by Scott DCamp
Sports Editor
Thief River Falls wrestlers claimed 10 top-seven finishes and finished third in the team competition at the Melrose Defender Invitational Boys Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
The Prowlers were led by freshman Brian Berg and eighth grader Elias Motta, who both took home championships in the season-opening event.
“With the young lineup on the boys side, I was pleasantly surprised with how it went,” said Thief River Falls Head Coach Kenny Geiser. “We have some tough matches this week, so we will have a better feel of where we stand.”
The Prowlers have their youngest lineup in years, with just one senior and one junior currently in the starting lineup. The rest of the varsity lineup includes four sophomores, five freshmen and three eighth graders.
Berg and Motta are both returning section place winners who will look to take the next step during the 2024-25 season.
Berg got a pair of bonus-point wins on his way to the championship match at 127 pounds. He pinned Isaac Seward of Alexandria Area in the quarterfinals, and won by technical fall over Roman Roberg of Paynesville Area in the semifinals, before outlasting Ashton Pastian of Osakis, 17-15, in a wild championship match.
“Brian Berg wrestled with amazing aggression,” Geiser said. “He is strong and all the time he put in, in the offseason, made all of the difference.”
Motta pinned his way to the championship at 152 pounds, defeating Trey Zamarron of BOLD in the opening round, Michael Kulu of Sartell-Saint Stephen in the quarterfinals, Ryder Schmidt of Eden Valley-Watkins in the semifinal round, and Mason Hanson of Paynesville Area in the championship match.
“Elias Motta wrestles under amazing control in all positions,” Geiser said. “He spent a lot of time in the off season wrestling freestyle and greco, and it shows.”
Senior Brennen Johnson reached the championship match at 172 pounds, where he lost by fall to Carter Gmahl of Mora. Sophomore Landen Larson added a third place finish at 160 pounds. Fourth place finishes were turned in by sophomore Lincoln Davis at 114 and junior Joey Bruggeman at heavyweight. Sophomore Damian Kazmierczak finished sixth at 133 pounds; and a trio of freshmen – Thomas Eidsmoe at 121, Ian Jacobson at 139, and Hunter Miller at 189 – added seventh place finishes.
2024 Defender Invite
Boys Tournament
1. Paynesville Area 165.0; 2. Mille Lacs Raiders 162.5; 3. Thief River Falls 152.5; 4. Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale/Parkers Prairie 135.5; 5. Alexandria Area 127.0; 6. Wabasso 121.5; 7. Sartell-Saint Stephen 97.5; 8. Sauk Centre-Melrose 90.5; 9. Osakis 87.0; 10. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 85.0; 11. Mora 83.0; 12. Eden Valley-Watkins 66.0; 13. Albany 49.5; 14. BOLD 33.0; 15. Ortonville 0.0
107 – Kaiden Nelson (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 0-2 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Nikolai Hagen (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 2-2 won by fall over Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:46); Cons. Round 2 – Guy Steinbeisser (Osakis) 1-3 won by decision over Kaiden Nelson (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Dec 13-11).
114 – Lincoln Davis (1-2) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 1-2 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 1-2 won by decision over Nolan Roberg (Paynesville Area) 1-2 (Dec 4-1); Semifinal – Edgar Kopel (BOLD) 2-1 won by decision over Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Dec 5-1); 3rd Place Match – Noah Jensen (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 2-1 won by fall over Lincoln Davis (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 2:56).
121 – Thomas Eidsmoe (2-2) placed 7th and scored 7.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 2-2 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Kruz Kresal (Mille Lacs Raiders) 3-1 won by major decision over Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (MD 8-0); Cons. Round 2 – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by injury default over Keaton Marwede (BOLD) 0-2 (Inj. 0:00); Cons. Semi – Zackery Bruder (Osakis) 2-1 won by fall over Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (Fall 2:17); 7th Place Match – Thomas Eidsmoe (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Lane Taylor (Wabasso) 1-3 (Fall 1:22).
127 – Ian Lundeen (0-2) place is unknown. Champ. Round 1 – Wyatt Jares (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 4-1 won by major decision over Ian Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (MD 15-6); Cons. Round 1 – Ian Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Isaac Seward (Alexandria Area) 3-2 won by decision over Ian Lundeen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Dec 5-3).
127 – Brian Berg (3-0) placed 1st and scored 25.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 3-0 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 3-0 won by fall over Isaac Seward (Alexandria Area) 3-2 (Fall 1:28); Semifinal – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 3-0 won by tech fall over Roman Roberg (Paynesville Area) 2-1 (TF-1.5 4:51 (20-5); 1st Place Match – Brian Berg (Thief River Falls) 3-0 won by decision over Ashton Pastian (Osakis) 2-1 (Dec 17-15).
133 – Damian Kazmierczak (2-2) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Mason McNab (Paynesville Area) 4-0 won by fall over Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (Fall 4:58); Cons. Round 1 – Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 2-2 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Nolan Leopold (Wabasso) 0-2 (Fall 1:26); Cons. Semi – Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Noah DeRoo (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 1-3 (Fall 0:46); 5th Place Match – Hudson Truax (Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 3-1 won by tech fall over Damian Kazmierczak (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (TF-1.5 4:09 (21-5).
