Knight wrestling goes 6-0 to start 2021 season

The West Central Area / Ashby / Brandon-Evansville Knight wrestling team moved to 6-0 after four more dual victories last week. The Knights topped Staples-Motley 63-15, and United North Central 48-18 on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in Barrett, then beat Frazee 37-31 and Barnesville 60-21 on Thursday, Jan. 21, in Barnesville.

“We have a talented group of guys, lots of experience on the team. They like to work hard and they don’t like to lose,” Knight head coach Brandon Gruchow said of the strong start to the year.

Mason Richter, Anthony Sykora, Jordan Lohse, and Nathaniel Kisgen are all undefeated at 6-0.

The Knights, who wrestle KMS and New York Mills on Tuesday at home, will next travel to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Thursday, to take on the second-ranked (Class A) Falcons and third-ranked (Class A) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa. Next Tuesday, Feb. 2, the Knights will travel to Wadena for a triangular against Wadena Deer Creek and Breckenridge.

Staples-Motley

The Knights had eight pins against Staples-Motley, which helped the Knights win 63-15. The pins came from Carter Lohse at 106, Mason Richter at 113, Adam Lohse at 120, Ashton Danner at 138, Nathaniel Kisgen at 182, Beau Robinson at 195, Colton Lindquist at 220 and Austin Mattson at 285.

Forfeit wins for Anthony Sykora at 152 and Kade Olson at 160 and a 4-2 decision for Jordan Lohse at 170 pounds added to the team total.

United North Central

The Knights jumped out to a 18-0 lead after four straight wins against United North Central. Carter Lohse and Mason Richter had back-to-back pins to open the match scoring at 106 and 113, respectively. Adam Lohse (6-0), and Solomon Wales (10-3), followed with decisions.

UNC took the next three matches to close the gap to three at 18-15, but Anthony Sykora won 7-1 at 152 pounds over fifth-ranked (Class A) Eion Ness to turn the momentum back in favor of the Knights, who went on to win the next five matches to claim the 48-18 victory.

Jordan Lohse won by 10-3 decision at 160, Kade Olson won by forfeit at 170, Kisgen pinned his opponent at 182, Beau Robinson pinned his opponent in 4:51 and Colton Lindquist won by fall in 23 seconds.

Kisgen won his 100th career match Tuesday, in Barrett.

“I just had one thing planned for both matches and that was to go out there and dominate,” Kisgen said. “I wanted to make a statement while earning my 100th win and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Frazee

In the head-to-head with Frazee, WCA/A/B-E trailed 22-9 after Kaden Hiemez pinned Dierk Goeden. Anthony Sykora at 152 and Jordan Lohse at 160 picked up key wins for the Knights. For Lohse, it was his 150th career win.

“I went out there our team was down 9-22, so I knew that I needed to get bonus points to bring our team back into the match. I snapped his head down and when he reacted I shot a double leg takedown within the first four seconds of the match. I put in an arm bar and turned him and pinned him,” Lohse said of his 17 second fall for win number 150 of his career.

Nathaniel Kisgen at 182, Colton Lindquist at 220 and Austin Mattson at 285 all had fall victories to help lift WCA/A/B-E over the top.

“Anthony got a momentum changing win then my pin set the tone for our heavier guys and they finished strong. It really helps when you have some guys up top that you can rely on,” Lohse said.

In earlier match action, Carter Lohse at 106 won by 5-2 decision, and Mason Richter at 113 won by forfeit.

“Anytime you can beat a legendary team like Frazee it’s great. Frazee is down a bit from their normal, but they are obviously still a very solid team,” Gruchow said of the 37-31 victory for the Knights against Frazee.

Barnesville

Carter Lohse at 106 picked up where the Knights left off in the second match against Barnesville Thursday night. He scored a fall victory over Cade Nagel to put WCA/A/B-E up 6-0. 

The Knights picked up a 60-21 victory due to seven open spots on the Barnesville roster.

Lindquist at 220 and Mattson at 285 secured their second pins of the evening cap off the Knights sixth win of the season.