro wrestlers claimed three individual championships Saturday at the 36th annual Lettermen’s Tournament at Central Cass. As a team, the Burros finished 5th in a “very tough” field of 21 teams from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
“We got a chance to show our individual power,” commented HS coach Eric Ptacek.
Hillsboro also added another dual victory Tuesday, crushing Grafton 82-0. The win improved the squads’ dual record to 11-5.
Junior Anthony Von Ruden won the 140-pound title at Casselton. He remains unbeaten this season with a 20-0 record.
Senior Gus Lee (18-2) was the champion at 135 lbs. and sophomore Andrew Grothmann (18-2) took the 171-lb. crown.
One other Burro wrestler placed at the CC tourney — sophomore Jake McLean (14-7) earned 3rd place at 160 lbs.
Barnesville won the team title at Casselton with 192 points and eight placewinners, followed by Lisbon 162.5, Webster, S.D. 155.5 and Central Cass 140. Hillsboro was the only team to win three individual titles.
Burro coach Mark McLean described the Casselton tourney as “very tough competition.”
“We could have done better but our young wrestlers and injuries hurt us in the end.”
Ptacek added, “ I think we could have done a little better in the wrestlebacks with our younger wrestlers. They have the talent but they’re still working on the mental toughness needed to be placewinner in a big tournament.”
The Burros 12-man lineup includes three eighth graders and two freshmen.
Seniors Dan Rude (145) and Lee Siegert (189) both suffered injuries in the consolation round Saturday and were forced out of the competition. It was thought that Rude had broken his nose but a medical check later cleared the team veteran to wrestle Tuesday.
Siegert was sidelined with a concussion and he was waiting for a doctor’s okay to wrestle Friday or Saturday.
“Lee and Dan should have placed and scored more team points for us,” McLean said.
With the temporary loss of two veterans, the Burros’ 5th place finish came as a pleasant surprise, their coach admitted.
Ptacek said the team — at full-strength — had a shot at 3rd place or higher.
“We had the potential to score even more points but that didn’t materialize,” McLean said. “I was disappointed we missed out on being in the top three.”
Lee, Von Ruden and Grothmann continue to dominate on the mat.
“Gus (Lee) wrestled very well. His weakness at this point is being able to pin. He dominates his opponents on his feet and his aggressive style gets him wins,” McLean said.
“Anthony (Von Ruden) did it one more time. He continually wears down his competition and beats them physically to win. He just plain refuses to lose right now,” Ptacek remarked.
“Andrew’s (Grothmann) physical style keeps his opponents at bay,” McLean said.
Ptacek added, “Andrew earned his number one ranking at Casselton. There was not a kid in his bracket that thought he could win when Andrew was done with them.”
Ptacek noted that Jake McLean “wrestled with great intensity. He out-wrestled a pretty balanced bracket and worked his way to third place. Jake has gotten real tough on top and wears people down.”
The Burros start a three-match home stand Friday when they host Oakes, a Region 1 team ranked 9th in state in a pre-Christmas poll by N.D. coaches. Hillsboro was ranked 6th in the same poll.
Ptacek, a former state champion for Oakes, said, “It should be an exciting dual with both teams ranked and with full lineups. There will be seven or eight state placewinners wrestling between the two teams.”
Next week, the Burros host two Region 2 opponents for duals — Larimore on Tuesday and Cavalier on Thursday. The Cavalier match-up is the final home dual for the Burros this season.
MayPortCG’s Invitational Tournament Saturday (tomorrow) will be reminiscent of the old RRVC tourney, McLean said. The familiar teams — MPCG, Central Cass, North Border, Larimore, Kindred and Grafton — will be there along with neighbors West Fargo JV and Crookston, Minn. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m. and finals are expected to start about 5:30 p.m. at the MPCG gym.