133 – Malakai Simoneau (0-2) place is unknown. Champ. Round 1 – Gage Gobel (Mora) 2-2 won by fall over Malakai Simoneau (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Fall 0:35); Cons. Round 1 – Malakai Simoneau (Thief River Falls) 0-2 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Connor Zirbes (Alexandria Area) 3-2 won by fall over Malakai Simoneau (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Fall 0:55).
139 – Ian Jacobson (2-2) placed 7th and scored 6.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 2-2 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Mikale Goblirsch (Wabasso) 3-1 won by fall over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (Fall 2:53); Cons. Round 2 – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by fall over Tyler Plumski (Sartell-Saint Stephen) 0-2 (Fall 1:59); Cons. Semi – Reggie George (Osakis) 2-2 won by tech fall over Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (TF-1.5 3:00 (17-1); 7th Place Match – Ian Jacobson (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by major decision over Aiden Mueller (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 1-3 (MD 16-6).
145 – Tristan Hruby (1-2) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Preston Captain (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 1-2 won by tech fall over Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (TF-1.5 5:18 (19-4); Cons. Round 1 – Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 1-2 won by decision over Marchello Falzone (Osakis) 0-2 (Dec 10-9); Cons. Round 2 – Kaysen Harms (Wabasso) 4-1 won by fall over Tristan Hruby (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 4:49).
152 – Tallon Vorderbruggen (0-2) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Truman Gilbertson (Wabasso) 3-2 won by fall over Tallon Vorderbruggen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Fall 1:12); Cons. Round 1 – Tallon Vorderbruggen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Michael Kulu (Sartell-Saint Stephen) 3-2 won by fall over Tallon Vorderbruggen (Thief River Falls) 0-2 (Fall 2:20).
152: Elias Motta (4-0) placed 1st and scored 30.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 4-0 won by fall over Trey Zamarron (BOLD) 1-2 (Fall 3:41); Quarterfinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 4-0 won by fall over Michael Kulu (Sartell-Saint Stephen) 3-2 (Fall 3:00); Semifinal – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 4-0 won by fall over Ryder Schmidt (Eden Valley-Watkins) 1-2 (Fall 0:50); 1st Place Match – Elias Motta (Thief River Falls) 4-0 won by fall over Mason Hanson (Paynesville Area) 2-1 (Fall 4:29).
160 – Landen Larson (3-1) placed 3rd and scored 17.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by tech fall over Malachite Grimstad (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 0-2 (TF-1.5 2:19 (19-4); Quarterfinal – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by tech fall over Grayson Timm (Alexandria Area) 2-2 (TF-1.5 1:48 (18-3); Semifinal – Brett DeRoo (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 3-0 won by decision over Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 (Dec 9-6); 3rd Place Match – Landen Larson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by tech fall over Gavin Marotzke (Wabasso) 2-2 (TF-1.5 3:36 (20-4).
172 – Brennen Johnson (3-1) placed 2nd and scored 23.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by fall over Daniel Flint (Paynesville Area) 1-2 (Fall 5:47); Quarterfinal – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by fall over Michael Hamak (Sartell-Saint Stephen) 4-1 (Fall 5:44); Semifinal – Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 won by major decision over Andrew Spanier (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 2-2 (MD 16-4); 1st Place Match – Carter Gmahl (Mora) 3-0 won by fall over Brennen Johnson (Thief River Falls) 3-1 (Fall 0:42).
189 – Hunter Miller (2-2) placed 7th and scored 7.5 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Peyton Hemmesch (Paynesville Area) 3-1 won by fall over Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (Fall 2:12); Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 2-2 received a bye; Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by tech fall over Grant Hanson (Alexandria Area) 1-2 (TF-1.5 5:00 (20-5); Cons. Semi – Cyrus Post (Sartell-Saint Stephen) 2-2 won by fall over Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 2-2 (Fall 0:34); 7th Place Match – Hunter Miller (Thief River Falls) 2-2 won by fall over David Veronen (Bertha-Hewitt- Verndale -Parkers Prairie) 2-3 (Fall 3:32).
215 – Chandler Pream (1-2) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Mitchell Lipinski (Eden Valley-Watkins) 4-1 won by fall over Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 1:35); Cons. Round 1 – Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 1-2 won by fall over Eli Wold (Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa) 0-2 (Fall 1:20); Cons. Round 2 – Mason Kampsen (Wabasso) 2-3 won by fall over Chandler Pream (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:57).
285 – Joey Bruggeman (1-2) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 – Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 1-2 received a bye; Quarterfinal – Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 1-2 won by decision over Gavin Muenzhuber (Osakis) 2-2 (Dec 11-8); Semifinal – Brodie Kuhlman (Mille Lacs Raiders) 3-0 won by fall over Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 0:21); 3rd Place Match – Isaac Frericks (Sauk Centre-Melrose) 2-1 won by fall over Joey Bruggeman (Thief River Falls) 1-2 (Fall 1:59).