by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
Thief River Falls got individual championships from Landen Larson, Griffin Lundeen and Riley Poissatn, and runner-up finishes from Lincoln Davis, Nick Svir and Elias Motta to edge 12th-ranked (Class A) Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie for the team championship, 163.5 to 162.5 at the 17th Annual Prowler Invite.
“The boys did a nice job of fighting in every match,” said Head Coach Kenny Geiser. “They are in good shape and that makes a difference too at this point in the season.”
Larson and Fordyce Johnson were scoreless after one period of wrestling in the 145-pound championship match. Larson chose to start on bottom in the second period. He failed to get away from Johnson but scored a point when Johnson was called for using an illegal figure four ride. That point would end up being the difference as Larson rode Johnson for the entire third period to secure the win.
“Landen has been having a great season for a freshman. He does a lot of things well and works hard in the room; he has certainly earned the success he is having.”
The championship match at 160 pounds pitted Lundeen, currently ranked number one in Class AA, against David Revering of BHVPP, the number two-ranked wrestler in Class A. The match was close early but Lundeen eventually broke the match open with a 19-6 major decision.
“Griffin’s finals match was against a state placewinner from BHVPP, and Griffin broke him by the 3rd period,” Geiser said. “He has been fun to watch and coach this year … so dominant from every position right now.”
At 189, Poissant has endured an up and down season. One of his goals coming into the year was to win his final Prowler Invite and on Saturday, Poissant accomplished that goal with a 9-7 win over Kohen Donat of Bemidji.
Davis, Svir and Motta added runner-up finishes. Davis dropped a 4-2 overtime decision to Mason Hoffman of BHVPP; Svir lost by fall to Isaac Grabow of BHVPP; and Motta lost by 5-1 decison to Evan Jares of BHVPP.
“Lincoln [Davis] battled all day, no easy matches, and dang near came away with a title,” Geiser said. “Nick [Svir] has really been looking good down at 121, he is putting together complete matches. Elias [Motta] keeps grinding and finding ways to win. He battled very well in the finals and sure gave great effort.
2024 Prowler Invite
1. Thief River Falls 163.5; 2. Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 162.5; 3. United North Central 157.5; 4. Minnewaska Area 112.5; 5. Bemidji 92.5; 6. Hibbing 72.5; 7. Fertile-Beltrami 60.0; 8. Badger-GB-MR 48.0; 9. Grand Forks Red River 45.0; 10. Crookston 41.0; 10. Wadena-Deer Creek 41.0; 12. Walker-Hack-Akeley-Nevis 39.0; 13. Blackduck-Cass Lake Bena Bears 33.5; 14. Nash-Kee- Greenway 18.0; 15. Roseau 13.5.
107 – Lincoln Davis (24-13) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points. Quarterfinal – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 24-13 won in sudden victory – 1 over Mauricio Arriaga (Crookston) 11-13 (SV-1 16-12); Semifinal – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 24-13 won in tie breaker – 1 over Cooper Rife (United North Central Warriors) 11-14 (TB-1 12-10); 1st Place Match – Mason Hoffman (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 25-4 won in sudden victory – 1 over Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 24-13 (SV-1 4-2).
114 – Keaton Tillett (3-9) place is unknown. Champ. Round 1 – Casey Sisneros (Bemidji) 18-15 won by fall over Keaton Tillett (Thief River Falls) 3-9 (Fall 3:09); Cons. Round 1 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 won by fall over Keaton Tillett (Thief River Falls) 3-9 (Fall 1:00).
114 – Brian Berg (12-11) placed 5th and scored 14.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 won by fall over Nick Stahlboerger (Hibbing) 7-14 (Fall 1:33); Quarterfinal – Miles Wildman (Minnewaska Area) 18-2 won by fall over Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 (Fall 1:25); Cons. Round 1 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 won by fall over Keaton Tillett (Thief River Falls) 3-9 (Fall 1:00); Cons. Round 2 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 won by fall over Carter Ahrendt (United North Central Warriors) 12-7 (Fall 1:00); Cons. Semi – Casey Sisneros (Bemidji) 18-15 won by fall over Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 (Fall 2:22); 5th Place Match – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 12-11 won by fall over Max Ramberg (Fertile-Beltrami) 21-12 (Fall 1:11).
121 – Nick Svir (18-14) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points. Quarterfinal – Nick Svir (Thief River Falls) 18-14 won by fall over Henry Bonn (Grand Forks Red River) 1-2 (Fall 4:34); Semifinal – Nick Svir (Thief River Falls) 18-14 won by fall over Fynn Bakke (United North Central Warriors) 11-7 (Fall 1:00); 1st Place Match – Isaac Grabow (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 24-5 won by fall over Nick Svir (Thief River Falls) 18-14 (Fall 3:52).
121 – Damian Kazmierczak (10-20) placed 4th. Quarterfinal – Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 10-20 won by fall over Lennon Nelson (Hibbing) 3-19 (Fall 1:58); Semifinal – Isaac Grabow (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 24-5 won by major decision over Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 10-20 (MD 11-3); Cons. Semi – Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 10-20 won by fall over Henry Bonn (Grand Forks Red River) 1-2 (Fall 4:20); 3rd Place Match – Fynn Bakke (United North Central Warriors) 11-7 won by decision over Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 10-20 (Dec 12-6).
