Sports News

Call ‘em young but they’re not new to the pressures of varsity competition.

Hillsboro’s varsity wrestling team has 11 athletes who are freshmen and younger. Only seven boys on the 2007-08 roster are sophomores or older.

Don’t let the youthfulness fool you, warns head coach Eric Ptacek. The youngsters already have two or three years of varsity mat time, he added. 

“We are young with a ton of experience. If we can get to full strength, we will be one of the top teams in the state,” he predicted.

After losing three state qualifiers to graduation, the Burros still have a strong core of experienced wrestlers — junior Andrew Grothmann, a 3-time state placewinner including runner up at 171 lbs. last year; senior 140-pounder Anthony Von Ruden, a 2-time state placewinner and junior Jake McLean, who placed 5th at 160 last season. The three are expected to be team leaders, according to Ptacek.

Four more state qualifiers round out the team’s veterans — sophomores Tanner Boeddeker and Garrett Burg and freshmen Josh Reindeau and Tyler Anderson. Other starters expected to “make an impact” are junior Christian Von Ruden and freshmen Oakly Zink, Alex McLean and Lee Mooney.

As a team the Burros managed a dual 17-10 record, earning a berth in the state dual tournament, only to be outmatched by six-time state champ Napoleon.

The Burros open their season Tuesday with a dual against MayPortCG at the Patriots gym.

The Burros won last year’s season opener but the earlier season lineup for both teams remains unpredictable.

“We will be a little thin on Tuesday against Mayville with some of our guys sitting out for various reasons. Mayville is also a little thin to start out with. We’re hoping to be at full strength by next Thursday (Nov. 29) when we host Carrington,” coach Ptacek added.

Hillsboro’s season hits full stride December 1 when the Burros host their 16th invitational tournament. Nine teams will compete in the dual contests, including Barnesville,  Central Cass, North Border, West Fargo JV, MayPortCG, Pelican Rapids, Lake Park-Audubon and Cavalier.

“We will be competitive at the state level,” Ptacek promised. “We have the potential to win the region and place high in the state with the guys we have in our practice room. We need to be able to fill (all 14) weight classes to be successful. We have a few open spots, so it could be challenging.”

The Burros — for now — are open at 215 and 285.

While favored to win the region, Hillsboro will face strong challenges from Cavalier and Central Cass, Ptacek noted. “They both return some quality wrestlers.”

Practice for the Burro wrestlers started Nov. 5 — just a week after the football season ended. Long on strength and confidence, the team has set some lofty goals, according to their coach.

Region champions in both individual and dual.

Place in the top four in state duals and top four in the state individual tournament.

“If these young guys set their goals high and seriously work toward them, we will definitely be a better team than last year.