Sports News

Bonus points.

Hillsboro’s wrestlers cashed in their bonus points at the Central Cass Lettermen’s Tournament last weekend and earned a 4th place team finish in the 20-team event.

“Overall our team score a lot of bonus points with pins, tech fall and major decisions. That impressed me. Without those bonus points, we may have ended up 10th instead of 4th,” noted coach Eric Ptacek. “Great effort from all the boys.”

Two Burros claimed championships — 189-pounder Andrew Grothmann and 160-pounder Jake McLean, both juniors. Sophomore Tanner Boeddeker claimed runner-up honors at 145.

Grothmann, who pinned his way through three matches, was voted MVP for the upper weights by coaches. He holds a 22-0 record for the season with 14 pins.

“Andrew dominated,” commented coach Mark McLean. “He’s just fun to watch.”

“Andrew wrestled in complete control and thought his way through each match,” added Ptacek. Grothmann pinned the No. 2 ranked wrestler at 189 in the finals, confirming his own No. 1 ranking by Class B coaches.

Ptacek said, “I felt Jake should have been the MVP for the middle weights. He dominated his bracket and beat the 2007 state champion Mitch Ford in the finals.”

McLean is currently ranked No. 2 at 160 lbs. with a record of 20-1.

Boeddeker “continues to come through for us week after week,” Ptacek said. “He’s earned his No. 4 state ranking.” The 145-pounder is 17-4 this season.

Senior Anthony Von Ruden dropped a close decision in the semis at Casselton to a Minnesota wrestler. He rebounded to place 3rd at 140.

Other placewinners for the Burros were freshman Tyler Anderson, 5th at 119 and sophomore Garrett Burg, 6th at 171.

“I’m proud of all our wrestlers,” coach McLean said. “They all scored big points for us. They worked for those first round pins and got them. That put the team in third place at the end of the first day. We were able to maintain our place throughout the tournament because we wrestled as individuals and for the team.”

The Burro team added a dual win Tuesday at home, downing Grand Forks Central 39-36.

“We are wrestling better and better every week,” Ptacek said. “Even with some injuries the entire group stepped up and wrestled as a unit to earn the win over Central.”

The Burro team heads to Oakes tonight (Friday) for a dual. Some Burro wrestlers will compete in the MayPortCG Tournament tomorrow (Saturday). The team hits the road again Tuesday for a Region 2 dual at Larimore.

They’ll wrestle next Friday and Saturday in the KQLX Tournament at Lisbon. The competition includes South Border, Central Cass, Ellendale-Edgeley, Harvey, Kindred, LaMoure, Linton, Lisbon, New Salem, Oakes, Valley City, Wahpton, Sisseton, S.D. and Chokio-Alberta-Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Minn.