127 – Ian Jacobson (13-20) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Drew Rasch (Fertile-Beltrami) 21-7 won by decision over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 (Dec 6-2); Cons. Round 1 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 won by fall over Hudson Schultz (Wadena-Deer Creek) 7-13 (Fall 3:39); Cons. Round 2 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 won by fall over Nehimia Figueroa (Hibbing) 10-17 (Fall 2:32); Cons. Semi – Orran Hart (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 21-8 won by major decision over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 (MD 10-0); 5th Place Match – Vince Perucho (Walker-Hack-Akeley-Nevis) 20-13 won by fall over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 13-20 (Fall 3:29).
133 – Malakai Simoneau (0-4) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Miles Larson (Grand Forks Red River) 9-10 won by fall over Malakai Simoneau (Thief River Falls) 0-4 (Fall 3:12); Cons. Round 1 – James Seelhammer (Wadena-Deer Creek) 10-15 won by fall over Malakai Simoneau (Thief River Falls) 0-4 (Fall 2:16).
139 – Elias Motta (7-11) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 7-11 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 7-11 won by decision over Gage Vold-Vedbradten (Fertile-Beltrami) 16-9 (Dec 7-3); Semifinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 7-11 won by decision over Rhett Anderson (United North Central Warriors) 6-15 (Dec 9-6); 1st Place Match – Evan Jares (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 20-4 won by decision over Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 7-11 (Dec 5-1).
145 – Landen Larson (24-13) placed 1st and scored 22.0 team points. Quarterfinal – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 24-13 received a bye; Semifinal – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 24-13 won by fall over Aaron Rolf (Hibbing) 7-12 (Fall 3:24); 1st Place Match – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 24-13 won by decision over Fordyce Johnson (United North Central Warriors) 5-1 (Dec 1-0).
152 – Ethan Lane (28-11) placed 3rd and scored 14.5 team points. Quarterfinal – Zach Davidson (United North Central Warriors) 10-7 won by decision over Ethan Lane (Thief River Falls) 28-11 (Dec 9-4); Cons. Round 1 – Ethan Lane (Thief River Falls) 28-11 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Ethan Lane (Thief River Falls) 28-11 won by tech fall over Tanner Littler (Bemidji) 1-3 (TF-1.5 3:44, 15-0); Cons. Semi – Ethan Lane (Thief River Falls) 28-11 won by fall over John Duffy (Nash-Kee- Greenway) 27-9 (Fall 3:45); 3rd Place Match – Ethan Lane (Thief River Falls) 28-11 won by decision over Seth Cossentine (Roseau) 24-5 (Dec 4-1).
160 – Griffin Lundeen (37-1) placed 1st and scored 25.0 team points. Quarterfinal – Griffin Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 37-1 won by fall over Riley Livingston (United North Central Warriors) 10-15 (Fall 5:13); Semifinal – Griffin Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 37-1 won by fall over Jayce Kovarik (Minnewaska Area) 8-5 (Fall 1:04); 1st Place Match – Griffin Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 37-1 won by major decision over David Revering (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 26-4 (MD 19-6).
160 – Brennen Johnson (11-10) placed 7th. Champ. Round 1 – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 11-10 won by major decision over Preston Thronson (Hibbing) 10-19 (MD 10-2); Quarterfinal – David Revering (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 26-4 won by fall over Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 11-10 (Fall 2:51); Cons. Round 1 – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 11-10 won by decision over Eli Benning (Wadena-Deer Creek) 7-13 (Dec 4-2); Cons. Round 2 – Talen Fairbanks (Bemidji) 10-17 won by fall over Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 11-10 (Fall 3:36); 7th Place Match – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 11-10 won by decision over Riley Livingston (United North Central Warriors) 10-15 (Dec 4-1).
189 – Riley Poissant (18-19) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Riley Poissant (Thief River Falls) 18-19 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Riley Poissant (Thief River Falls) 18-19 won by fall over Grant Seelhammer (Wadena-Deer Creek) 8-7 (Fall 1:40) Semifinal – Riley Poissant (Thief River Falls) 18-19 won by fall over Derek Nason (Blackduck-Cass Lake Bena Bears) 20-12 (Fall 1:14); 1st Place Match – Riley Poissant (Thief River Falls) 18-19 won by decision over Kohen Donat (Bemidji) 13-13 (Dec 9-7).
215 – Jaydin Lee (2-15) placed 7th and scored 4.0 team points. Quarterfinal – Braden Shamp (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 19-10 won by fall over Jaydin Lee (Thief River Falls) 2-15 (Fall 1:48); Cons. Round 1 – Eric Bowen (Minnewaska Area) 6-9 won by fall over Jaydin Lee (Thief River Falls) 2-15 (Fall 1:00); 7th Place Match – Jaydin Lee (Thief River Falls) 2-15 won by forfeit over Jayden Perry-Mattson (Hibbing) 6-22 (For.)