By Brenda Erdahl
Sports Editor
The Annandale-Maple Lake wrestling team went 2-0 on consecutive nights to boost its season record to 17-1 overall.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, the Lightning traveled to Mound-Westonka where they faced their hosts plus Glencoe-Silver Lake-Lester Prairie, two familiar foes from the Wright County Conference in one of what coaches called the most intense and focused nights of their season.
“Although we won by fairly sizable margins, there were some very tough matches, and with a few missing starters the matches could have been much closer if we hadn’t come to wrestle,” Head Coach Ben Youngs said.
ANML 46, G-SL-LP 21
The Lightning stormed out to a big lead with two pins and two forfeits before dropping a couple of matches; those were followed by three solid matches from three senior captains, Youngs said. Shay McClory earned a major against a “solid” opponent and in “the match of the night,” Cole LaFave defeated one of G-SL-LP’s top kids in three overtimes.
“It was a signature match for LaFave who has obviously improved, especially physically and mentally late in matches,” Youngs said.
Jack Nilson also had a very solid performance for a win and though the Lightning dropped the next two matches, coaches couldn’t say enough about Charlie Seaberg and Brennan Hill’s performances.
“Due to illness and injury, and because some wrestlers chose not to return to the team this year, we had two weights where these first-year wrestlers have stepped it up to fill the spots,” Youngs said. “The results haven’t gone in our favor, but the coaches have seen the incredible effort these two have put forth despite being brand new to the sport and taking on more experienced kids. It’s so much better than forfeiting, and we are very proud that they are willing to step on the mat for the team.”
ANML 44, M-W 22
Next the Lightning took on the dangerous host team who have three wrestlers ranked among the best in their respective weight classes.
To open the dual, Brayden Fobbe won in dramatic fashion, scoring four points in the last part of the third period for a come-from-behind win.