By Brenda Erdahl
Sports Editor
The Annandale-Maple Lake wrestling team kicked off its season on Friday, Dec. 1 with a 40-27 win over Princeton.
The Lightning hosted the dual meet with the Tigers at Maple Lake High School.
It was a tough dual between two well matched teams, ANML Head Coach Ben Youngs said. Like ANML, Princeton made the final four in section 6AA last year.
The Irish took an early 18-0 lead with a pin by Brayden Fobbe (his first varsity win), a pin by Porter Pribyl, and a forfeit for Cassen Brumm.”
The Lightning dropped the next two matches, with Calen Hardin wrestling last year’s section champion and Login Anglin in his first ever varsity match. The next six matches were back and forth, with the Lightning and Tigers trading wins.
“Tavin Long, Shay McClory, and Jack Nilson all got big wins, with Long getting a fall, McClory getting a major, and Nilson getting a dramatic win in the third period where it was tied before he hit a big move for four points,” Youngs said.
Brothers Nathan and Adam Klatt put the bow on the win for the Lightning in the final two matches of the day. The Lightning were up by four points when Nathan and Adam took to the mat. Nathan came away with a pin and Adam a decision for the victory.
“Although not all the pieces are in place where we want them, as it is just the first meet of the season, we saw some good things,” Youngs said.
“Some matches went our way, others didn’t. We had several wrestlers bump up a weight, which is never easy, because of a few absences. It’s just the beginning of a long, tough season, but we are off and running,” Youngs said.