by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
Six Thief River Falls wrestlers reached the finals and three won championships to lead the Prowlers to a runner-up finish at the 16th Annual Prowler Invite Saturday at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Winning championships for the Prowlers were Kale Geiser at 138, Griffin Lundeen at 160 and Damon Ferguson at 170.
Geiser’s championship at 138 is his third this year and all three have come at different weight classes. He won the title at 152 pounds at the Defender Open in Melrose on Dec. 2; and the 145 pound championship at the BBE Invite on Jan. 6 in addition to Saturday’s Prowler Invite championship. The Prowler Invite championship is also the third consecutive for the Thief River Falls senior.
“I thought Kale got strong as the day went on,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Kenny Geiser. “He is wrestling more conventional matches and finding ways to win.”
Lundeen won his fourth individual tournament of the season Saturday. His only match prior to the championship round came to teammate Brennen Johnson, which he won by fall. Lundeen’s championship match was a rematch against Bemidji’s Seth Newby.
In the first meeting, Newby led Lundeen 4-1 after one period, but Lundeen dominated the final two periods for an 18-4 win. Saturday’s championship was dominated by Lundeen from the start, with the Thief River Falls junior claiming a 9-2 win.
“Really starting to move guys with his hands,” Geiser said. “It’s something we’ve been working on. He is so focused right now. It’s fun to watch him get ready for a match and compete in a match.”
Ferguson won his third individual tournament of the season Saturday, with all three titles coming at 170 pounds. Ferguson’s day included a win by fall over Colby Ortloff of Detroit Lakes, and a 12-5 decision over Bemidji’s Coy Olson.
“Damon has been doing a nice job of getting to his shots,” Geiser said. “He is one of the quicker guys in the weight class. That is how he’s going to beat better kids.”
Earning runner-up finishes for the Prowlers were Keigan Hermanson at 132, Carter Engebretson at 220 and Jackson Ingram at 285.
Hermanson went 3-1 in a five-man round-robin, with his lone loss coming to Bennet Arceneau of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie.
Engebretson won a pair of matches by fall before losing by fall to number one-ranked (Class A) Ethan Boll of Crookston in the championship match.
Ingram picked up falls in his first two matches to reach the semifinal round. There, he upset top-seeded Marcus Peterson of United North Central, who is currently ranked second in Class A, with a 6-3 win by decision. Ingram’s run ended the championship match. Ingram trailed 1-0 late against fourth ranked (Class AA) Jeffrey Moen of Detroit Lakes and attempted a throw late in the match and ended up losing by fall with one second remaining.
“Jackson had a nice run through a deep heavyweight bracket,” Geiser said. “He was patient and exploded when the opportunity arose.
“Carter ran into a buzzsaw against Bohl twice last week. He is having a great season.”
Also placing for the Prowlers were Damian Kazmierczak, fourth at 106; Nick Svir, co-third at 113; Landen Larson, seventh at 113; Maverick Iverson, fourth at 120; Ian Jacobson, seventh at 120; Ethan Lane, fourth at 152; Brennen Johnson, fourth at 160.