On December 21st and 22nd, the Warrior Wrestling Team attended the two-day, 35-team Redwood River Riot wrestling tournament in Redwood Falls, MN. The tournament was dominated by some of the top teams in Minnesota while the young Warriors gained valuable experience.
Sophomore Rylan Behnke wrestled 152 for the Warriors and was met by some stiff competition. Behnke drew the #4 seeded Jackson Hughes from Marshall in the first round of the tournament. After the first period, Behnke trailed 6-2. I quick escape in the second period narrowed the score to 6-3 before Behnke was tossed to his back and pinned midway through the second period.
Behnke would enter the backside of the bracket where he faced off against Sawyer Schwartz, a Junior from TMB-WWG. Schwartz gained the upper hand on Behnke and come away with a first-round pin.
Koyer Wendorff represented the Warriors in the 195-pound weight class. The Junior faced off against Evan Hull of Maple Grove in the second round after both wrestlers received first-round byes. Hull gained a first-round fall over Wendorff on his way to becoming the tournament champion. Wendorff then faced off against Ethan Peters of KMS. Peters got a first-period takedown, but Wendorff fought off Peters and bring the match into the second period. In the second period, Peters got an early takedown taking Wendorff to his back and knocking him out of the tournament.
The Junior Varsity portion of the tournament was represented by close to 550 athletes, including five Warriors.
7th Grader Denver Einck gained some valuable experience wrestling in the 106-pound division. He was defeated by pin in all three of his matches, but the coaching staff was encouraged by the effort and drive that he displayed in his first wrestling tournament.
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